Following last season’s successful Hertfordshire Girls’ Sevens Tournament held at Letchworth RFC, it is the turn of Welwyn RFC to host this prestigious event in 2007.
It is taking place on Sunday 20th May 2007. Clubs may enter both U14 and U17 teams, and there will be up to 16 teams in each age group. This is an open tournament and is potentially the biggest Girls Sevens Festival in the East and East Midland Regions this season.
Paviors / Leicester Forest have booked their place in the U17 section, so there are now only 13 places left at U17 and 14 places at U14 as the hosts Welwyn Warriors have already booked their places and a place is being reserved for a Barbarians Team at both age groups.
So get your entries in ASAP to avoid disappointment. If you have not already received your entry form please e-mail peter.mccullough@ntlworld.com
Showing posts with label Barbarian U17s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barbarian U17s. Show all posts
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Tonight's county meeting
As reported at the end of last month there is an important meeting on the future direction of rugby in Herts tonight. Anyone with any interest in girls of womens rugby in the county may attend.
The meeting is at Welwyn RFC, and starts at 7.30pm. The agenda is:
1. County programme - Spring 2006/7
We said we'd revisit the feasibilty of running any county training or matches for the rest of the season after the regional trials.
Timing: Simple yes or no required really - so 5/10 minutes
2. Promoting the girls game current U11/U12 girls
a) Saracens/Herts Youth Games tag - involvement, follow-up, support, etc.
b) Contacting girls at clubs without existing girls sections - can we do something at the Herts Festival? Other ideas?
Timing: c15 minutes
3. Emerging schools tournament - report, follow-up ideas, suggestions for expansion/ improvement next year.
Timing: c5/10 minutes
4. Support for U12 girls - 2007/8
Welwyn have matter in hand at club level for their area (previously reoported) - but what is planned elsewhere, and what can be done at county level to further support this?
Timing: 15 mins
5. County squad proposals - 2007/8
In particular the idea to merge the existing separate County and Barbarians squads (mainly at at U18 level) to form a single county squad of c40 girls from which two teams would be selected for each fixture. This is model used (apparently) by some boys age groups, and also the Worcesteshire Girls (who recently finished 1st and 2nd in the West Mids county tournament).
Timing: Views may be more divided, but ultimately a yes or no - say 10/15 minutes
6. Way forward paper. Discussion.
Timing: c30 minutes
7. AOB
The meeting is at Welwyn RFC, and starts at 7.30pm. The agenda is:
1. County programme - Spring 2006/7
We said we'd revisit the feasibilty of running any county training or matches for the rest of the season after the regional trials.
Timing: Simple yes or no required really - so 5/10 minutes
2. Promoting the girls game current U11/U12 girls
a) Saracens/Herts Youth Games tag - involvement, follow-up, support, etc.
b) Contacting girls at clubs without existing girls sections - can we do something at the Herts Festival? Other ideas?
Timing: c15 minutes
3. Emerging schools tournament - report, follow-up ideas, suggestions for expansion/ improvement next year.
Timing: c5/10 minutes
4. Support for U12 girls - 2007/8
Welwyn have matter in hand at club level for their area (previously reoported) - but what is planned elsewhere, and what can be done at county level to further support this?
Timing: 15 mins
5. County squad proposals - 2007/8
In particular the idea to merge the existing separate County and Barbarians squads (mainly at at U18 level) to form a single county squad of c40 girls from which two teams would be selected for each fixture. This is model used (apparently) by some boys age groups, and also the Worcesteshire Girls (who recently finished 1st and 2nd in the West Mids county tournament).
Timing: Views may be more divided, but ultimately a yes or no - say 10/15 minutes
6. Way forward paper. Discussion.
Timing: c30 minutes
7. AOB
Monday, December 04, 2006
Herts County rugby: options for the future
With the Westcliff tournament now over, the main representative focus now turns to regional rugby. Hopefully we'll still be able to offer something at county level for those juniors that do not make regional squad (ie. most of them!) - certainly something like last season's inter-county sevens tournament, perhaps.
But this is also a good chance to take stock and look at where we are and where the county programme should go in the future.
At U14 level the county programme is a lifeline for many girls as it often provides the only opportunity they get to play competitive full sized rugby. Hopefully this will get better in the future, but at present there seems little dispute about the purpose and organisation of the U14 programme.
At U17 level its a different matter mainly because we in Herts we are being so sucecssful - both on the field in terms of results (yesterday's "blip" against Essex aside!), but also in terms of attracting players.
