FREE Rugby Ready course

Saracens Sport Foundation will be holding a free Rugby Ready course at Herts University on 7th March. This is funded as part of our Girls Rugby programme and would like to invite any coaches/parents or players that are involved in girls rugby at your club to attend. Please see below for more details and the booking form is attached.
(Players must be 16 years old to participate.)

We look forward to seeing you there.

FREE Rugby Ready course

as part of the Saracens Girls Rugby Programme

The Saracens Sport Foundation & the RFU would like to invite you to attend the following course:

Rugby Ready Course
Hertfordshire University Sports Village, DeHaviland Campus, Hatfield, AL10 9EU
Monday 7th March
4:30pm – 7:00pm
Cost: FREE

The IRB Rugby Ready session is designed to help teachers develop professionally and is an excellent opportunity for experienced teachers or those new to rugby to develop a greater understanding of the basic rugby and contact skills required in Rugby union.

The course is being held as part of the Saracens Girls Rugby programme being delivered in Hertfordshire and North London and will aid your preparation for the RFU Year 7/8 Girls rugby competition taking place at the end of March.

The course lasts for approximately 2 ½ hours and is practical-based. There is no formal assessment and the completion of this course will make you eligible to apply for the UKCC Level 1 course.

At the conclusion of the course you will have gained:

• An understanding of how to deliver a safe and enjoyable practical session
• Knowledge of how to coach and improve contact skills & particularly the tackle
• Knowledge of how to coach and improve scrummage engagement skills
• Knowledge of contact skills

Please fill out this application form (MS Word) and return it to me by email or at the address below to book yourself onto the course and we will then be in touch with further information.

In the mean time if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call me on 07590 890801 or simoneshepherd@saracens.net.

Simone Shepherd | Sports Development Officer
Saracens Sport Foundation, Hertfordshire Sports Village, DeHaviland Campus, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9EU
M +44 (0)7590 890801 | T +44 (0)1707 285026 F +44 (0)1707 270748
E simoneshepherd@saracens.net | W www.saracens.com

Gallagher scores match-winner in England U20 triumph

Hertfordshire's Hannah Gallagher scored the vital try that finally finished off the French in England U20s game at Worcester today. At the end of a tense encounter, Hannah - who the RFU report describe as a "powerhouse flanker, who enjoyed a storming game" - took advantage of a quickly taken England penalty to "barge her way over the try-line to score the decisive touchdown".

A full report is on the RFU website.

Rugby Awareness Week set to roll out across Hertfordshire

WITH the RBS 6 Nations tournament well underway, rugby is more than ever in the limelight. And that’s especially going to be the case in Hertfordshire, with Rugby Awareness Weeks set to roll out across the county from now until March 19.

Saracens' Charlotte Barras (far right), who captained England Women in 2009, coaching some girls at an event run by Saracens Foundation

Rachel McCullough and Oren Blindell, from Welwyn RFC, are again working with Herts rugby volunteer Amanda Bate to organise this initiative.

Last season 62 young people stood up in assembly in 42 schools.

This time it’s taking place during the RBS 6 Nations period and the clubs which have provided speakers in schools are Welwyn RFC, Bishop’s Stortford RFC, Royston RFC, Hemel Hempstead RFC who are all developing girls rugby, and Chess Valley RFC and Verulamiums RFC who are building boys teams.

The schools taking part in allowing the young players to talk about the fun they have at their clubs and the five core values embraced by rugby across the country-Teamwork, Respect, Discipline, Enjoyment, Sportsmanship, are; Meridian, St Mary’s Catholic School (Bishop’s Stortford), Hockerill, Dame Alice Owen’s, Nicholas Breakspear, Marlborough, Verulam, Townsend, Clement Danes, Rickamansworth, Cavendish and JFK, Sir John Laws, Sir Frederic Osborn, St George’s, Chauncy, Richard Hale and Queens’.

Opportunity: Youngsters in the county will get a chance to ask players

There will be 30 speakers aged 12 to 18, girls and boys.

Amanda Bate said: “Both our England rugby teams are doing very well in the RBS 6 Nations, and we are sure that their success coupled with the Rugby Awareness inititiave, will spur young people to join their local rugby club.

“Rugby is enormous fun both on and off the field, and friends made through rugby, become friends for life.

“Anyone interested in playing rugby should either speak to the young person who will be talking about rugby in their school assembly of go to, www.hertsrugby.co.uk, or they can contact me at amanda.bate@hotmail.com.”

Gallagher in England U20s team v France

Hannah Gallagher will represent Hertfordshire in England's first U20 game of the season, when they take on France at Worcester in a "triple header" that also includes England's men's U20 and the senior England women's team on Sunday.

