CBs
Gloucestershire Girls
Gloucestershire girls’ programme for the U18s and the U15s saw a trial day held at Hartpury College when 32 players in the U18 group vied for selection to the final squad of 25, whilst the U15s had 28 players register for a squad of 20. The standard of play and levels of commitment were of a consistently high standard, making selection a challenging task. Both squads played their first matches at the start of November with a triangular fixture between Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Somerset. The U18s team lost a closely fought battle with Hertfordshire after leading 5-0 going into the last five minutes. However, Hertfordshire crossed the line twice in quick succession to win 5-12. Gloucestershire’s game against Somerset saw them win 12-0. The Gloucestershire U15 squad recorded wins in both of their games, securing a 15-0 victory in the first match and a 36-12 win in the second. Hartpury College’s ongoing support of women’s and girls’ rugby within Gloucestershire is extremely valuable.
Leicestershire School of Rugby Education Day
Darren Gourley, Talent Identification and Development Coach, Midlands East
Leicester Tigers Academy supported the Leicestershire School of Rugby Education day held at Loughborough University last month, with all the players able to discuss life as a Leicester Tigers Academy player with third year Academy players Jack Owens and Gareth Clarke. With Kevin Mannion, Tigers Strength and Conditioning coach, supporting them they delivered a question and answer workshop with all age groups. Jack and Gareth were then bombarded with questions ranging from education opportunities, to whether you were allowed to eat pizzas! The School of Rugby players also took part in workshops delivered by Loughborough University Sports Science Service. In total 58 players attended the day with over 60 parents and coaches taking part in two workshops. The day was made possible by funding from the Sport England Club and Coach Award for Midlands East and Leicester Tigers, Leicestershire RFU, Loughborough University and the RFU
Hampshire search for new Prop Idol
The popular Hampshire ’Prop Idol’ competition got under way for 2009-10 with more than 30 boys and girls aged between 13 and 18 at Andover RFC for heat one of the county-wide search for front row stars of the future. The youngsters from Andover, Basingstoke and Ellingham & Ringwood rugby clubs received expert coaching from two professional rugby stars from Guinness Premiership side London Irish who are supporting the Hampshire RFU competition through to the final in March 2010. Further heats will be held at Ringwood (January 18), Aldershot (February 8) and Portsmouth (March 8), with winners going forward to the final on March 29 at Sunbury as a warm-up to the London Irish v London Wasps A team fixture. Testway Housing, local social housing landlords, are jointly sponsoring the event with Hampshire RFU through their community sports programme, Testway 7s, which includes a coaching programme geared around safe and effective body management. Neal Hatley, the London Irish Academy Manager, and England Saxons squad prop Alex Corbisiero put the teenagers through their paces for heat one and parents were given a presentation by representatives from Hampshire RFU. Said Neal, “Prop Idol is a great scheme and it’s noticeable how many front row players are coming through from youth rugby especially in Hampshire.” Andover RFC’s Youth Academy Chairman Dickie Staff added, “It was particularly pleasing for four of the six winners to come from Andover’s Youth Academy.” Andover heat winners: Girls, Amber Keenan & Miranda Paxton; Boys U13s, Toby Redshaw and Harry Goodridge; U14s – Charlie Eaves, Daniel Evans and Ross Catlin.
Herts A v Middlesex Clubs
Hertfordshire A entertained Middlesex clubs at a wild and windy Old Albanians RFC last month when the latest match between the two counties saw players selected from level 7 and below. Clubs represented from Herts were: St Albans, Hitchin, Datchworth, Hemel Hempstead, Fullerians, Old Ashmoleans and Tabard. The teams play for the David Ransom Cup in memory of the late Middlesex president. Herts won the closely fought match 22 -11. Despite the conditions, both side tried to play running rugby in strong wind. Hertfordshire again produced a programme and on this occasion supporters were asked for a donation to the Samoa Tsunami relief fund.
Sussex clubs get RFU support in Horsham
Hugh Godwin
The Business & Enterprise Centre at The Forest School in Horsham was the venue for a successful first stage of the inaugural Sussex club support programme managed by RFU development officer Mal Chumbley. Running in conjunction with Sussex RFU, the three-stage programme kicked off with an evening of workshops and informal meetings in which volunteers gained useful advice and information from – and fed back ideas of best practice to – professional staff from several RFU departments. The second and third stages comprised Rugby First training on November 25, and an O2 Pathfinder review and Club Volunteer Co-ordinator launch on December 2. Representatives from 11 Sussex clubs and the CB took part in a variety of workshops and there was also a video presentation of the “This is Rugby” campaign based on the game’s five Core Values: Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship. Clubs were made aware of the opportunity to hold or host Core Values workshops with the potential to link with Guinness Premiership player appearances and coaching. Mal Chumbley, Sussex RDO, said. “The evening, the first of its kind in the county, was attended by some smaller clubs keen to increase player numbers and to pick up ideas and information from RFU staff. We are hopeful this will become an annual event.” Rugby in Sussex is in good shape with 14 of the 22 clubs which have youth sections having earned the RFU Mini & Youth Seal of Approval, and the others working towards the accreditation by March 2011. Graham Thompson, RFU Council member for Sussex, said, “Everybody said the evening was one of the most productive CB meetings they had been to, with lots of useful information gleaned and distributed, and the RFU staff were fantastic in giving their time and support – both on the evening and for the planned future events.” For more information contact Mal Chumbley 07793 167075 or malchumbley@rfu.com