Amanda Bate, our "leader" (whatever her real title may be!) is shortly to move on to greater things in the RFUW and as a parting present she has gathered together some questions that have been floating around recently which are very pertenant to the question of What Happens Next. Taking this as an opportunity her ideas have been expanded below to include some of the other views that have been expressed or discussed informally of late.
In the end there are no "right" answers here. The county programme is a curious thing in some respects as it has more evolved that been created by the centre, and maybe as a result RFUW give little guidance on these matters. So at the minute its up to us - up to you. Be you players, coaches, parents, or adminsitrators its YOUR programme. What sort of animal should it be?
You can add your views to this blog and start an open discussion here, or maybe talk about it at your club and send a representative to the next meeting, or exchange views by email. Up to you. But the main thing is to make your views known. And also maybe consider how fortunate we are to be in a position to ask these questions - to have so many options is a sign of strength.
And you may have ideas and views above and beyond what appears here. If so - lets hear them!
1. What is the county team for?
As is mentioned above, at U14 level this is currently very clear - but at U17s it is less so. Is it an elite programme, or a development initiative. Can it be both? or are the two aims incompatible?
Amanda thinks it can do both as it develops girls who want to go far, and it is also a place for the best players in the county. What do you think? Can one programme/squad achieve both aims? Regional rugby is now seen as an "elite" programme - what should the priority be at county level?
2. Is it about winning, or taking part?
This is related to the above, so once that is decided, what do should the philosophy of the U17 programme be? Much the same as this year - a squad coached and managed to win? Or (as with the U14s, and come to that most counties other than maybe Herts and Essex!) an emphasis on participation, on strenghening the base by giving higher quality playing opportunities for girls of the right standard?
Is "playing to win" appropriate for this level (both considering the age of those taking part, but also the position of county rugby in the RFUW's development scheme)? Is concenbtraing on development only popular outside of Herts and Essex because other counties' have low numbers at club level?
3. 1st and 2nd XVs - or separate County and Barbarian/Development squads?
Amanda asks whether we run a separate Barbarians/development side in future and if so whether it should have its own kit, management, etc. - and, as numbers grow, its own selection policy?
Or do we follow the pattern from the boys' junior game and merge the county and Barbarians so as to have a much bigger county squad from which two teams - a 1st and 2nd XV - are selected for each tournament or fixture?
Arguments for the current pattern include the fact that it fits in the regional programme, and that (returning to the first question) it allows the County Squad to be an elite programme while the Barbarians concentrate on development. Would a larger squad be more difficult to manage and risk diluting the quality of the team? Would it restrict the opportunities for new players who appear on the scene after county trials but can now join the Barbarians?
On the other hand the alternative side asks whether this is selling the Barbarians short? Given the "scratch" nature of yesterday's side, and the similarly impressive performance of 12 months ago, there are more players capable of playing at county level in Hertfordshire than the squad of 25. Would a larger squad - fielding two fifteens - be better able to bring on this talent and produce a second string that capable of beating many other counties? Might one year we finish a tournament with a Herts 1:2?
What is best for girls on the fringes - maybe just good enough to get into the county squad by not the starting XV? Are they be better served by training with the elite, or would they be better making a name for themselves as part of a county squad's 2nd XV.
Are players slighly lower down the ladder better served in a separate Barbarian squad? Or would a single squad make it easier for players develop and move between sides? Are the girls better served with players able to "relax" and concentrate on training knowing which team they are in from the start, or by having to constantly compete for places in the 1st and 2nd team?
Would a larger squad allow county rugby to continue throughout the year - ie. even if 15 girls were lost to region from a 40 or 45 player squad, enough would be left to make a viable squad.
[PS - Late additional information. Worcestershire appear to have a U17 squad of 46, with six coaches, drawn from three clubs]
Click here to make your views know!
But this is also a good chance to take stock and look at where we are and where the county programme should go in the future.
At U14 level the county programme is a lifeline for many girls as it often provides the only opportunity they get to play competitive full sized rugby. Hopefully this will get better in the future, but at present there seems little dispute about the purpose and organisation of the U14 programme.
At U17 level its a different matter mainly because we in Herts we are being so sucecssful - both on the field in terms of results (yesterday's "blip" against Essex aside!), but also in terms of attracting players.
Amanda Bate, our "leader" (whatever her real title may be!) is shortly to move on to greater things in the RFUW and as a parting present she has gathered together some questions that have been floating around recently which are very pertenant to the question of What Happens Next. Taking this as an opportunity her ideas have been expanded below to include some of the other views that have been expressed or discussed informally of late.
