Poetry inspired by a love of Rugby on display

The competition, organised by Rugby Art Gallery and Museum and supported by Warwickshire Libraries, invited the borough's budding poets to pen poems inspired by a love of Rugby.

And the winning poems have now gone on display at Regent Place's outdoor MOAT Gallery, under the gaze of the statue of Rugby's celebrated war poet, Rupert Brooke.

Maika Carrillo was crowned the overall winner of the competition for her poem, Rugby Is Where The Heart Is.

Avon Valley School student Naomi Mba, Warwickshire's Young Poet Laureate, has contributed Rugby In My Veins to the display, while the winners of the competition's children's category - seven-year-old Aneesa and 11-year-old Shravani - both penned poems with 'Love Rugby' in the title.

Senior category winners were Jenny Hicks ('Arboreta Rugby'), Erinayo Sorunke ('I Love Rugby') and David G Bailey, whose poem - Rugby Love-Inn - celebrates the town's pubs in the 1970s.

The MOAT Gallery was opened by Rugby Art Gallery and Museum in 2024 to showcase the work of local artists.

The gallery took its name from Moat Street, which incorporated Regent Street until 1924 and was named after a moated manor house which stood at the location in the 12th century. 

This year's Love Rugby Festival launched on Saturday 20 June, offering a packed programme of live music, theatre, art, heritage and sport.

The festival fortnight drew to a close yesterday Sunday (5 July) with the Love Rugby Festival Couch to 5K and one-kilometre fun run, but the winning poems remain on display at the MOAT Gallery until Sunday 20 September.

Cllr Maggie O'Rourke, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for partnerships, health and wellbeing, said: "The Love Rugby Festival brings the whole borough together to celebrate everything Rugby has to offer and we're delighted with the response to this year's festival.

"The winners of the poetry competition have shared personal experiences of living in Rugby - the special places, the special people and the precious memories forever connected with our borough.

"I'd urge everyone to visit the picturesque MOAT Gallery and enjoy the poetry celebrating why we love Rugby."

Cllr Neil Sandison, Rugby Borough Council's Liberal Democrat group spokesperson for partnerships, health and wellbeing, said: "Rugby has a fascinating history of poetry and poets dating back a number of centuries, so it's wonderful the Love Rugby Festival has recognised and honoured this literary heritage by celebrating new poets and poetry."

For more information about exhibitions and events at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, visit www.ragm.co.uk