County dates for your diary

Some important dates for the start of the new season

• The next HWGRDG meeting is taking place at Welwyn RFC starting at 7.30, is now on Mon 5th September not Mon 12th September, as 12th Sept is the date of the County Club Meeting at Welwyn RFC, to allow participants to attend both meetings if they need to. An agenda for the next HWGRDG meeting will be issued beforehand, but if there is anything specific that you would like included then please e-mail Peter McCullough.
• The Herts Girls County Trial is taking place at Welwyn RFC starting at 1.00, is now on Sun 18th September not Sun 25th September, which means that there will now a training session for those selected at the Trial on Sun 25th September (venue tbc). This is to enable a Herts Girls County Training session to take place between the Trial and the first Girls County Games on Sun 16th October away against Kent, which the published RFUW fixture schedule hasn’t made provision for.
• On Sun 6th November Herts County Girls are at Home against Surrey County Girls. These games will provisionally take place at Old Albanians RFC, but will be confirmed by the next HWGRDG meeting. Herts and Surrey are arguably the two strongest Girls Rugby Counties in England, so these games will be of the highest level, and a big crowd is expected.

RFUW Development Squad v. Combined Services November 11th

A Game between RFUW Development Squad and Combined Services is taking place at Aldershot RFC on Rememberance Day on 11th November at 3.30. It is the Curtain raiser for the Men's Combined Services versus Barbarians Game taking pace at 7.30.

The RFUW Development Squad comprises of England Under 20 Players, and Players who are on the fringes of the England Women's Elite 44 Squad.

Three OA Saints Players are in the RFUW Development Squad:

• Sarah McKenna (13)
• Millie Fuggles (17)
• Geri Thomas (19)

Canadian U18 tourists need summer fixtures

If you are interested in playing a touring U18 team of 25 players from Manitoba, Canada between August 24th to September 3rd please post here or email Lisa by 1st May 2009. 

Successful teams will then be notified. Four matches are being sought in over 10 days alongside sight seeing opportunities across the country. 

County fixtures

The following dates have been confirmed for U15 and U18 teams. We are currently checking to see if U12s will also be able to take part:

• 21st October: County training for squads (probably at Welwyn) (if U12s go to Rochford on the 14th then this session will be U15s and U18s only)
• 4th November: Middlesex festival (v East Midlands, Hampshire, and Middlesex)
• 18th November: Essex festival (at Harlow RFC - opposition to be confirmed)
• 2nd December: East Midlands Festival at Newark (TBC)

Junior club fixture exchange service

Gravesend Gremlins in Kent have launched a ‘Fixture X-Change’ service on their website.. In theory this is just for South East clubs to use, but in practice I'm sure they'd have no objection if clubs from other regions used the service.


As they say, using the contacts, smaller clubs can also get together with others to form clusters.

Go to: http://www.gravesend-gremlins.org.uk/ and click on Fixture X-Change at the top

Beckenham / Rochford Festivals 14th October

Angela Nicholls, the organiser of the Beckenham Festival, has asked for the following message to be publicised:

I can confirm that the 9th Beckenham Girls Festival will be held on 14th October this year, which I have subsequently found out clashes with Rochford 10 festival. We have also concentrated on it being a "development" day and have limited county/regional players to 2 per side. If you know of any club that would like an invite, pass this email onto them and once I get a request from them will send one on.

e-mail: angelanicholls1@hotmail.com

Calendar: Amendments to "final" version issued

The RFUW have today issued a "final" version of the final calendar, with some changes to the previous "final" edition which appeared at the end of May.

The main changes seem to be:

• Extra county day on 18th November
• Senior league play-offs moved to 27th April

In addition East Region may be holding its junior trials now in December (probably 16th), pending the approval of RFUW.

Senior calendar 2007/8: final version

Representative:

• Regional (training, and Sundays, unless stated): 16th December (trials); 19th January; 27th January; 3rd February (match); Saturday 9th February; 10th February (match); 24th February; 9th March (match); 16th March (final).
• Super 4s:9th September; 30th September; 21st October
• England training: 16th December; 6th January; 27th January
• Six Nations: 3rd February (Wales @ home); 10th February (Italy @ away); 24th February (France @ away); 9th March (Scotland @ away); 16th March (Ireland @ home)

Club:

• Cup: 6th and 13th April
• Regional 10s: 20th April
• National 10s: 4th May
• Play-offs: 6th April
• League/fixtures: All dates not listed above.

Junior calendar 2007/7: "Final" version

The "final" version of next season's calendar is now out, and predictably there are some significant changes from the earlier draft plus a few oddities (like the regional festival dates) which might point to some movement yet?

