England Women's 6 Nations 2008

England Women have two 6 Nations Internationals at home this season, but unlike in the previous 2 seasons they won't be taking place at Old Albanians RFC. However, it is not too far to travel from Hertfordshire to watch them as they are being held at London Irish RFC, The Avenue, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5EQ.

The two games are:

• England v. Wales on 2nd Feb 2008.
• England v. Ireland on 15th March 2008

For further details visit Women's rugby at www.rfu.com

Middlesex County Festival 4th November Ealing RFC

U12 Teams: Middlesex and Herts

U15 Teams: Middlesex (A) Herts A (B) East Mids (C) Herts B (D) Hants (E)

U18 Teams: Middlesex (F) Herts (G) East Mids (H) Hants A (I) Hants B (J)

Schedule Time:
2.00 P1 B v. C P2 G v. I P3 A v. E
2.15 P1 F v. J P2 H v. I P3 D v. C
2.30 P1 A v. B P2 F v. G P3 U12's
2.45 P1 D v. E P2 H v. J P3 U12's
3.00 P1 A v. C P2 F v. I P3 U12's
3.15 P1 B v. D P2 G v. H P3 U12's
3.30 P1 F v. H P2 I v. J P3 B v. E
3.45 P1 C v. E P2 G v. J P3 A v. D

Trailfinders Sports Club (Ealing RFC)Castle BarVallis WayWest EalingLondon W13 0DD
Tel: 020 8998 7928

From the A40 take the B452 turn-off towards Ealing (actually signposted as Perivale) along the Argyle Road. Go through two sets of traffic lights keeping in the left hand lane. At the first roundabout, (about 0.5Km) turn right into Vallis Way. Trailfinders Sports Club entrance is at the end of the road.

Match report forms - in case you have forgotten

In their latest mailing RFUW remind all clubs that it is "vital to fill in and return Match Report Forms".

The forms are important. Its not a case of an over officious centre wanting to run everything - RFUW are heavily reliant on outside funding and they have to show grant providers how much rugby is being played, and how many clubs and players are taking part.

It is the responsibility of the home team to return any forms, which can be downloaded here.

County Girls Rugby U18 Squad.

Letchworth: Katie Alcock, Hayley Guilder, Emily Vivian, Charlotte Hughes, Laura Watson, Jess Robinson. Old Albanians: Rebecca Wilkinson.Tabard: Alison McCarthy Welwyn Warriors: Tia Arbery, Lana Block, Ema Burgess, Frankie Dawson, Charisse Fallon, Milly Fuggles, Charlie Sims, Alex Robertson, Megan Williams, Sophie Tyler, Mel Harcourt, Hannah Gallagher, Hannah Smith, Hannah Marques, Casey Shults, Geri Thomas.

Congratulations to all girls selected.

What is East Region? An official correction

Apparently there is an error in this year's "rationale" for regional rugby. For some reason the first draft apparently states that Bedfordshire is included in East this season.

This was news to anyone with any connection with our northern neighbour and Clarie Sanderson from RFUW has now confirmed that this is a mistake. An official correction will be issued shortly.

County U15 Selection

 

Following 3 coaching sessions for the U15 girls, which were attended by a total of 37 girls, it has been decided to run 2 squads for Herts. U15’s this year. In order to ensure that as many girls as possible are able to participate in the County Festivals over the next six weeks and ensure that there is movement on merit, we have decided not to pick separate squads. Instead the A squad for the festivals will be based around the following girls where available: Alice Nee, Melissa Gargaro, Charlie Fallona, Megan Childs, Sydnie Grace, Courtney Arberry, Claire Shutler, Georgia Peedle, Sam Voyle, Shira Killgannon, Alice Finn, Abi Lee and Rachel McCullough. With injury and other factors affecting availability it will be necessary for others to join as part of the team on the day. Everybody therefore still has the chance to play in the festivals for the A squad! The remaining girls will play as the development squad at these Festivals. Looking at the ages of many of the girls, this will be a good opportunity for gaining experience in a competitive environment, before stepping up to play in the main team next year.

