THE RED Rockets will be hoping to show life’s a beach in their latest rugby tournament today.

The South Woodham-based side are lining up in this afternoon’s London Beach Rugby event in Finsbury Square.

And Rockets’ director of rugby Jack Kershaw – whose team lined up at Saracens’ Allianz Park base last weekend – is looking forward to an unusual and entertaining afternoon.

“This is a unique place to play rugby and the organisers go to great lengths to organise the event,” said Kershaw.

“The day will get thousands of spectators from city workers casually walking over for a beer and there will be some great entertaining rugby played too.

“Beach rugby is played at a great pace and being only five-a-side it offers entertaining action for spectators and is a real fitness test for the players with games lasting 14 minutes.”

Seevic College’s George Griffiths, Jake Spivey and Norbetas Radzevicius will also be lining up for the Rockets.

And Kershaw is again looking forward to seeing some of south Essex’s top young talent in action.

“It is great to have so many local boys in the squad,” said Kershaw.

“Nine out of the 10 boys all come from Essex with some real local talent on show.

“George Griffiths has earned another call up following an impressive run out at the Essex Sevens .

Echo:

In action - George Griffiths

“Southend’s Norbetas Radzevicius is playing along with Ollie Trigg of South Woodham Ferrers and Jake Spivey of Westcliff, so we have a strong opportunity for more success but it’s just about having fun today really.”

Today’s tournament is being held to raise money for the Air Ambulance charity and comes on the back of RED Rockets’ success at the National Finals on Sunday, where they won the plate competition.

The team will once again be led by Tony Woods, the head coach of Essex, who is relishing the change of surface.

“Beach rugby is great fun and, as a school teacher in the holidays, I am able to be involved for the day,” said Woods.

“It is great for the future of Essex rugby to see a strong squad of 10 from such local young rugby talent.

“Beach rugby is good fun but very tiring on the legs, so it will be good to see how we get on.”

The Rockets are being sponsored for the event by tacklingrugby.com, Barons Barbers of South Woodham Ferrers and Little Scrummers Rugby.

But the event will not be Rockets’ last one of the sevens season as they will also be heading to Staines next weekend where Kershaw will be aiming to finish on a high.

“Beach rugby is going to be great fun and a bit of a unknown, but next Saturday we want to end the season on a high,” said Kershaw.

“With more lads from Essex in the squad for the Staines Sevens we are confident of more silverware.

"But creating a sevens pathway for Essex is our long-term dream and with the recent success of being named National Plate Champions we have had a taste of success.

“Now we want to taste more and continue to deliver it for the county.”

>For more details on today’s charity event visit www.londonbeachrugby.com/