The key dates are as follows (all Sundays unless otherwise indicated):

Representative:

• County: 9th September; 30th September; 21st October; 4th November and 2nd December
• Regional (training unless indicated): 20th January (trials); 3rd February; Saturday 9th February; 10th February (match); 9th March; 16th March (match); 20th April; 27th April, 11th May (Festival).
• U18 TDGs: In weeks commencing: 22nd October; 17th December; 24th February; 25th March; 26th May; and 28th July
• U19 trials: 30th September and 21st October

Club:

• Regional 10s (U18s only): 7th October
• Rochford Festival: 14th October
• National 10s (U18s only): 28th October
• National Cup: 24th February; 30th March; 13th April.
• National Sevens: 25th May
• Training and matches: All other dates not listed above

Highlights:

• Regional/National 10s at a more sensible time... though a date clash with Rochford means (for U18s) two festivals in two weeks... unless Rochford could become the East's regional qualifier? Or would that be too sensible?
• National Cup staggers on for another year... but invites weather problems by moving to the New Year
• Six county and eight regional weekends (including one Saturday/Sunday in the latter).
• All the above leaves only 15 clear dates for club fixtures, and two of those may well clash with TDG weekends

Rochford Hundred U18’s girl’s 10’s and U15’s 7’s Charity festival

Rochford would like to invite clubs to play in the fourth charity 10’s & 7’s festival, last year’s festival was a great success and they hope you can join them this season to make it an even greater success.

It is to be held on Sunday 14th October.

They envisage that the under 18’s should play five fourteen minute games, these to be played in accordance with the under 18 girls laws for season 2007/2008. There will be no overage players allowed to take part.

The under 15’s will be played in accordance with the under 15’s laws for season 2007/2008. Hopefully the U15’s will follow a similar format.

Even if you do not have a full squad please contact Rochford as they may be able to put you in touch with another team in the same situation or form a Barbarian squad. So everybody gets a chance to play rugby.

Rochford are also trying to get an U12’s game arranged for the same day, so if you have any please let them know.

All they ask for is a donation of £25 for a full team, per age group, or £3 a participant if you do not have a full squad. This is to go to this years selected charity, which is LITTLE HAVENS CHILDRENS HOSPICE Charity No 2805007

Please contact Tina to register an interest on 01268 691409 or email her at tina@rugbyturners.plus.com

There is only space for twelve teams, in each age group, so register asap.

Team needed to play Barnet ladies?

Annemarie at Barnet has been let down by the team the ladies were to play on 13^th May as a curtain raiser match before a men's game.

It is a game of touch rugby. The Barnet women are experienced players in touch rugby and some have a contact rugby background. Are any of you interested? I think that as its Touch Rugby an U17 side could play or a womens side or a mixture….

Please contact Annemarie directly if you are interested.

Amanda Bate
WRDM East & SE Regions

RFUW Senior Calendar 2007/8: First draft issued

Presented with similar apologies for the delay, and health warnings, as the junior calendar (below). Weekends not listed are for "club training, matches, or league", and all are sundays unless stated.

September 9 County 30 County October 21 County November 18 County December 16 Regional trials [23 CHRISTMAS BREAK] January 19 (Sat) Regional Training 27 Regional Training

February 3 Regional Training 9 (Sat) Regional Training 10 Regional match 24 Regional Training March 9 Regional Match 16 Regional Final [23 EASTER SUNDAY] April 6 Cup (Prem/Champ 1) 13 Cup (Prem/Champ 1) 20 Play-off (Prem/Champ 1) 27 Regional Cup May 4 Regional Cup 11 Regional Cup 18 Regional Cup 25 National 7s

RFUW Junior Calendar 2007/8: First draft issued

Actually this came out a couple of days ago but I've been up to my eyes in Canadians...

Anyway, with HUGE health warnings that there are BOUND to be changes, here is the first draft of next year's calendar. Weekends not listed are for "club training or matches", and all are sundays unless stated.

September 9 County Development Day 30 County Trials/Training October 14 Rochford Tens 21 County 28 National Cup Rd 1 November 4 County 18 County 25 National Cup Rd 2 December 2 County 23 CHRISTMAS BREAK

January 20 Regional Trials February 3 Regional Training 9 (Sat) Regional Training 10 Regional match 24 Regional Training March 9 Regional Match [23 EASTER SUNDAY] 30 National Cup Rd 3 April 13 Cup Finals 27 Regional Training May 11 Regional Festival 25 National 7s

Rochford Tens: Date confirmed

The date of next season's Rochford tens has been confirmed as 14th October. Information about entries (cost likely to be about £25 per team) will be distributed shortly.

Rochford has been won by Hertfordshire clubs for the past two seasons - so lets ensure it stays in the county!

