We were pleased to welcome the Toowoomba Valley Phillies Ladies rugby team from Australia to our Federation schools on Tuesday 10 October.

The team have been on tour in England visiting London, Leeds, York and the North East.

Our Federation girls and boys rugby teams were treated to a coaching session delivered by the Australians which hopefully inspired some students to consider rugby as a career option or perhaps to play in Australia.

Following the coaching session, Toowoomba helped run a local schools festival at Astley for around 200 girls.

During their visit to the North East, the Toowoomba ladies team visited Alnwick Castle, desperate to see where Harry Potter was filmed!  They also took on local ladies open age side Whitley Bay Barbarians winning 38 – 8 before flying back to Brisbane, Australia.

Mr Carbutt, teacher in charge of rugby said: "I am once again a very proud teacher. The students of Seaton Valley Federation have once again bought into the opportunities that we try to provide them. To see around 100 girls and a select group of boys taking part in the coaching was fantastic. I would like to place on record my thanks to Dave MacColl for bringing another side over from Australia (previously brought over Merrimac State High School in 2014). I am sure this will help provide inspiration for our girls/boys to continue to represent our school so well at rugby. It has crossed my mind since his last visit we have won a national final and been runners up in another national final, if we can have that record again over the next four years, I would be very pleased indeed. I hope our current year 7s and 8s are now inspired and want to continue the long line of success for our Federation and begin to dream about what can be achieved with commitment and dedication."