Hannah, who learnt her game at Welwyn, now plays for Saracens and London & SE Division and is the county's only representative in a squad that is dominated by players from the South West. However, many of the names will be familiar opponents at club level for many Hertfordshire women and girls.

The full team is:

15 Lucy Demaine (Bristol, Devon, South West)
14 Katie Mason (Bristol, Somerset, South West)
13 Amber Reed (Bristol, Somerset/Devon, South West)
12 Ceri Large (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West)
11 Rebecca Hughes (Bristol, Somerset, South West)
10 Natasha Jones(Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)
9 Fiona Davidson (Richmond, Surrey,London & South East)
1 Emily Kingston (Gloucester, Gloucestershire, South West)
2 Daniker Willmore (Bristol, Somerset, South West)
3 SarahGeorge (Bristol, Devon, South West)
4 Ellen Gattlin (Rochford Hundred, Essex, London & South East)
5 Fiona Fletcher (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)
6 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens, Hertfordshire, London & South East)
7 Kayleigh Callaway-Bawden (Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees), Cornwall South West)
8 Harriet Mills (C) (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)

Replacements:
16 Charlie Notman (Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees), Cornwall, South West)
17 Mica Evans(Exeter Saracens, Devon,South West)
18 Abbie Scott (Keswick, Cumbria,North)
19 Alexandra Matthews (London Irish, Surrey, London & South East)
20 Charlotte Keane (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West)
21 Emily Scott (Thurrock, Essex, London & South East)
22 Amy Wilson-Hardy (Bristol, Sussex, South West)

London & South East U18s 15, South West 15

London & South East drew their first divisional game of the season (or, indeed, ever) with South West 15-15 at Newbury on Sunday. Those present report that it was a tough game, with defences on top and excellent tackling from both squads.


Hertfordshire's Sam Voyle and Georgia Peedle played the whole match, while Alice Nee, Shira Kilgannon and Claire Shutler came off the bench during the second half.

London & South East U18s v South West, 20th February

Maggie Alphonsi, England Womens flanker and Talent Development Officer for the RFUW in London & South East, has named the regions team for their inaugural Under 18s match against the South West at Newbury RFC on Sunday (February 20).

The Under 18s will hope to emulate the senior London & South East side who won their inaugural match against the South West at Newbury last Sunday (February 13) by 15-5 with tries by Natalie McClarnon, Tina Lee and Hannah Gallagher.

Alphonsi said: "This is the first Under 18s Divisional match of the season and we are really excited. We have a very talented pool of players. A lot of them have been involved in the RFUW Player Pathway for the last few years so it is great to see them now part of the RFUW Divisional Programme which will give them the opportunity to show what they can do.

"There are two England U20s players involved in this squad, forwards Ellie Gattlin and Alex Matthews, and we also have a handful of AASE (Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence) players involved too. It is also great to see a good selection of players from the different London & South East counties selected. This will be a tough match, against a strong South West squad, so I am sure it will be an evenly matched encounter."

The RFUW Divisional Programme forms an integral part of the RFUW Player Pathway, which can see players from U15s upwards progress from playing club rugby to potentially representing their country. Current England stars who have qualified through the player pathway include Margaret Alphonsi and Emily Scarratt.

Players selected for the Divisional Programme have been selected by their Constituency Body and if they are successful could go on to try out for England this season, or qualify for the Under 18s and Under 15s RFUW National Talent Development Groups, which looks to develop the future talent of England Womens rugby.

London & South East Under 18 team, RFUW Divisional Programme, v South West at Newbury RFC, Sunday February 20:

15 Georgia Peedle (Hertfordshire and Welwyn)
14 Jasmine Clarke (Hampshire and Ellingham & Ringwood)
13 Nina Crowther (Sussex and Hastings)
12 Rochelle Smith (Surrey and London Irish)
11 Siobhan Longdon-Hughes (Surrey and London Irish)
10 Rosie Tugwell (Hampshire and Ellingham & Ringwood)
9 Millie Moore (Surrey and London Irish)
1 Katie Carter (Surrey and London Irish)
2 Lydia Beard (Kent and Aylesford Bulls)
3 Catherine Pugh (Essex and Rochford Hundred, capt)
4 Ellie Gattlin (Essex and Rochford Hundred)
5 Colette Broome (Surrey and Esher)
6 Sam Voyle (Hertfordshire and Welwyn)
7 Maddie Lockwood (Essex and Rochford Hundred)
8 Alex Matthews (Surrey and London Irish)

Replacements:
16 Alice Nee (Hertfordshire and Saracens)
17 Zoe Barber (Hampshire and Basingstoke)
18 Lisa Cockburn (Hampshire and Ellingham & Ringwood)
19 Claire Shutler (Hertfordshire and Saracens)
20 Florence Williams (Kent and Aylesford Bulls)
21 Shira Kilgallon (Hertfordshire and Welwyn)
22 Debbie Harwood (Sussex and Heathfield & Waldron)

