Saturday, August 18, 2007

For the more ambitious adult clubs, perhaps...

A message from Africa...
I'm doing what I can to let everyone know about women's rugby in East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi) do play rugby. Can I take this opportunity to ask women's team (club, national sides etc) in whatever part of the world to consider touring Uganda. For club sides you can contact ugandarugby@utlonline.co.ug or contact me (ugrugbychiclet@yahoo.co.uk) or the uganda women's rugby association (ugwomensrugby@yahoo.com).

Women's rugby is a rapidly developing sport in East Africa - and the standard is pretty good. The Ugandan national side have been going for 2-3 years now but have never lost a game at 15-a-side and came close to winning the African Sevens last season, losing narrowly to South Afica the final. And its not totally out of the question - East's "Boadaceas" can routinely visit Dubai...

Friday, August 17, 2007

East Region needs YOU!!

Amanda says...

"Please think about applying for the Regional Programme. Ring me if you want to discuss a position first. Remember that the Reg Prog Manager role could be shared. I have had three coaches apply which is great but we do need six! And one person has applied for Team Manager role and we do need three."

Amanda's mobile is 07809 512738 and her email AmandaBate@rfu.com

Saracens Women's 10s - 1st September

Just come to the attention of the Blog that Saracens Women are hosting a senior 10s tournament Saturday 1st Sept. £10 per team. "An ideal way to play lots of rugby in preparation for your season".

There is a limit to the number of teams they can take so please contact kball15@hotmail.com ASAP.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Coaching courses in Hertfordshire 2007/8

There was some delay in publishing these dates but they are now out. Remember that there are some grants available via Amanda Bate if you intend to coach girls or women. The courses will probably be at Hatfield, but this has yet to be confirmed. Note that the closing dates for applications are about a month ahead of each course.

Level 1:
  • Induction Eve 19th Sept, Practical Days 23rd & 30th Sept. Closing date: 19th August
  • Induction Eve 10th Oct, Practical Days 14th & 21st. Closing date: 10th September
  • Induction Eve 7th Nov, Practical Days 10th & 17th Nov. Closing date: 7th October
  • Induction Eve 9th Jan, Practical Days 13th & 20th Jan. Closing date: 9th December
  • Induction Eve 6th Feb, Practical Days 10th & 17th Feb. Closing date: 6th January
  • Induction Eve 2nd April, Practical Days 5th & 12th April. Closing date: 2nd March
  • Induction Eve 7th May, Practical Days 11th & 18th May. Closing date: 7th April
  • Induction Eve 18th June, Practical Days 22nd & 29th June. Closing date: 18th May

Level 2:

  • 17th & 18th Nov - Part 1, 2nd & 9th Dec -Part 2 Closing date: 27th September
  • 10th & 11th May - Part 1, 17th & 24th May -Part 2 Closing date: 10th April

Friday, August 10, 2007

Saracens to support girls' and women's rugby

Amanda met Hannah Pirnie (hannahpirnie@saracens.net) from Saracens on Tuesday, and discussed how Saracens might be able to help get the girls they coach in their various programmes into clubs. A number of positive things came out of the meeting, several of which individual clubs, coaches, or parental helpers may wish to chase up.

  • Saracens run tag sessions for years 5/6 at schools and would like to strengthen club/school links to provide exits for the children. If you have leaflets about what your club offers for girls, send them to Rigby Hse, The Parade, High St, Watford, WD17 1EA, and the community coaches will give them out at the schools near to your clubs.
  • Next summer Saracens are looking at a monthly tag league for girls, moving it around to the clubs who are active with girls, so those who did tag in yers 5/6 at schoolcan play tag at the clubs over the summer, ready to join the U12s projects in September. Also maybe a mixed adult/girls tag competitions (along the lines of Ladies link, but more for mums and daughters)Any club interested should contact Hannah direct and discuss.
  • Coaches of the women and girls sections from clubs who are in Partnership with Saracens(all except Tring) are reminded that they to can attend the FREE Saracens "coach the coaches" sessions.
  • Saracens work with Peter Engledow on a Sports Leaders Programme - if you have any 16-19 players interested they can find out about it thrrough the PDM or directly from Hannah.
  • There is a mixed Touch Rugby FE programme as well, so please tell your players who attend an FE college and get them to encourage their friends to go.
  • For parents and new volunteers Saracens run a course on how to teach rugby to a class of 30! And a course on how to prepare/coach a tag team and prepare the children for a festival - again contact Hannah.
  • Saracens will try and ensure if your club is hosting a tag festival that a club member is there.
  • The possibility of a girls matches and forming tunnels before Saracens games was also discussed.

Thinking of trying for England U20s?

This may be what Clive was thinking about when he said it was tough and physical!

Wales U19s vs USA, last season. Watch the Wales no.14...
(with thanks to Saturday's a Rugby Day)

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Calling all regional volunteers (and anyone thinking of becoming one!)