 

Simon Shutler 
 U15 Head Coach

Junior player survey

An opinion survey is being circulated around clubs and county teams. The survey is about what you think about the county teams, development days, and training arrangements.

Note that this survey is for EVERYONE - not just those of you who are in the 2007/8 county squads. Even if you have not attended any county days this season (or indeed any other season) we still want to hear from you - because we need to know why!!

All responses will be treated in confidence - there is no need at all to put your name or club or any other personal details (other than for things such as age group) on the form. Nor do you have to answer every question - though obviously the more you tell us the better. You can get a a copy of a survey form from your club or county coach, but if they do not have any copies yet you can download one from here. Forms can then be returned via your coach. Please do not complete more than one form!

It is essential that the county days provide what you want - that you enjoy the experience and find that the days enable you to improve your game - otherwise there is no point. We want to build on what works, and eliminate what doesn't. So lets hear from you - its your game after all!

Take care of your valuables

Fortunately the following warning from the RFU and City of London Police does not concern our area... yet. But its a timely reminder to remain vigilant about any valuables you may bring to matches.

Dear All

It has been brought to our attention that local rugby clubs in the West and South West of London have unfortunately been the victims of thefts and break ins recently. This is almost certainly the work of one individual or small group.

The main problems seem to have been cars of players, referees and others left at the clubs on match days and also training evenings. The other problem has been referees rooms (which have been locked) have been broken into and wallets and valuables have been stolen.

Please can you make your clubs aware of this problem and alert local police of any suspicious behaviour.

Kind
Regards

Laura Fear (RFU)

County Tournament 4th November - Ealing

The latest information regarding the County Tournament on 4th November is:

• Venue: Ealing Trailfinders (http://www.ealingrugby.co.uk/Club/Directions.htm)
• First Games Kick off: 2pm, but all Players should aim to be at the Ground by 1.00 as ready as possible, as changing rooms may not be available until after the earlier Boys matches.
• Tournament Format: still to be decided, but the following Teams should be participating
  U18 – Middlesex, Hants A + B, Herts, East Mids
  U15 – Middlesex, Hants, Herts A+B, East Mids
  U12 – Middlesex, Herts

County Backs Training Monday 22/10 at O.A.s

Due to next week being half term, this will now be an 'Open' event. However there will be a limit on numbers to gain the maximum benefit for both players & coaches.

Please contact your club coach or manager, if you wish to attend and ask them to advise me, on numbers attending. Can clubs also confirm to me which club girls/women's coaches will be attending?

Many thanks,

Dave Marques

County Backs Training Monday 22/10 at O.A.s

There will be County backs training at O.A.s on Monday 22/10 at 7.30pm.

Both U15 and U18 backs are required to be there. Please confirm to me by Thursday Noon this week that you will be attending.

Dave Marques

U18 COUNTY TRAINING SUNDAY 21/10

Please note that as O.A.s is hosting 2 ladies games & a Memorial match, County training will now be at Welwyn. 1.45pm registration, 2pm start.

There are still squad places to be filled so this will be an open session but ALL girls already selected are expected to attend. Please advise me if you cannot attend through injury or any other reason.

Dave Marques
U18 Manager.

Rochford U15 7's

U15 Results
Aylesford Bulls B 0 Basford 36
Aylesford Bulls A 29 Hertford 17
Welwyn Warriors 31 Aylesford Bulls B 10
Basford 21 Aylesford Bulls A 10
Hertford 0 Welwyn Warriors 28
Aylesford Bulls A 10 Aylesford Bulls B 15
Basford 52 Hertford 7
Welwyn Warriors 19 Aylesford Bulls A 19
Aylesford Bulls B 25 Hertford 10
Basford 31 Welwyn Warriors 7

Table Standings
Basford 19 points - Winners
Welwyn 13 points - Runners Up
Aylesford A 10points
Aylesford B 9 points
Hertford 4 points

U12 availability details required

Could anyone interested in playing with the U12s in the two forthcoming festivals (4th and 18th November - details above) please contact John Birch as soon as possible.

