A local junior rugby side is celebrating after qualifying for the Lexus National Schools Rugby Tournament.

Bronte House School’s under-11s rugby team booked their place in the competition by winning a regional qualification event at Warwick School.

Jamie Peacock, Deputy Head at Bronte House, hailed the youngsters’ progress to the finals, which will be held in Epsom in March next year.

He said: “It’s an absolutely wonderful achievement. They won every game there and didn’t even concede a point all afternoon.

“They’re absolutely over the moon. The school actually goes on a rugby tour of Bath the week after so it should be a trip to remember.

“They’re an exceptional side with exceptional players and they’re all really good mates as well.”

Peacock is confident the boys are in with a shout of success.

He said: “We’ve had success in that competition in the past but not for a few years. It’s not a common thing at all, it’s almost like a once in a generation thing.

“We’re already reigning north west champions in the Head Masters Cup, which is a seven-a-side tournament, but this is a 12-a-side competition.

“We take rugby very seriously at the school and I think we’ve definitely got a chance of winning it.”