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The John Fisher School
Invitational State School Rugby Festival 2024

October 18 - 20th

The notion of a tournament, be it national or otherwise, is not a new concept. The well established St.Josephs festival has long been bringing together the best teams in the UK. However, with unmatchable advances in the independent sector facilities and resources, the state sector representatives have long gone.

This State School Festival will allow the state sector to be given the spot light it deserves. The initial concept of 16 teams has the potential to grow year on year, bringing a wide range of state schools who are at different stages of their development journey, alongside girls rugby.

The teams selected represent the very best in state school rugby from all parts of the UK and will showcase the inclusive and varied nature of rugby within the school set up.

Information Brochure

Titsey Brewing

Welcome from Tom Street
Director of Rugby The John Fisher School

Welcome to the inaugural John Fisher School Invitational State School Rugby Festival! As the Director of Rugby at The John Fisher School, it brings me immense joy and pride to finally see this dream come to fruition.

For years, it has been my aspiration to provide a platform for the incredibly talented rugby players within the state sector. I am deeply passionate about the opportunities the state schools can offer, and I firmly believe that every young athlete deserves a chance to showcase their skills on a national stage.

While private schools have long dominated the rugby scene and produced remarkable players, I've always felt that many talented state school players go unnoticed. This tournament aims to change that narrative by spotlighting the top state school rugby players from across the country and giving them the recognition they deserve.

One of the core principles of this tournament is inclusivity. Regardless of financial constraints, I am committed to providing accommodation and meals for all participating teams. This ensures that finances are not a barrier to attendance, allowing every school to compete on equal footing.

Moreover, this tournament is not just about celebrating the well established state schools; it's also about nurturing and highlighting the emerging talent within the state school system. I envision this event as a catalyst for growth, paving the way for future generations of state school rugby stars.

Looking ahead, I am excited about the prospect of expanding this tournament to include a girls' competition in the near future. It's important to me that we provide equal opportunities for young female athletes to excel in the sport they love.

In conclusion, I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished thus far, and I am optimistic about the future of this tournament. With your support and participation, I have no doubt that it will be a resounding success. Thank you for joining us on this journey,

Ugo Monye, Former International rugby player

We have a well trodden production line from private school to academy to playing for England, but we’re talking about seven per cent of the population. There’s 93 per cent that is fairly untapped.

Competing Teams

John Fisher Rugby Festival

The Festival in Figures

2,000 - 5,000

expected visitors over the weekend

50,000

expected live streams

250,000

projected content views

40,000

projected post engagements

Sponsorship Opportunities

Premium Sponsor
  • • Naming rites for the festival
  • • National coverage from media outlets including TV, written and digital media
  • • Logo on festival website
  • • Social media campaign to promote tournament alongside your brand
  • • Tournament programme full page advert
  • • Company board for team photos
  • • Pitch side banners x 5
  • • Company brand on live stream coverage for 2 days
  • • Entry to the VIP area for your staff/guests
  • • Free entry of company staff to tournament.
  • • Free parking for staff.
No. of sponsors: 1 max 
£50,000
Main Sponsorship
  • • Tournament programme full page advert
  • • Logo on festival website and all documentation, social media and marketing materials
  • • National press coverage from various sources
  • • Company board for team photos
  • • Pitch side banners x 2
  • • Company brand on live stream coverage for 2 days
  • • Entry to the VIP area for your staff/guests
  • • Free entry of company staff to tournament
No. of sponsors: 4 max
£12,000
Team Sponsor
  • • Branded Gazebo with your logo/name
  • • Tournament programme full page advert
  • • Company board for team photos.
  • • Pitch side banner.
  • • Company brand on live stream coverage for 2 days
  • • Entry to the VIP area for your staff/guests
  • • Free entry of company staff to tournament
  • • Photo and promotional opportunities with your allocated school team
No. of sponsors: 12 max
£3,000

Other Sponsorship Opportunities

Festival Programme Advertisement 

✓ £500 Full page

✓ £350 Half page

✓ Expected readership of over 2,000 (hard copies) over the festival weekend, as well as online. This will also be shared with all 12 participating school communities (12,000+ parents/carers)


Pitch Side Advertising Banners

✓ £300 (set up fee and design cost of £120 plus vat will be added)

✓ 6ft x 3ft aluminium board which will be alongside Pitch 1 (Main pitch) for the 2 day festival, gaining exposure to the 2,000 visitors, live streaming and media coverage.


Marketing Gazebo Plot

✓ Why not be present for the 2 days to sell and promote your product/service.

✓ You will be given a prime location to showcase your businesses to the 2,000 (expected total footfall) visitors.