One thing we learnt this weekend is that U12s clubs run to a different calendar to girls teams at U15 and U18 level and we cannot guarantee that U12s will be "free" on RFUW county days, so we need to know as soon as possible if a significant number of girls have any "prior engagments". We can assume that the two tournament will be afternoon affairs - starting c2pm, possibly a bit later for the U12s - if that is any help.

Note that you do not need to have previously attended any U12 sessions - we would welcome any girls from the U11 or U12 age bands who wanted a game - so spread the word. Those of you who played this weekend are encouraged to wear your new green shirts with pride (at you club and elsewhere) and encourage any team-mates or opponents to come along and earn their own!

County training this weekend

Its the final Sunday of country training this weekend for the new squads before they go off to do battle at three festivals in November and December. So for the U15s and U18s its back to Welwyn to finalise who is in which team and put some finishing touches in place before the first games after half term - start time as previous weekends (2pm).

Note that, as they played last weekend, the U12s have the weekend "off".

U12s make their debut

The first Ever Hertfordshire U12 team took the field today in an exhibition game at the Rochford Festival. The late withdrawl of a team from Sussex, and the loss of several Essex girls to a minis fixture in Kent, did result in a more low key event than had been hoped.

It was an "unofficial" match - neither county currently recognises an official girls U12 team - but the girls and spectators did not worry about such niceities. Seven Herts girls made the long trip to south Essex, on a day blessed with glorious sunshine, and wore some specially prepared t-shirts with pride.

In fact the Herts girls outnumbered their hosts and so the first try by a Herts U12 girls was scored by Byrony Pomfret against Hertfordshire.

"Essex" (mainly Rochford's U12s) were five tries up on the small pitch before Herts scored - and 7-2 ahead at half time - but the girls in green did not give up. Inspired in the second half by Byrony changing sides Herts gradually closed the gap, drawing level in the final minute before stealing the game in the final play, coming out 12-11 winners.

A few girls also arrived a bit late for the team photo at the start (below) - Rochford RFC can be a challenge to find!

U12s at Rochford Festival: times and other details

Availability:
Please can you confirm your availability for next Sunday to John Birch as soon as possible. Anyone is welcome to come along - if we get too many girls for one team we will field two!

Kick-off time:
The U12 section of the Rochford Festival next Sunday will begin at around 1pm - so please arrive by c12.30. The festival as a whole begins at 10am for U15s and U18s, but there is obviously no need for U12s to arrive that early unless they want to cheer their local club teams on. There will now be at least three teams as there will be a U12 side coming up from Worthing in Sussex so it is difficult to predict when the games will finish.

Kit:
In the long run we will be getting U12 county shirts, but these can take a while to arrive even after we have obtained the necessary funding. In the meanwhile Heather's husband, Mike, is producing some t-shirts in Hertfordshire-green, complete with crests and numbers, which players will be able to wear - possibly over the top of an existing rugby shirt - so the girls shold look good!

Beyond that please bring gumshields and boots, preferably boots with "rugby" studs (all sports shop will have these). It will probably also be a good idea to arrive already changed if possible.

