Children at Blidworth Oaks Primary School have made it to the NFL Flag National Championship – and the chance to win a trip to Las Vegas.

The youngsters will be competing against 12 schools from around the country in Loughborough on 29th June after winning through two rounds to earn the chance to representing the UK against other international teams at the 2023 Pro Bowl in Las Vegas.

Blidworth Oaks only entered the programme in February and is one of 300 schools now playing Flag Football – a non-contact version of American Football.

The sport is in contention for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and aims to engage people of all ages, genders, and abilities.

Blidworth Oaks Primary School benefited from NFL providing free Flag Football training and equipment to all primary and secondary schools that wish to take part. Boys and girls play the game together – with 53% of participants being female – providing a fully inclusive experience.

To celebrate the NFL Flag National Championship and support the primary school children, a host of NFL stars, including the UK’s own Efe Obada, will be in Loughborough. He will be joined by the ‘Scottish Hammer’, Inverness-born New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan, Minnesota Vikings duo K.J. Osborn, and Danielle Hunter, and BBC pundit and former NFL player Jason Bell.

The 12 schools competing at Loughborough are: Angram Bank Primary School (Sheffield), Middleton Primary School (Peterborough), Ysgol Gwynedd (Flintshire), Turnham Academy (East London), St. Mary’s Hall Stonyhurst (Manchester), Sunningwell Church of England Primary School (Oxford), Castle Bromwich Junior school (Birmingham), Bury Primary School (Huntingdon), Little Ealing Primary School (West London), Fielding Primary School (West London) Blidworth Oaks Primary School (Nottingham), Lings Primary School (Northampton).