Millwall Rugby Club is preparing to host a special Rugby World Cup launch party this weekend, writes Emily Thomas.

While England begin their campaign against Argentina in France, Millwall's youth section kick-off their season on Sunday.

The club train in Millwall Park and welcome players of all genders and abilities aged three to 16, with no prior experience needed.

Tots (nursery and reception) train from 10-10.45am, with sessions for under-six to under-eights from 10-11am and under-nine to under-16s from 11am-12.30pm.

The Millwall club was founded in 1995, a pinnacle year for the sport as it embraced professionalism, with South Africa’s World Cup victory later becoming the stuff of Hollywood movies.

Inspired by that World Cup, a group of men who met weekly to throw a rugby ball around in Millwall Park decided it was time to join forces and create a competitive team.

Originally named Millwall Albion RFC, they played a remarkable 31 fixtures across London and the South East in their first season, winning 16 of them.

In 1996, the club was officially renamed Millwall Rugby Club and granted league status in Eastern Counties Division Five - winning the league title at its first time of asking.

Nearly 30 years later, Millwall Rugby Club are holding a Rugby World Cup launch event when local school children will have a chance to try rugby for the first time and the clubhouse will be showing live matches on the big screen.

It should be the perfect event to inspire the next generation of rugby enthusiasts, with Millwall now boasting several men’s, women's and youth teams, who have regular training and fixtures.

Many of the juniors go on to play for the senior sides, enabling a real sense of family at the club.

"We provide a nurturing and inclusive environment for players to develop their skills, but we also foster a strong sense of camaraderie off the field," said club secretary Kate Roy.

The volunteer-led club has become integral to the Isle of Dogs community over the past three decades, serving as a hub for rugby fans of all ages and those living and working locally from all over the world, including France, Spain, Japan, America, New Zealand, and South Africa.

"Millwall Rugby Club embodies the same ethos as the World Cup, celebrating people from all over the world coming together in the name of rugby," added Roy.

The local community grouped together and managed to raise the funds needed to build a clubhouse nestled under the railway arches adjacent to Island Gardens DLR station.

This meant the club could begin playing in its birthplace, Millwall Park, and this year has seen them install a bleed control kit outside the club house, in partnership with the Daniel Baird Foundation, after another fundraising initiative praised as a critical step to enhance public safety and save lives.

"The best way to get involved is to head down to the clubhouse and chat to the people who make this rugby club so special," added Roy.

*Dates for upcoming matches and training can be found on the club website, with more details via email youthchair@millwallrugby.com.