Message from Amanda Bate, WRDM:

Hi to all current and potential Regional volunteers! Please click here to find out more about the Regional Programme and to register your interest in being involved as a volunteer. There is the 07/08 Rationale which explains all about the rules; volunteer training; the programme; the dates etc., which I suggest you read before you decide to get involved. There are also copies of the Roles and Responsibilities for certain volunteer roles. Please complete the Self Expression of Interest Form and send back to me (via email preferably) before August 31st. As the programme goes from strength to strength, we are hoping to have an influx of volunteers putting themselves forward for this season. There will be coach education training and general volunteer training on welfare etc., so that you feel completely confident in getting involved.

Please pass this information on to other people that you feel may be interested in being involved, and don’t worry about how much experience you have had previously! If you are the right person, we’ll get you involved! Also, we are always looking to develop the future volunteers so if you would like to use this season to shadow someone in a volunteer role that has taken your interest then please also get in touch.

For any queries whatsoever, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on amandabate@rfu.com or 07841 367447.

All the best and I look forward to hearing from you!

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Still to time enter "Ladies Link" U18/senior tag tournament

There is still time for teams to enter Hertfordshire "Ladies Link" (first announced on 28th June) which is being organised at Welwyn on the afternoon of the 2nd September (kick-off 2pm).

The event is aimed and new and experienced players, and teams must include 5 adults and 5 U18s (that is the new RFUW U18 age band) - though actual squads can be any size. At least five teams have already entered so a great afternoon can be expected. More information can be found in the original posting.

One team is being put together by Amanda Bate. At present she has a good complement of adult players, but is looking for more U18s to join her team. If you are interested then drop Amanda a line (AmandaBate@rfu.com) or give her a ring on 07809 512738.

Friday, August 03, 2007

Welwyn Warriors set the example in Welwyn Hatfield

Welwyn Warriors Girls Team is to be used as a case study to help struggling Sports Clubs across its local Borough.
In conjunction with the Local Council and the Hertfordshire Sports Partnership, Welwyn Warriors will provide a 'blueprint' for the success that they have achieved in gaining funding in just one season. Team Manager Dave Marques is delighted the club are being used as an example for others to follow.
He said: “Welwyn-Hatfield Borough Council and the Sports Partnership have been very supportive of Girls Rugby so we are only too pleased to be able to try and help other Sports. At the start of last season, we didn't have anywhere near enough equipment or playing kit for the fast growing number of players. Now we have home and away kits (to avoid colour clashes); good training equipment; finance for continued work on our School Links programme for the next 12 months; money for transporting the teams to away games; and subsidies to run coaching camps. We certainly hope the approach we have taken can show other Sports what can be achieved. We hope we can also demonstrate that help is out there if you know where to look.”
Welwyn RFC is now seeking planning permission for new showers and changing facilities for their existing Girls and and newly created Womens teams as well as applying for £10,000 to install extra floodlights so that the Girls and Women can have their own training area in the Winter.

County Trails and England U20s

One or two people had been asking about the clash between the county U18 and England U19 trials - which are both on the same weekend. Some girls were interested in trialing for trying for the England U19s - and in one or two cases might well have got in. However following the announcement (below) now only girls at the top of the U18 age band are now eligible to attend (ie. 17 or over on 1st September) - so in most cases the problem is "solved".

However, the U20 trails are "open", and if you do meet the age criteria and your club coach agrees that you stand a chance of getting into the squad, it would obviously be wrong for county trials to get in the way. So if you are going to attend the England U20 trails but still wish to be considered for the county squad you should contact the county coaches Luke Williams or Vicky Lowe as soon as possible, and certainly before the weekend of the 8th/9th September.

If you are wondering about the standard expected then it is recommended that you should have reached at least regional level, and in addition Clive Cramphorn reports that "it was very tough and physical" last year.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Earn Money Playing Rugby!

We are currently looking for U17 players to take part in coaching sessions which form part of our interview process for the Club and Coach Officer Interviews which are taking place at Twickenham on Monday 6th August to Thursday 9th August. We need around 6 – 7 players for each of the 4 days and have currently had quite a poor up take to this. As a result we have made the decision that we will pay each player £25 for each of the sessions you can take part in (so you can earn up to £100 for all 4 days!). The sessions will run from 9am – 11.30am each day (please arrive for around 8.30am to allow for changing and warm up). These sessions will be focused on developing the players’ handling skills and so will not be contact sessions.

This is an excellent opportunity for you to earn some extra money for the summer, play rugby and hopefully have fun all at the same time.

If you are available to take part in one or all of these sessions next week please either e-mail me on kellyrainey@rfu.com or call me on 020 8831 7996 as soon as possible.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

England move to U20 age band

The RFUW have announced that the England age group squad will move from U19 to U20 from next season. This change will bring the England team closer into line with other international sides, and also fits in with the junior age group changes which also come in next season.

The first round of trials for the new England U20 squad will take place on Saturday 8th September 2007 at Lichfield RFC (Staffordshire). The second round of trial matches will be played on 30th September and 21st October 2007

To be eligible for England U20s players must be:


  • English

  • Over 17 years old and under 20 years old on or before midnight on 31st August / 1st September 2007.

  • It is also recommended that players should have previously played at regional level.

If you are interested in attending the trails and meet the above criteria you can download a registration form here.