Three Hertfordshire names in England U20 squad

Hertfordshire's Mica Evans, Georgia Peedle, and Leanne Riley - all now with Saracens - have been included in the 2012/13 England U20 team, announced today.

The team will play France, home and away, before taking part in the U20 Nations Cup, which  returns to England for the first time since 2009.

Three other players with Hertfordshire connections - Hannah Gallagher, Maggie Alphonsi and Michaela Staniford - were also included in the Elite squad.

England coach Gary Street said: “The 2012/2013 season will unquestionably be one of the most demanding seasons ever. We have very comprehensive XVs and Sevens programmes in place as we build towards the World Cup in 2014 in France and also with the Sevens World Cup in 2013.”

Herts 7s CANCELLED

Due to the adverse weather and more rain forecast tomorrow's Herts 7s Festival has had to be cancelled.

New Hertfordshire cluster team established

Calling all girls aged 16 and 17!

If you'd like to play rugby come and join the new Herts Ba Baa's U18 girls rugby team, preparing now for season 2012-13 which kicks of in September.

The following clubs are working together to provide rugby at this age group for anyone in any part of the country. You can contact any of the following clubs through their coaches..

Bishops Stortford John Boyle JBoyle@netshapetech.com


Hemel Hempstead RFC Chaulden Lane, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2BS Manager Debby Kline -debbyk1@sky.com

Hertford RFC, Hoe Lane, Ware, SG12 9NZ
Head Coach- Mel Timpsonmelanietimpson@btinternet.com
Old Albanians RFC  The WoollamsPlaying Fields, 160, Harpenden Rd, St Albans, AL3 6BB
Head coach Jane Everett  junior.oasaints@yahoo.co.uk

Royston RFC The Heath Sports Club, Therfield Heath, Baldock Rd, Royston, SG8 5BG
Manager Fiona-fas2a-fiona@yahoo.co.uk

All these clubs also have girls  teams at U13, (years 7&8,)  and  U15 (years 9 & 10), as well as providing rugby for girls aged 6 to 10 years.

Youth Calendar for 2012-13

Alphonsi’s girls enjoy divisional festival finish

The competition phase of the Rugby Football Union for Women’s (RFUW) divisional programme for 2011-12 came to a successful conclusion with a festival of matches, training and coaching for Under 15s and under 18s at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire over the weekend of March 31 and April 1.

Each of the four divisional under 15s sides played 40-minute matches against the other three divisions, while the U18s completed their season’s series with the North defeating London 22-14 and the South West as 49-5 winners over the Midlands.

There were also coaching clinics split into forwards and backs, attended by international players Danielle Waterman, La Toya Mason and Isabelle Noel Smith as well as a number of RFUW divisional coaches who gave the girls a different perspective to build their personal development.

All the girls may hope to follow the example of Maggie Alphonsi, the England Women’s international flanker who is the London & South East talent development officer.

Alphonsi, who recently helped England Women win the Six Nations Grand Slam, was on hand at Hartpury to run her experienced eye over all four divisions’ budding stars.

“Overall the divisional programme has been a great success and I am pleased by the number of good players we have had come through the pathway,” said Alphonsi.
“With this being the last set of fixtures for both U18 and U15 age groups all divisions were looking to end on a high and demonstrate their skills.”

Each of the four divisions selected a player of the festival.

Izzy Collis (Sussex and South Sussex Barbarians) and Scarlett Millen (Kent and Folkestone) were the London & South East winners in the U15s and 18s respectively, for their overall contribution across the weekend.

The next step for all the players in the RFUW divisional programme this season is the chance to be selected for national talent development groups.

Around 30 players each will go to an Under 15s camp at Wellington College, and three camps for the U18s, while others may be involved in summer training camps.

Development of players is the principal aim in the RFUW divisional programme, which runs at three age levels – seniors, U18s and U15s – and forms an integral part of the RFUW Player Pathway helping talented girls move from club rugby to representing their county, their division and their country.

Left to right; Courtney Arberry; Lotte Clapp;
Olivia Stenbridge; Maggie Alphonsi;
Scarlett Cooper-Wall; Shira Kilgallon; Oren Blindell