Divisional Fixtures 2011

RFUW Divisional Fixture Programme 2011:

February 13          - Seniors: South West v London & South East (Newbury RFC)

                                -Seniors: Midlands v North (Newbury RFC)

February 20          - U18s: Midlands v North (Longton RFC);

-U18s: South West v London & South East (Newbury RFC)

March 6                 - Seniors: Midlands v London and South East (Banbury RFC)

-Seniors: North v South West (Lymm RFC)

March 13               - U15s: London and South East v South West (Newbury RFC)

March 20               - Seniors: London and SE v North (Luton RFC)

-Seniors: South West v Midlands (Cheltenham RFC).

- U18s: London & South East v North (Luton RFC)

-U18s: South West v Midlands (Cheltenham RFC).

April 16/17            - U15s & U18s: Divisional Festival (Hartpury College) - fixtures tbc.

London & South East 15, South West 5

Englands top 44 female players are currently involved in the Womens Six Nations and the divisional matches allow the next level of contenders to parade their skills. London & South East include three players previously in Englands senior 44  Gemma Sharples, Tina Lee and Sonia Green, as well as current England U20 squad members Hannah Gallagher and Emily Scott.

London & South East's  Divisional side who won their inaugural match against the South West at Newbury last Sunday (February 13) by 15-5 with tries by Natalie McClarnon, Tina Lee and Hannah Gallagher.

The team was:

15 Natasha Brennan (Middlesex and Wasps)
14 Stacey White (Middlesex and Wasps)
13 Hannah Casey (Hertfordshire and Tabard)
12 Hannah Edwards (Middlesex and Wasps)
11 Ama Okafor (Middlesex and Saracens)
10 Emily Scott (Essex and Thurrock)
9 Tina Lee (Middlesex and Wasps)
1 Vicki Kay (Surrey and Richmond)
2 Davinia Monteiro (Middlesex and Wasps)
3 Sasha Acheson (Hertfordshire and Saracens)
4 Sara Anatasi (Surrey and Richmond)
5 Claire Slater (Sussex and Hove)
6 Leah Morley (Middlesex and Saracens, capt)
7 Hannah Gallagher (Hertfordshire and Saracens)
8 Gemma Sharples (Surrey and Richmond)

Replacements:
16 Kat Brinsley (Hertfordshire and Old Albanians)
17 Natalie McClarnon (Essex and Saracens)
18 Julia France (West Sussex and East Grinstead)
19 Sonia Green (Hertfordshire and Saracens)
20 Katie Dootson (Kent and Aylesford)
21 Jade Wong (Surrey and Richmond)
22 Kate Hodgkinson (Eastern Counties and Leighton)

Head Coach: Mick Orton; Assistant Coach: Neil McGovern; Manager: Helen Richardson; Physiotherapist: Lara Ryan.

Hertfordshire's Six Nations stars

Amy Garnett
(Saracens & England)

Caroline Collie 
(OA Saints & Scotland)

Three players from Hertfordshire clubs are in their national squads for the Women's Six Nations.

Established England stars Amy Garnett and Maggie Alphonsi began the tournament by helping England to a 19-0 win over Wales at Cross Keys, but it was Caroline Collie who kicked off the tournament when she played for Scotland against France.

Sarah McKenna
(OA Saints & England A)

Maggie Alphonsi
(Saracens & England)

The OA Saints full-back only made her international debut (against Spain) in January, but she is already being hailed as one of the most promising additions to the Scottish squad - her performances attracting the attention of rugby writers - including this report in last week's Scotsman.

In addition Old Albanians fly-half, 21 year old Sarah McKenna (left), has been selected for England A squad. 

Sarah began her rugby with Harpenden minis, before moving on to Scorpions and then Fullerians Girls'. She also played for the East Region and Hertfordshire's girls teams.

Newmarket girls - Festival 20th March 2011

Dear All

We would like to invite you and your teams to an afternoon of girls rugby at Newmarket RUFC, Suffolk.  It will be a very special day for us, as this will be the first time in the Club’s history that a girls team has hosted an event at Newmarket and we would be very glad for you to join us.

If you are able to come, please could you let me know as soon as possible so that I know numbers for catering etc.  We have both U15’s and U 18’s and all abilities, so all are very welcome and the aim to enable all who come a game of rugby, whether in their own squads or compiling barbarian squads

I look forward to meeting you all and hearing from you soon

Kind regards

Claire Burt

Newmarket Girls

Claire.burt@btinternet.com

01638 714951