Alongside Keighley Albion U9s, Silsden Storn U9’s headed over to Keighley Cougars for a full experience day, and despite the wind and rain doing their best to interrupt things, the energy from the kids never dipped.
The day kicked off with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Cougar facilities. Changing rooms, gym, the lot. The kind of spaces young players imagine when they think about “making it”, and you could see that spark of excitement as they walked through.
They even got the chance to meet Chelsea Cougar, the club’s mascot, which definitely went down well and brought plenty of smiles (and probably a few photos too).
The visit to the gym wasn’t just a look around either. The players got stuck into some drills, giving them a small taste of how the professionals train. Safe to say, there was plenty of effort, a bit of competitiveness, and a lot of enjoyment.
Then came a Q&A session with some of the Cougars players. Loads of questions, a few laughs, and some really honest, down-to-earth answers. The sort of moments that stick with kids more than you’d expect. Not just about rugby, but about effort, mindset, and enjoying the game.
There was also a quiz thrown into the mix, which brought out a bit of friendly competition (and maybe a few confident guesses), before the highlight of the day… walking out onto the pitch.
The U9s had the chance to walk out with the Cougars ahead of their game against the Midlands Hurricanes, and that’s one of those things they’ll be talking about for a while. Standing on that pitch, hearing the atmosphere build, it’s a proper memory.
A big thank you goes to Graig McDowell for organising and hosting such a great day, and to the Cougars players who gave up their time to chat, answer questions, and make the experience what it was.
Days like this are about more than just rugby. They build confidence, create inspiration, and remind everyone why they love the game in the first place.
Rain or not, a top day all round.
