National Rugby Festival

The 38th St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival is coming soon…

A fantastic sporting event

The event, established in 1986, has now become one of the most prestigious schoolboy rugby tournaments in the country, an established date on the calendars and fixture lists of some of the country’s top rugby-playing schools.

In recent years we have been fortunate enough to see some of rugby’s biggest stars grace the St Joseph’s College pitches. Chris Robshaw, Mako Vinupola, Jonathan Joseph, Christian Wade, Jamie Roberts, Matt Dawson, Mike Tindall, Andy Goode, James Haskell, Tony Diprose, Lewis Ludlam and Tom Rees are just some of the players who have stamped their mark on the Festival before going on to international fame.

Of course, this tournament is only possible as the result of much hard work and I would like to thank all the St Joseph’s College staff, students, and sponsors who have put in so much effort to try and ensure that the 2023 Festival is the best yet.

I would also like to thank all of the participating schools for their support as well as all of the spectators – especially our Old Birkfeldians – who make the Festival atmosphere so special. For anyone unable to attend, we are once again live-streaming all Festival matches and these can be viewed on this website.

Anthony O’Riordan, Director of Sport

Dates and times 
to remember

  • 8.00am Gates open
  • 9.00am First game
  • 12.00pm Bar opens
  • 1.00pm VIP Lunch
  • 4.30pm Final game
  • 8.00pm World Cup Semi Finals
  • 11.00pm Gates close
  • 8.00am Gates open
  • 9.00am First game
  • 12.00pm Bar opens
  • 1.00pm VIP lunch
  • 4.00pm Final
  • 4.30pm Trophy presentation
  • 5.00pm Gates close

Entry Prices

Tickets can be bought on the gate on each of the two Festival days:

Cars:
£10 per car or £15 for both days (booking for two days includes a Festival programme)

Walk-in:
£1 per person, group entry includes a Festival programme

We also offer our VIP Tickets which includes an exclusive dining experience overlooking the rugby pitches.

VIP Tickets

We invite you to join us in the new and exclusive VIP marquee, placed in prime position at the side of Pitch 1.

Come and enjoy the luxury of breakfast, a wonderful three-course lunch, a private bar and table service throughout the day. You can stay there all day with allocated seating or come in to refuel then head back out to watch the pinnacle of school boy rugby.

Special guest appearances, meet and greets, plus a Q&A session each day. Guests to be announced closer to the time. Fully heated inside for ultimate comfort plus an enclosed outdoor seating area to watch the match and get in on the action. With livestreaming of the matches on screens inside, it is definitely a luxurious way to enjoy the Festival.

Early Bird tickets are £79 per person, standard tickets are £99 per person.

 

Last Year’s Live Stream

St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival 2023, Day 2,Pitch 1,

 

St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival 2023, Day 2, Pitch 2

 

St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival 2023, Day 1, Pitch 1

St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival 2023, Day 1, Pitch 2

Travelling to St Joseph’s

Conveniently located just one mile from Ipswich Railway Station, the College and all its facilities sit within 60 acres of beautiful, spacious parkland.

Close to the A12 and A14, St Joseph’s College serves commuters well. It is an hour away from London and Cambridge by train, and with Heathrow Airport just two hours away by car, it is ideally suited for international families.

With a network of St Joseph’s College’s minibus servicing Essex and Suffolk as well as a daily shuttle service to and from the train station, everything is done to ensure a student’s journey to school is as easy as possible.

FAQs

Can I bring dogs?

Unfortunately, as St Joseph’s College is a school, safety is of the utmost importance and whilst we are sure you will clear up after your precious pooches, it takes just one to make it unsafe for pupils.

Can I park on site?

We do have an onsite car park, it’s £10 per car or £15 for both days (booking for two days includes a Festival programme) and this can be paid on the day via the Goldrood entrance on Belstead Road.

Can I get food at the event?

We will be hosting a range of street food suppliers, all serving a variety of delicious options, such as Mac Street Kitchen, Suffolk Spice Kitchen, WoknRoll, Hadleigh Real Thai, Combat2Coffee, Jerk Chicken, Fish&Chips and more!

Contact us
Play Drag Discover