In the end there are no "right" answers here. The county programme is a curious thing in some respects as it has more evolved that been created by the centre, and maybe as a result RFUW give little guidance on these matters. So at the minute its up to us - up to you. Be you players, coaches, parents, or adminsitrators its YOUR programme. What sort of animal should it be?
You can add your views to this blog and start an open discussion here, or maybe talk about it at your club and send a representative to the next meeting, or exchange views by email. Up to you. But the main thing is to make your views known. And also maybe consider how fortunate we are to be in a position to ask these questions - to have so many options is a sign of strength.
And you may have ideas and views above and beyond what appears here. If so - lets hear them!
1. What is the county team for?
As is mentioned above, at U14 level this is currently very clear - but at U17s it is less so. Is it an elite programme, or a development initiative. Can it be both? or are the two aims incompatible?
Amanda thinks it can do both as it develops girls who want to go far, and it is also a place for the best players in the county. What do you think? Can one programme/squad achieve both aims? Regional rugby is now seen as an "elite" programme - what should the priority be at county level?
2. Is it about winning, or taking part?
This is related to the above, so once that is decided, what do should the philosophy of the U17 programme be? Much the same as this year - a squad coached and managed to win? Or (as with the U14s, and come to that most counties other than maybe Herts and Essex!) an emphasis on participation, on strenghening the base by giving higher quality playing opportunities for girls of the right standard?
Is "playing to win" appropriate for this level (both considering the age of those taking part, but also the position of county rugby in the RFUW's development scheme)? Is concenbtraing on development only popular outside of Herts and Essex because other counties' have low numbers at club level?
3. 1st and 2nd XVs - or separate County and Barbarian/Development squads?
Amanda asks whether we run a separate Barbarians/development side in future and if so whether it should have its own kit, management, etc. - and, as numbers grow, its own selection policy?
Or do we follow the pattern from the boys' junior game and merge the county and Barbarians so as to have a much bigger county squad from which two teams - a 1st and 2nd XV - are selected for each tournament or fixture?
Arguments for the current pattern include the fact that it fits in the regional programme, and that (returning to the first question) it allows the County Squad to be an elite programme while the Barbarians concentrate on development. Would a larger squad be more difficult to manage and risk diluting the quality of the team? Would it restrict the opportunities for new players who appear on the scene after county trials but can now join the Barbarians?
On the other hand the alternative side asks whether this is selling the Barbarians short? Given the "scratch" nature of yesterday's side, and the similarly impressive performance of 12 months ago, there are more players capable of playing at county level in Hertfordshire than the squad of 25. Would a larger squad - fielding two fifteens - be better able to bring on this talent and produce a second string that capable of beating many other counties? Might one year we finish a tournament with a Herts 1:2?
What is best for girls on the fringes - maybe just good enough to get into the county squad by not the starting XV? Are they be better served by training with the elite, or would they be better making a name for themselves as part of a county squad's 2nd XV.
Are players slighly lower down the ladder better served in a separate Barbarian squad? Or would a single squad make it easier for players develop and move between sides? Are the girls better served with players able to "relax" and concentrate on training knowing which team they are in from the start, or by having to constantly compete for places in the 1st and 2nd team?
Would a larger squad allow county rugby to continue throughout the year - ie. even if 15 girls were lost to region from a 40 or 45 player squad, enough would be left to make a viable squad.
[PS - Late additional information. Worcestershire appear to have a U17 squad of 46, with six coaches, drawn from three clubs]
Click here to make your views know!
Photos from the Essex county tournament
Herts U17s compete in the line out against Yorkshire
Eastern Counties U17s work hard to retain the ball against Herts
The heroic Barbarians ... with guests!
The victorious U14s... still unbeaten at 12-a-aide!
The disappointed U17s... next year we'll put it right!
For 21 more action shots from U17 and Barbarian games see here
Sunday, December 03, 2006
U14s take the honours as U17s fall at final hurdle
Westcliff RFC in Essex hosted the "Essex County Tournament" today with Hertfordshire providing three teams, as they did at Hitchin last year. But this was a much bigger affair with six teams competing in each age group.In Pool B the U17s Hertfordshire Barbarians could not quite match the glories of last year when the "B" string famously defeated Oxfordshire, but they certainly ran Thames Valley county champions Buckinghamshire close, going down 10-5 to a try in the final seconds before giving Essex a scare or two in a 10-0 defeat.
The main county squad, on the other hand, took Pool A with some ease - though Yorkshire put up a huge battle before going down 7-0. Eastern Counties showed some real promise - but in the first ever competitive game could not hold the Herts girls who ran out 22-0 winners.
