17-06-2025
Pupils to step into Lions' den as rugby heroes invite Antrim primary school to join training
The Lions will be in Ireland for a warm-up game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night, and the rugby playing boys and girls from Moorfields Primary outside Kells will be among four schools — once from each Irish province — to be given unique access to the players at their UCD training camp.
Their journey to Dublin began back in May when the players from Moorfields PS took part in a local schools tournament at Coleraine RFC, though principal Mark Beattie never imagined that was to start them on the road to a session alongside some of the biggest star names in the sport.
'The children played really well, won all their games and were lucky enough to be invited along to play in a schools tournament on the hallowed turf of the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast,' he explained. 'We thought that was exciting enough!'
So impressed with the attitude shown and skills on display from the pupils on their trip to the Kingspan, the team was then invited to represent Ulster at the special training session being hosted by the British and Irish Lions.
'We were particularly delighted that the staff at Ulster Rugby selected our school for the excellent attitude of the pupils on the pitch, their sportsmanship, conduct and the manner in which they were coached positively and encouragingly,' said Mr Beattie.
'The children are extremely excited to have been given this incredible opportunity. One or two of them were actually in tears when we told them the news. It's a wonderful reward for their sporting success, but more importantly for their competitive and sportsmanlike attitude as they have met other schools in the tournaments.
News Catch Up - Tuesday 17th June
Mr Beattie believes the trip to Dublin can further inspire his pupils.
'How can invitations to take part in events like this not? There's the chance to meet and greet elite athletes at the top of their profession, engage with them, see the routines and dedication they have in their sport to reach the top level, and you can't get any higher in the sport than the Lions.
'The chance to join in with these elite athletes at the pinnacle of their careers has the excitement in school hitting record levels. We have to say a big thank you to Ulster Rugby and The Lions for making this possible.'
The school's contact rugby team will be joined by their tag rugby players, with 17 pupils making the trip to Dublin.
'It'll be an early start,' said Mr Beattie. 'We'll be on the road from 6.15am, but it will be an experience none of us, staff included, will ever forget. And it's the perfect way for some of our P7 pupils who will be heading off to new schools from September to round off their time with us.'
Among the staff heading to Dublin will be the school's PE teacher Sandra Clements, though she did admit the visit almost didn't happen.
'I missed the phone-call,' she said. 'We spent all weekend wondering what we'd done for Ulster Rugby to be contacting us! When we finally did get in touch there was a mix of shock, excitement, disbelief and a few nerves as well.
'When our boys and girls step onto the pitch with the British and Irish Lions that experience will never leave them and their memories of the day Moorfields Primary school trained with the Lions will be unforgettable.'
Parent Jonny Smyth has been one of the willing volunteers helping out with the rugby players during the year.
'I was asked to help coach the Moorfields PS rugby team back in April as Mrs Clements was keen to give the children who played club rugby an opportunity to be involved in school rugby,' he said.
'It has been a total privilege to coach these children, my own daughter included! The children have been really easy to coach, we have a few real natural athletes and a few who are so keen to learn but the common factor is that they all have such a good attitude to sport.
'The way the children played, showed respect, listened to the referee and said thank you to everyone at the Ulster Rugby festival really captured all that is good about rugby and I couldn't be prouder of this group.'
One of the rugby playing pupils at Moorfields, Saul, knows exactly who he's looking forward to meeting.
'My favourite Ireland rugby players are Bundee Aki and James Lowe. I am really excited about meeting players like this and getting some advice from them about my rugby,' he revealed.