Directions:
Rochford can be quite hard to find, so if you have access to SatNav you will find it invaluable. The address for the club is: Rochford Hundred Rugby Football Club, The Rugby Park, Magnolia Road, Hawkwell, Essex. SS4 3AD. The directions on the Rochford website are:

• Leave M25 at junction 29. Join A127 in direction of Basildon and Southend
• Continue until you reach Rayleigh Weir junction. Take slip road left, A129 towards Rayleigh.
• Stay on this road through Rayleigh town centre, following signs for Hockley.
• At traffic lights at the top of the High Street (Church on left), go straight on.
• Follow the road for 2-3 miles, going straight ahead at three mini roundabouts.
• At next mini roundabout (Spa Public House facing), take left fork.
• Follow the road past the shops, under railway bridge (Greensward Lane), continue past college on right for 1-2 miles, then past Ashingdon Primary school on left, continue on this road towards Ashingdon going up the hill, then on for another 2-3 miles until you reach mini roundabout (shops on your right), turn right at roundabout (Rectory Road).
• Take the third turning on your right just before the traffic light (Magnolia Road).
• This will become an un-made road continue down for about a half a mile, the club is on your right.

County Girls Rugby U18 Training - Forwards.

There will be forwards training at Old Albanians on Monday 8th October, 7pm.

All County forwards are requested to attend, together with any other girls wanting to trial for the remaining forward squad positions.

When you arrive at O.A.s please repot to Clive Cramphorn The U18s County Coach.

Thank you

Dave Marques, U18s Team Manager.

County Girls Rugby U18 Squad.

I am writing to let you know I have taken the decision to step down as coach for the U18s.

This is due to a number of reasons, mainly my commitments with my new job which requires me to be available on evenings and some weekends. Looking at the dates up to December I am unavailable for a number of training or fixtures. Therefore it seems unrealistic for me to continue as head coach when I will not be able to commit my time fully.

Hopefully with Clive on board for the 2nd team, which due to lack of numbers has not been created, and Luke there will be plenty of coaches able to work with the team this season.

At present myself and Catherine are joint signatures for the bank account. I would suggest we pass this over to Dave and one other in the near future.

Good luck for the rest of the season.

Best regards

Vicky Lowe

U12s now to play at Middlesex Festival

A third U12 fixture has now been confirmed. The Middlesex Festival on 4th November (venue to be confirmed, but presumably somewhere in Middlesex!) will feature U12s as the hosts have confirmed that they will be able to put a team together. This will as much a team of "beginners/mini players" ourselves so it sounds a well matched game.

Again as with the previous festivals now that it is confirmed that there will be at least two teams there it is possible that we might get a few more.

U12s to debut at Rochford

It has just been confirmed that there will be a U12 game at the Rochford Girls Rugby Festival on Sunday 14th October. Our opponents will be a South Essex team organised by Rochford RFC. Further details - including kick-off times - will be available shortly (obviously these will depend a little of whether or not any other teams enter).

The Rochford Festival is probably the region's most prestigious - and certainly oldest - girls' rugby festival. Orginally for only the oldest girls age group, it was expanded to include U14s (now U15s) teams in 2005, and will feature U12 teams for the first time in 2007. In fact this will almost certainly be the first ever girls rugby fixture for U12 teams. So, if you (or your daughter!) want to make a bit of rugby history let John Birch know about your availability as soon as possible.

Hertfordshire have a good record of success at Rochford, with Welwyn winning the U14 and U17 tournaments in 2005, followed by Letchworth in the U17 event in 2006.

County Girls Rugby U18 Squad.

Following yesterday's session 21 of the 25 strong squad were selected as below. The remaining 4 places will be decided at the next County training dates which will be confirmed shortly. All those girls that have turned up for either of the County dates held so far, are invited back to train, where a final decision will be made.

Confirmed U18 selections:
Letchworth: Katie Alcock, Hayley Guilder, Emily Vivian, Jess Robinson. Saracens: Grace Fabian, Amanda Finch. Welwyn Warriors: Tia Arbery, Lana Block, Ema Burgess, Frankie Dawson, Charisse Fallon,

Hannah Gallagher, Milly Fuggles, Charlie Sims, Alex Robertson, Megan Williams, Sophie Tyler, Hannah Smith, Hannah Marques, Casey Shults, Geri Thomas.

Congratulations to all girls selected.