Children from Ealing travelled more than 5,000 miles to Las Vegas to represent the UK at the NFL Pro Bowl Games. 

Seven children from Little Ealing Primary School won the 2022 NFL Flag International Championships in Loughborough to secure their place at the event, in which they played against a series of other countries, including Ghana, Mexico, and Canada. 

The children were competing in flag football, which is a non-contact version of American Football, and is the equivalent of touch rugby. 

Team member and Year 6 pupil, Erin, said: "We had a great time and it was really good to meet the other teams. They were really friendly and I have been messaging with girls from the Ghana and Germany teams since we came back." 

Charlie, 10, also in Year 6 at Little Ealing, added: "I really enjoy the sport and, since we got to go to Vegas, a lot more pupils at the school want to play. When we were on the trip, we got to enjoy a lot of different activities, it was really fun." 

After their exploits in Las Vegas, the children will continue to play and hone their skills and their next competition is coming up in west London in April. 

The school's head of PE, Bobby Behzadi, introduced the sport to the school as an extra-curricular activity just before COVID-19 struck. He said: "This is a sport that all children can take part in, there is a role for everyone. It's not just about being quick, you have to think and outwit your opponents. 

"I started off just wanting to get 10 children wanting to play but it's really soared in popularity across the school."