London & South East Under 18s:
Bozenna Jackson, Southwold and Eastern Counties
Madeleine Lockwood, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Yasmin Pemberton, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Catherine Pugh, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Vicky Childs, Ellingham & Ringwood and Hampshire
Zoe Barber, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Fran Hall, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Zoe Joslin, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Courtney Arberry, Welwyn and Hertfordshire
Oren Bindell, Welwyn and Hertfordshire
Lotte Clapp, Welwyn and Hertfordshire
Scarlett Cooper-Wall, Welwyn and Hertfordshire
Sydney Gregson, Welwyn and Hertfordshire
Shira Kilgallon, Welwyn and Hertfordshire
Olivia Stembridge, Welwyn and Hertfordshire
Scarlett Millen, Folkestone and Kent
Samantha Parker, Folkestone and Kent
Hannah Phillip, Beckenham and Kent
Flo Williams, Aylesford and Kent
Serena Carter, London Irish and Surrey
Lydia Davey, London Irish and Surrey
Gemma Joblanska, London Irish and Surrey
Siobhan Longdon-Hughes, London Irish and Surrey
Amber Luke, London Irish and Surrey
Rebecca Pritchard, London Irish and Surrey
Rochelle Smith, London Irish and Surrey
Emma Swords, London Irish and Surrey
Gabie Archer, Worthing and Sussex.

Left to right; Ellena Perry; Harriet Austin; Zoe Harrison;
Maggie Alphonsi; Hayley Everett; Rosie Kay; Katy Walker

London & South East Under 15s
Chloe Rix, Lakenham Hewett and Eastern Counties
Lucy West, Colchester and Eastern Counties
Georgia Bradley, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Emily Ferguson, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Faye Smale, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Megan Okey, Thurrock and Essex
Hannah West, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Alex Clay, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Harriet Austin, Hertford and Hertfordshire
Hayley Everett, Old Albanians and Hertfordshire
Ellena Perry, Welwyn and Hertfordshire
Zoe Harrison, Welwyn and Hertfordshire
Rosie Kay, Hertford and Hertfordshire
Katy Walker, Hertford and Hertfordshire
Ella Levey, Aylesford and Kent
Georgina Neary, Aylesford and Kent
Laura Tolley, Aylesford and Kent
Tazmin Bricknell, Medway and Kent
Aegean Leech, Aylesford and Kent
Daisy Lengthorn, Aylesford and Kent
Elizabeth Nicholl, Aylesford and Kent
Boo Wadhams, Medway and Kent
Sarah Bern, London Irish and Surrey
Jessica Boyd, London Irish and Surrey
Hannah Trenholm, London Irish and Surrey
Eleanor Boatman, London Irish and Surrey
Charley Brunton, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex
Jessica Breach, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex
Hermione Caddick, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex
Izzy Collis, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex.

Junior Divisional Championship 2012

London and South East U15s won the first official divisional championship for their age band last at the Divisional Festival at Hartpury College last weekend. However, as last year when they  were "unofficial" winners, the tournament went right down to the wire. L&SE, North and Midlands all won two of their three games, but L&SE - with six Hertfordshire girls in the squad - took the title with a superior points difference.

Results:
North 17, London and South East 10
London and South East 24, South West 15
South West 5, North 36
Midlands 0, London and South East 29
Midlands 19, North 5
South West 17, Midlands 24

The U18s were less fortunate. Winners last season, L&SE's older girls lost their opening game to South West - who went on to take the title with an impressive 100% record. L&SE's girls recovered from their opening game to beat Midlands, but then lost to North last weekend to finish a disappointing third.

Results:
Midlands 13, North 12
London and South East 19, South West 38
South West 29, North 5
Midlands 7, London and South East 27
North 22, London and South East 14
Midlands 5, South West 49

OA U15s play on 1st team pitch for first time

U15 girls rugby: Junior Saints win against Wootton School 27-22

Wednesday evening at Old Albanains RFC saw the first ever evening match between the U15 girls and a school team, held at the club, and the girls played on the 1st team pitch!

All the senior women were there to cheer the girls on in a very competitive match.

Interestingly the school team had been coached by Emma Nichol, Captain of the Saints 2nd XV, while the junior Saints have been coached by the club's own Jane Everett, a former Saint and former England player. Jane also holds a winners medal from when the England women won the the Rugby World Cup in 1994.

The junior Saints were Captained by Hayley Everett who has also played for the Herts County team and is currently in the RFUW London & SE Divisional team. Hayley took up rugby when she was 11 years old. We wonder if her rugby talent is hereditary as her aunt Cath Everett is also a former Saint and used to play for England A team. Clearly a player to watch.

Captain Hayley Everett said, “ Both teams really enjoyed themselves because it was a very competitive match reflected in the close final score of 27-22 to the Saints. All the junior Saints played well and brought all the hours of training on the park to fruition. We are delighted that Wooton School would like to make this a regular fixture. .”

Regional Girls Schools Festival

U15 tournament:
All 4 semi finalists were from Hertfordshire - Hockerill, Presdales, Chauncy and Nobel.
Presdales beat Hockerill in a very close final.

U13 tournament:
3 out 4 semi finalists were from Hertfordshire – Beaumont, Presdales and Hitchin.
Beaumont won the final.

51 school teams took part with schools from London North (Herts, Essex, and Eastern Counties)