East Region seniors: standings after round 2

The latest results and standings in the senior regional championships (after today's fixtures) are:

11/02/07
East 5 South East 12; North East P Yorkshire P; South 12 Thames Valley 12; East Midland 10 North West 5; West Midlands P South West P

25/02/07
East 25 North East 12; North West 5 West Midlands 17; Thames Valley 10 South East 17; South 10 South West 3; Yorkshire 5 East Midlands 10

Team	P	W	D	L	For	Aga	Diff	Bp	Points
South East	2	2	0	0	29	15	14	0	10
East Midlands	2	2	0	0	20	10	10	0	10
South	2	1	1	0	22	15	7	0	8
East	2	1	0	1	30	24	6	1	7
West Midlands	1	1	0	0	17	5	12	0	5
Thames Valley	2	0	1	1	22	19	3	1	5
North West	2	0	0	2	10	27	-17	2	4
Yorkshire	1	0	0	1	5	10	-5	1	2
South West	1	0	0	1	3	10	-7	1	2
North East	1	0	0	1	12	25	-13	1	2

One round of games remains to be played - with East away to East Midlands on 18th March. The top four teams will then play-off for the regional championship at Wasps the following week.

Inter-county sevens: 3rd February

The following squad will represent the county at a U17 Sevens tournament, which will be played on Saturday at OAs before the England v Scotland six nations game:

· Katie Alcock
· Ema Burgess
· Sophie Davidson
· Frankie Dawson
· Vicki Hampshire
· Hannah Marques
· Sophie Newman
· Rosie Randfield
· Alex Robertson
· Megan Williams

Non-travelling reserves:
· Casey Shults
· Chaisse Fallon

12th November is back on... somewhere

Good news - we WILL have games on 12th November now after all.

Exactly where and against who is still be tidied up, but one opponent will almost certainly be Essex. We may also be joined by Oxfordshire and/or Middlesex.

The venue will be somewhere in either Essex, Oxfordshire and Herts (if the latter probably Letchworth, as it was already "booked" for training for the day).

More news as it comes in...

Key dates for 2006/7

County dates:

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)

Club dates:

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)

Regional Programme Review - make your views known

The RFUW is forming a Regional Programme Review Group to to look at the design and rationale behind the programme and are inviting comments on the current format and suggestions for the future.

The suggested main areas for discussion is "Development vs Talent Identification"

Although it does act as a Talent Identification System for both Youth and Seniors, it also plays a role in allowing women and girls to play the full sided game and receive new coaching ideas to feed into their clubs. However, is there too much emphasis on Talent Identification and should the programme be all about development? Alternatively do you think the programme does not reflect the competitive needs of those aspiring to be England Players of the future?

Questions to consider:

Youth

• Selection: Should Trials be open or through County/Club nominations? Are the trials in their current format suitable?
• Developmental or Talent Identification? Is it possible to combine the two? How?
• Should all Youth Players selected for a Regional Squad have the right to equal playing time within the programme or should the emphasis be on allowing the more talented players time on the pitch?
• Should the ethos for the programme be about performing to the highest level or about having fun? Is it the same for both age groups?
• Should the Royal Sun Alliance Tournament be about winning or about ensuring that everybody gets at least 1 game?

Senior

• Selection - Trials and/or County/Club nomination? Should there be a guideline on which players would be suitable?
• Should the Senior Programme be development or Talent Identification orientated?
• Should players who have climbed the Pathway to England and are on their way down be eligible?
• Should Representative players (i.e. England U19s and England Students) be considered for the relevant age-groups? Should players selected for Super 4s and Super League but not selected for the England 44 be allowed to trial for Senior Regional?
• Should there be an age-limit for Senior Programme candidates e.g. U23s or U25s?

NB These questions are not exhaustive and are a guideline for your suggestions. If you wish to discuss one of the questions, clearly state which one in your feedback. If you wish to discuss elements of the programme not included so far please feel free to do so. RFUW greatly appreciate suggestions as well as constructive criticism.

Any suggestions and comments will be considered by the Review Group, and their findings will be presented to the RFUW Board once the consultation is completed. The Development & Performance Departments will then examine ways in which these findings can be implemented for the future running of the Programme.

RFUW are also interested in thoughts about the current format. As always funding is limited, but suggestions on how we can make the most of the funding available are also welcome.

Expressions of interest are also invited from those wishing to be considered to sit on the Regional Programme Review GroupThe Review Group is expected to meet no more than four times over the next season with the first meeting on Saturday August 12th. (other dates will be: Sat 7th Oct, Sunday 12th Nov, Sunday 1st April).

Comments to the review and expressions of interest should be forwarded to Claire Sanderson on clairesanderson@rfu.com. Please include “Regional Programme Review” in the subject line of all e-mails.

Beckenham festival date confirmed

The date of the Beckenham U17 festival has been conformed as 8th October. Invitations go out shortly.

Last season only on Herts team took part - which is a pity as its an good festival which is aimed specifically at new U17 players. It also attracts entries from across the South East, giving you a chance to meet clubs you'd never normally play outside of National Sevens.

More information will appear here as it becomes known.