TROWBRIDGE Rugby Club U11’s Matthew Simpson insisted he loved every minute of his Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup experience.

Launched during the 2008-09 season, the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup is the first national grassroots tournament officiated by Premiership Rugby and run in conjunction with all 12 clubs.

And on Sunday Bath Rugby hosted 20 local teams, as more than 300 U12 and U11 players descended on Trowbridge Rugby Club.

In total more than 7,000 children will participate over the course of the campaign as they go in search of a spot at Twickenham for the Aviva Premiership Grand Final on May 28.

While Simpson was not able to lift the U11s Cup trophy, the 11-year-old remained proud of his side as they bounced back to pick up the Plate title after an impressive performance against Sidmouth.

“It feels great to have picked up the plate. I think we won it because we put in a team effort and everyone was trying their hardest,” said the Paxcroft Primary School pupil.

“The final was great and the highlight of the day. We came up against a tough side but we kept going until the end.

“I love rugby and the adrenalin you get from it. Hopefully next year we can come back and lift the cup.

“My favourite team is Bath and my favourite player is George Ford as he plays in the same position as me.”

Elsewhere on the day, Trowbridge U12s reached the quarter-finals, while Corsham Rugby Club were also in attendance with the U11s making the plate semi-finals and the U12s the quarter-finals.

While Chippenham Rugby Club and Devizes Rugby Club’s young stars also put in a number of encouraging performances, including Chippenham Under-11s reaching the Cup semi-finals.

Bath Rugby prop David Wilson was on hand at the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup and, along with scrum-halves Jonathan Evans and Will Homer, was impressed with what he saw.

“The Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup is a great occasion, it’s good to have so many teams playing rugby together,” said Wilson.

“I remember when I was this age, I used to love playing in these tournaments, that was what it was all about.

“It was important to enjoy it and everyone I have spoken to is doing that.

“Rugby at this level is so important. I’ve been impressed with what I have seen out there on the pitches.

“I have very fond memories from when I played rugby as a kid and these guys out there will be making their own memories.

“The chance to run out at Twickenham is a very special one and something that lives with you forever, no matter what you age, so it’s very exciting for those players to play for that opportunity.”

Land Rover is a proud supporter of grassroots rugby and has been a partner of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup for nearly a decade. Land Rover’s ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign continues to champion grassroots rugby through Premiership Rugby and the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup. @LandRover_UK #WeDealInReal