WILTSHIRE'S Jonny Wilkinsons of the future kicked off their very own rugby world cup when they scrummed down at Devizes School's U12 rugby tournament on Saturday.

The school's deputy PE teacher Matt Hammond said the influence of England's world cup-winning rugby team was everywhere to see.

Mr Hammond, who organised the tournament, said in one match he watched a youngster crash over the try line and emulate Jason Robinson's try scoring celebration against Australia.

The standard of rugby was higher than ever with famous rugby playing school Millfield, where Welsh scrum-half legend Gareth Davies learnt his trade, taking part in the tournament for the first time.

There were 17 teams in the fifth annual ten-a-side competition, from as far away as Devon and Dorset, including two sides from the hosts.

Each team had five forwards and five backs in squads of up to 16 players, and they were organised into four groups of five.

The top three of each group went into the cup competition, and the bottom two of each group took part in the vase. Teams knocked out in the first stages of the cup's knock out stages competed for the plate.

Millfield won the main competition, beating Clevedon B 20-0 in the final. The vase went to Sheldon School, who beat Chippenham rivals Abbeyfield 10-0 in the final. Downside won the plate competition, beating Grittleton House 10-5.

The tournament started at 9am and has traditionally finished at 3pm, but because so many of the quarter and semi final matches went into extra time the final of the cup did not finish until 4.15pm.

Mr Hammond said the highlight of the competition was Abbeyfield's match against Kingshill, which went into double extra time, and then drop goal penalties, which Abbeyfield won.

"It was a fantastic day, apart from the fact that the moment we got there until about 1pm it rained non stop," Mr Hammond said.

"There were a lot of wet adults and children running around, but even in the dreadful conditions the standard of rugby was outstanding and everyone played really well."

The tournament has slowly expanded in the past few years and there were more than 300 spectators and players battling on the school's six playing pitches.

Mr Hammond, said: "At the moment the school is trying to apply for sports college status and so we're trying to promote the school with lots of large sporting events."

For the first time in the tournaments history a special fair play award was introduced into the competition.

Each referee took charge of all the games in a particular group and was asked to record the teams' attitudes and any examples of sportsmanship.

After the group stages the referees were invited to pass on their thoughts to the tournaments organisers who awarded the trophy to Clevedon B.

Mr Hammond said the event relies heavily on sponsorship and he was grateful to Safeway for providing all the food, which meant everyone was able to have a hot lunch.