Meanwhile the U14s won their group by first beating a physically large Bucks U14 team 19-5 with tries from Courtney Arberry, Sam Voyce and Sydnie Grace, and Clare Shutler adding two Conversions. They then beat Eastern Counties (Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambs) 31-0 with Clare Shutler scoring three Tries and three Conversions, and other Tries from Megan Childs and Millie Porter.
With Essex U14 and U17 winning their groups it was going to be the local rivals against each other in both finals. But before that "Barbarians" played off against Eastern Counties - but after a break and their earlier heroics they were distinctly slow out of the starting stalls and 12-0 before the game was more than a few minutes old. A much better second half performance restricted the Easterns to only one more try, however.
So to the finals, and the U14s were on first. All previous U14 games between Herts and Essex have been extremely close and this was exactly the same. Essex scored an early Try, which they converted to go 7-0 up. Herts then scored Tries from Clare Shutler, which she converted, and Alice Nee to lead 12-7 at the break. In a very tense second half, Herts defence withstood the Essex onslaught and crucially Milly Porter just won a sprint to the Herts try line, following a perfectly judged Essex kick, to prevent the home side evening up the score.
So that was one-nil to Herts. Could the U17s complete the double?
At half time it looked certain that they would. They went into the break 5-0 up, and it could easily have been a much larger lead as Herts had dominated pretty much all phases of play. But a very different side seemed to start the second period which took place entirely within the Herts half. An Essex pack that had been going backwards suddenly seemed to win every scrum, whoever had the put in, and most of the lineouts too.
The home side's confidence grew with every phase, and in the end a Herts defensive line that had stood definant and unbroken for two years finally broke. With the scores level the final play was a Herts lineout on their own 5m line - and it was in the end no surprise to see it stolen and an Essex forward crash over for winning score.And so it was only the U14 Herts Captain Clare Shutler who could lift a Winners trophy for the county in the clubhouse afterwards. But however disappointing the outcome was for the U17s, they had still played well throughout most of the tournament until the final few minutes - and the Barbarians had again shown the incredible depth of talent in the county.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Herts clubs to clash in National Cup
The National Cup draws have been announced. The first round will be in the form of small "festivals" which will take place on 26th November. In both cases Herts teams ate in the "South East" group:
In the U14 Cup - the first time there has been an official tournament for this age - Herts Barbarians (a combined county U14 side) will take on Welwyn, Uttlesford (Essex), and "Cramberleigh" (Cranleigh & Camberley combined, from Surrey) at Welwyn RFC.
In the U17 Cup Saracens/Fullerians, Letchworth, and Welwyn will take on Uttlesford, "Cramberleigh (again!), and Worthing (Sussex) at Saracens.
There will be four of these "festivals" taking place across the country in each age group and the top teams will play in the second round early next year to produce a "North" and "South" winner, who will meet in a national final after Easter.
In the U14 Cup - the first time there has been an official tournament for this age - Herts Barbarians (a combined county U14 side) will take on Welwyn, Uttlesford (Essex), and "Cramberleigh" (Cranleigh & Camberley combined, from Surrey) at Welwyn RFC.
In the U17 Cup Saracens/Fullerians, Letchworth, and Welwyn will take on Uttlesford, "Cramberleigh (again!), and Worthing (Sussex) at Saracens.
There will be four of these "festivals" taking place across the country in each age group and the top teams will play in the second round early next year to produce a "North" and "South" winner, who will meet in a national final after Easter.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Herts to play major role in next East Region programme
There are a number of familar faces among this season's East Region management and coaching team, including:
Other staff will be:
Mike Redding (Coach Developer); Malcolm Baker (Senior Manager); Alan Brown (Senior Lead Coach & Welfare Manager); Wendy Le Grave (Senior Coach); Cathy Acheson (U17s Manager); Ian McCready (U17s Coach); Tina Turner (U14s Manager); Pete Turner (U14s Lead Coach); Andy Marshall (U14s Coach)
- John Birch (Programme Manager) from Letchworth - and current Herts junior team manager
- Simon Lascelles (Senior Coach) from OAs
- Clive Cramphorn (U17s Lead Coach) from OAs (and formerly Welwyn) and current Herts Barbarians coach
- Mike Crump (U17s Coach) from Letchworth
- Simon Shutler (U14s Coach) from Saracens - and current Herts U14 lead coach
Other staff will be:
Mike Redding (Coach Developer); Malcolm Baker (Senior Manager); Alan Brown (Senior Lead Coach & Welfare Manager); Wendy Le Grave (Senior Coach); Cathy Acheson (U17s Manager); Ian McCready (U17s Coach); Tina Turner (U14s Manager); Pete Turner (U14s Lead Coach); Andy Marshall (U14s Coach)
Friday, October 20, 2006
Barbarian training: 12th November
The training session for the Herts Barbarians on the 12th November will now be at the Old Albanians ground in St Albans from 1-30 (registration) until 4-00 .
