Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Hitchin also win promotion

Further success for Hertfordshire. Hitchin Ladies have been promoted following their performance in South East West 3 last season. They will now play in South East North 2 next season - a league that will include representatives of all Herts clubs as it also includes Tabard, Hertford and OA Saints II, as well as Harlow, Wellingborough and Southwold.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

County fixtures 2010-11

RFUW have issued the county fixtures for next season, for both senior and junior teams. Hertfordshire's games are:

7th November
Seniors, U18 and U15 v Leicestershire (away)

12th December
Seniors v Notts, Lincs & Derbys (home)
U18 and U15 v Eastern Counties, and Kent (triangular, at Eastern Counties)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

OA Saints to compete in top flight

OA Saints WRFC received the exciting news that they have been promoted to the elite women’s rugby Premiership, the top flight of women’s rugby in England. The Saints will now compete along with the other top 8 women’s sides in the country, no mean feat considering the growing sport now has over 170 senior sides.

At the start of the season the Saints celebrated their 20th Anniversary, with this promotion topping off an amazing season for the club. St Albans WRFC was formed in 1989 by a group of friends after a challenge in a St Albans pub. Playing, and winning, their first match against Eaton Manor with a squad of just 15 players the club has gone from strength to strength. Moving to Woollams, the home of Old Albanians in 2003, the Saints now boast over 60 players and 2 successful teams. Over the years the club has had many successes reaching the Premiership for a short spell in 1997, and having home grown international players for England, Ireland, and Italy over the 20 years.

The Saints had a fantastic Pre-season, the recruitment of new players was good, particularly from the talented u18’s squad at Welwyn Garden City RFC, and the return of some home grown talent complemented an already strong squad and allowed the club to achieve its primary aim of winning the league.

The results, 13 wins from 14, scoring 75 tries-a staggering 30 more than any other team in the league, they were ready to step up a level but were disappointed that the National Governing Body (RFUW) had decided to hold any promotion due to the impact of the Women's Rugby World Cup in August 2010. However, luck was on the Saints side when a Premiership side from the north asked to be relegated soon after the Saints won the North v South Championship Cup and the rest is history...

Reaching the Premiership is a culmination of 3 years hard work, setting and achieving goals with the ultimate aim to end up in the Premier League. Reaching the Premiership is a massive achievement and a true testament to the spirit of the club and the hard work that goes on behind the scenes and on the pitch.

This achievement is not just down the players on the pitch each week, but testament to the dedication of coaches Ed Knighton, Glyn Barraclough and Andy Weldon, and the never ending support of OA Rugby and fantastic facilities at Woollams.

‘’We really hope to make an impact in the Premiership and whilst it will not be easy by any stretch, we are certain that we are in the league where we belong. The Saints are an amazing club to be involved with and I am extremely proud to be the Chairwoman during this amazing milestone in the history of the Club - and all of this in our 20th Anniversary year!’’ Tasha Saint-Smith, OA Saints Chairwoman.

The 2009/10 season has been an exciting one for all those at Old Albanians. With the Men’s 1st XV also gaining promotion this season to National League 2, the 2010/11 season is set to be an exciting one for the Saints and the whole OA Rugby Club.

OA Saints are recruiting players for the forthcoming season, running 2 sides we would welcome players of all abilities from new players to seasoned internationals! The Saints are also looking for additional coaches to join the team, an assistant 1st XV coach (preferably level 2) and an assistant 2nd XV coach (level 1). Coaching women is a great way to get involved in rugby coaching an opportunity to coach at Premiership level. Anyone interested in playing or coaching should contact OA Saints Chairwoman Tasha Saint-Smith on 07971 849290 or tasha@saintsmith.com


  • Saints played at St Albans RFC from 1989-2003, moving to Woollams in Autumn 2003. Woollams is the premier rugby facility in Hertfordshire boasting 5 senior men’s teams, 2 women’s teams, colts, mini’s and juniors along with being the training ground for Saracens.
  • OA Saints also run u14’s and u18’s sides, with close links to Welwyn Garden City RFC established u18’s.
  • International Representation from:
    • Jane Everett (England)
    • Trina Edgar (Ireland)
    • Nadia Brannon (Italy)
    • Sarah McKenna, Karina Page & Cath Botterman (England A)
    • Geri Thomas, Milly Fuggles, Hannah Clark ( England u20s)
    • Megan Williams (Wales u20s)

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Festival of Girls' Rugby, October 2010

Herts RFU are looking for schools to enter a Festival of Girl’s Rugby we will be running at Hertford RFC on Wednesday 20th October 2010.

