County U17 squad... and now the backs!

The names of almost all of the U17 squad have now been released. In addition to the forwards - whose names appeared on Thursday - the following 11 backs will also be in this season's county squad:

Lana Block (Welwyn); Charisse Fallon (Welwyn); Hannah Gallagher (Welwyn); Victoria Hampshire (Hertford); Harriet Lilley (Welwyn); Rosie Randfield (Letchworth); Alex Robertson (Saracens); Casey Shults (Welwyn); Natalie Threlfall (Letchworth); Sophie-Jane Tyler (Hertford); Megan Williams (Welwyn)

This may not be quite the final list as there are still a few girls who were unable to get to trials who need to be seen and maybe added to the final line up.

In the end 52 girls from eight clubs attended U17 trials this season - or let the selectors know that they wanted to be considered but were unable to take part - compared with 53 from nine last season. Watford RFC sent girls for the first time, but this season there were no girls from Bishops Stortford or Cheshunt.

Of the 24 names announced so far, 11 were in last season's U17 squad, and five made it into the squad having missed out last year. Three girls were selected who had never attended trials before, and finally five girls made the great step up from U14 rugby last season straight into the county U17 squad.

Congratulations to everyone.

The first training session for the U17s will be this Wednesday at the University of Hertfodshire Sports Village from 7.30 to 9.30

As last season there will also be a county "B" team, and all girls who came to trials but missed out are invited back to county training on 15th October at St Christopher School in Letchworth. Remember - last season the "B" team were the region's County Team of the Year after beating Oxfordshire 1st XV, as well as pushing the Essex to the limits, so there is a lot to play for yet!

As last season there will a squad will not be selected at this stage from the U14s - so if you are a U14 and did not get to Stevenage last week there is still a chance to get into the county team! So come along on Sunday 15th October!