This will be the final Barbarian training before the tournament in Westcliff on 3rd December which will feature up to 10 U17 teams, and will also include several other county "Second XVs" (such as Yorkshire and Essex).
This will be the final Barbarian training before the tournament in Westcliff on 3rd December which will feature up to 10 U17 teams, and will also include several other county "Second XVs" (such as Yorkshire and Essex).
Monday, October 16, 2006
Barbarians in business!
As well as U14 and U17 squad training yesterday the St Christopher School in Letchworth (and a superb facility it was too, with great support from Mark Sowden and his girls) we had an excellent turnout from U17s wishing to play for the proposed Barbarian team.
Clive the coach was more than happy with the numbers and as a result we will now be confirming that both the U17 County squad and the U17 Barbarians will be going to the tournament in Westcliff on 3rd December.
On the next county day - 12th November - Clive will be taking one more training session for the Barbarians, which will be held at either OAs or Letchworth, depending on availability. There is still time, therefore, for other U17s to come forward and seek a place in a team that - as last year - has the potential to be as strong as some 1st XV county sides.
Clive the coach was more than happy with the numbers and as a result we will now be confirming that both the U17 County squad and the U17 Barbarians will be going to the tournament in Westcliff on 3rd December.
On the next county day - 12th November - Clive will be taking one more training session for the Barbarians, which will be held at either OAs or Letchworth, depending on availability. There is still time, therefore, for other U17s to come forward and seek a place in a team that - as last year - has the potential to be as strong as some 1st XV county sides.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Key dates for 2006/7
County dates:
U14s
U14s
- 17th September (Selection at Stevenage)
- 15th October (Training at St Christopher School)
- 12th November (Inter-county tournament at TBC)
- 3rd December (Inter-county tournament at Westcliff)
U17s
- 17th September (Selection at Stevenage)
- 27th September (Evening training at Sports Village, Hatfield)
- 15th October (Training at St Christopher School)
- 18th October (Evening training at Sports Village, Hatfield)
- 12th November (U14 & U17 squads: Inter-county tournament at Grove RFC, Oxon)
(U17 Barbarians: Training at Old Albanians) - 22nd November (U17 squad: Evening training at Sports Village, Hatfield)
- 3rd December (Inter-county tournament at Westcliff)
Regional dates:
Seniors
- Trials: 3rd December (St Christopher School, Letchworth) and 28th January (King's School, Ely)
- Training: 3rd February, 17th February, 10th March (all Culford School)
- Fixtures: 11th February - v South East (Basildon)
25th February - v North East (Ely RFC)
18th March - v East Midlands (Coalville)
31st March - Senior regional finals (Wasps)
Juniors
- Trials: 28th January (Ely RFC)
- Training: 11th February, 25th February, 11th March, 22nd April (all Culford School)
- Fixtures: 18th March - v East Midlands (Aylestone St James)
1st April - v Yorkshire & North East (Ely RFC) - National Festival: now 6th/7th May (Rugby School?)
England dates:
- Six Nations: England v Scotland - 3rd February (Old Albanians)
- Six Nations: England v Italy - 10th February (Twickenham)
- Six Nations: England v Frabce - 11th March (Old Albanians)
Festivals
- Beckenham festival: 8th October
- Rochford festival: 22nd October
- London North senior regional tens : 28th April. (Colchester RFC)
- London North U17 regional tens : 28th April. (Hemel Hempsted)
- National tens (U17 & senior): 12/13th May ("Midlands" - TBA)
- "Regional" (Hertfordshire?) Sevens: 20th May
- National Sevens: 26th-27th May (Leighton Buzzard)
National Knock-out cup
- Round one: 26th November
- Round two: 4th February
- Final: 15th April
Schools dates:
- 3rd-17th September: "World Cup projects and development days"
- 3rd-11th February: "Six Nations projects and trips"
- 18th February-10th March: "Preparation for U14 emerging schools - local competitions, Six Nations trips, and projects"
- 11th March: U14 Emerging Schools qualifiers
- 18th March: "Six Nations projects and trips"
- 5th May: Emerging Schools Finals (tbc)
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