Among the 30,000 people packing the Brighton Community Stadium last weekend, none were closer to the historic and astonishing action than the 10 ball boys and girls from Lewes. Lewes Rugby Football Club and Lewes Priory School successfully applied to the Rugby World Cup organisers to supply the ball-team and all 10 young people were present for both matches. In particular none will forget the experience of kneeling on the sideline only yards away from Japan’s unprecedented 34-32 win over twice World Champions, South Africa on Saturday.

Sara Riley, School Sports Coordinator at Priory said “The kids are high as kites and loved every single moment of it!” Mel Liley, the Rugby Football Union’s Rugby Development Officer who trained them praised the boys and girls “The team were all brilliant, and should be very proud of themselves. They are a part of Rugby World Cup history!”

The Sunday game featured the USA v Samoa which ended up in a comfortable victory to the Pacific Islanders by 25-16 but the match which will live in the memories of the boys and girls all their lives took place on Saturday when Japan, gaining a penalty with the clock already in the red, chose not to end the game with a kick which would have given them a draw but continued running the ball before being rewarded with the match-winning try.

The five boys, who all play for Lewes RFC, are now incredibly motivated for the coming season and Sara Riley and the rugby club are intending to set up girls’ rugby sessions at Priory School. This was a truly magnificent advert for the modern game of rugby illustrating how it is now about guts, fitness, athletic precision and mental strength.

Lewes will be showing the England v Wales game this Saturday night from 7 pm in the clubhouse at the Stanley Turner Ground and this week is the deadline for entering the touch rugby tournament on 3 October.

Pictures by Mel Liley (ball team) and Peter Barron (line out)