Start time will be 1:00pm with a finish time of approximately 4:30pm – exact timings to be decided once we know how many Schools enter.

There will be two separate tournaments taking place on the day ….

Year 7 / 8 (combined) Touch Rugby tournament:
Teams will be 7-a-side on a half size pitch. No limit on squad size.
Teams made up of pupils in years 7 & 8.
Games will be based on “6-down” touch rugby rules.
At the halfway stage of the tournament, there will be a coaching session for all year 7 & 8 girls to introduce them to the early concepts of tackling and contact rugby.

Year 9 / 10 (combined) Contact Rugby tournament:
Teams will be 10-a-side on a half size pitch. No limit on squad size.
Teams made up of pupils in years 9 & 10.
Games will be full contact except for scrums (5 man) which will be uncontested.
At the halfway stage of the tournament, there will also be coaching for all year 9 & 10 girls in an aspect of contact rugby – ie: rucking/mauling.

Please can you all send your entries by email to mikeharrison@therfu.com.

Closing date for entries is Friday 1st October. The earlier entries are received, the better please.

Thank you for your support.

Harry Harrison
Herts RFU Community Rugby Coach
Tel: 0789 448 9249

Monday, June 07, 2010

President's XV Recognition Young Volunteers Award 2010 Presentation

Jason Leonard OBE, 2003 World Cup Winner and England's most capped Rugby Union Player, was at Welwyn RFC last Friday Evening (June 4) to present the RFU President’s XV 'Young Volunteers' Category Award to Oren Blindell and Rachel McCullough, both of whom are Welwyn Saints Under 18 players.

The pair came up with the idea of the Herts Rugby Awareness Week which ran in more than 40 of the county’s schools last November.

The annual RFU President's XV Awards, supported by specialist business insurer QBE, recognise and celebrate innovative thinking aimed at promoting and developing rugby. There is a trophy and prize money of £500 in each of 15 categories and £100 each for 30 runners up.

Leonard, the former prop forward who is now a National Member of the RFU Council, was on the 2010 awards judging panel led by John Owen, the RFU President, along with Immediate Past President Brian Williams, Senior Vice President Richard Appleby, Junior Vice President Willie Wildash, Rugby Football Union for Women President Gill Burns and Paul Morgan, editor of 'Rugby World' magazine. QBE was represented on the day by Senior Underwriter John Warwick.

The creation of Hertfordshire's Rugby Awareness Week by two 15-year-old rugby playing girls, Oren and Rachel from Welwyn RFC, proved an outstanding initiative which grew into a major boost for the game in their area.

They were successful in applying for just under £10,000 of funding from The Big Spend (Youth Opportunities Fund) and with support from Amanda Bate, Herts RFU Volunteer Co-ordinator and the Hertfordshire RDO Peter Engledow, the idea became reality when Hertfordshire Rugby Awareness Week took place between November 16-20, 2009, with young rugby players speaking about rugby at assemblies in schools throughout the county, supported by leaflets, posters and a 'This is Rugby' DVD.

Leonard's visit formed part of Welwyn RFC’s Girls Section end of season Presentation Evening.

National Girls 7's Harpenden RFC Sat 29th May Results

U18 Cup Winners: Ellingham + Ringwood; U18 Cup R/Up: London Irish.



U18 Plate Winners: Tyldeseley; U18 Plate R/Up: Letchworth Saracens.



U15 Cup Winners: Ellingham + Ringwood; U15 Cup R/Up: Worcester.



U15 Plate Winners: Burfield; U15 Plate R/U: Morpeth.

Sunday, June 06, 2010

New team manager for adult county team

Message from Charlie White:

I just wanted to introduce myself. Next season i will be talking on Jo's old role as the Hert's Womens Rugby Team manager.


I know we have talented players who are currently playing in many of the women's team across Hertfordshire, this season i want to give the Hertfordshire Women's team all the support they need to compete at a decent level and show the other counties all the talent we have.


The first thing i am doing is looking for commitment coaches and setting up the date and venue for the County Trials.


As i'm new to this role any help is more than appreciated.


Hope to hear from you all soon


Thanks


Charlie