Rugby talents from Mayo take to the field at the Aviva Stadium

Mayo pupils from Castlebar Primary School were delighted to take part in the annual ALDI Play Rugby National Festival in the Aviva Stadium.

The lucky students were among more than 350 children from 19 primary schools across Ireland who lined out in the home of Irish rugby and had the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of their rugby heroes by taking part in a blitz.

Irish Rugby stars and ALDI brand ambassadors, Paul O’Connell and James Ryan along with women’s international player, Ruth Campbell were present throughout the day to put the children through their paces and stand shoulder to shoulder with the next generation of young Irish Rugby stars.   

Speaking about the festival, Paul O’Connell, ALDI Play Rugby Ambassador and former Ireland captain, commented: “It was brilliant to be part of the ALDI Play Rugby National Festival at the Aviva Stadium. It’s a pleasure to witness the enthusiasm and excitement of these young players and I’m delighted to stand alongside them as they take their first steps into the world of rugby."

ALDI Play Rugby is a non-contact primary schools rugby programme developed by the IRFU. It offers primary school students a safe, fun introduction to rugby and aims to encourage children to get active, participate in regular exercise and eat healthily. As part of the programme, schools are offered access to invaluable resources including sessions with Community Rugby Officers, online coaching resources and free coaching equipment.  

The programme has been a resounding success with participation skyrocketing by more than 90% since ALDI first came on board. 2023 saw the highest engagement of any ALDI Play Rugby programme year to date with more than 126,000 students from 724 schools across Ireland taking part. 

ALDI recently extended its partnership with the IRFU for another four years, which will see it continue as Official Fresh Food Partner until 2028.