Girls County Trials

Girls county trials for 2012/13 have been confirmed for 30th September at Welwyn. This is a couple of weeks later than usual in the hope that schools will send more girls along.

However, because the trials are later, an extra county-wide training session will take place on the 16th September, also at Welwyn, where everyone will get the chance to play in full-sized games. Even if you are the only player at your club in your age band this will be a great chance to play some rugby - and even find out more about plans for a cluster team for the season.

The county's home games this year will be against Kent on 18th November, probably at OAs.

County Coaches 2012/13:

U15: Gareth Bowser (Lead Coach) John Harrison and Kevin Green (Assistant Coaches)

U18: Jeff Stembridge (Lead Coach) Greg Maxwell, Alan Watson, Bob Dawson and Mick Clapp (Assistant Coaches)

County Managers 2012/13:

U15; To be appointed.Volunteers to contact Adrian Pomfret.

U18; Colin/Carol Summerfield

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.

HPA's

Following last weekends High Performance Academy Trials (HPA's) at Brunel University congratulations are due to the following Herts Players on being selected:

U15's : Courtney Arberry (Welwyn) who now joins the School of Rugby at Felsted School Essex for the next season, which starts this Summer.

U18's : Claire Shutler (Saracens) who now progresses to the Talent Development Group (TDG) Trial taking place later this month.

HPA's 12-13 July Brunel University

Good luck to the following Girls and Women who play for Herts Clubs and who are attending the HPA (High Performance Academy) Trials at Brunel University this weekend:

Under 15:
Courtney Arberry (Welwyn)

Courtney is Trialing at the HPA for a place on next season's School of Rugby which Claire Shutler and Sam Voyle attended last season.

Under 18:
Hayley Guilder (Letchworth)
Sasha Acheson (Letchworth)
Claire Shutler (Saracens)
Alice Nee (Saracens)
Sam Voyle (Welwyn)
Georgia Peedle (Welwyn)
Frankie Dawson (Welwyn)
Casey Shults (Welwyn)

The HPA Trial is the first part of two Trials to join the Under 18 TDG (Talent Development Group) where these Players are aiming to join 3 Herts Players who are currently part of the TDG, Hannah Gallagher, Alex Robertson and Megan Williams (all Welwyn).

Women:
Tia Arberry (Welwyn)
Sophie Tyler (Welwyn)

County permission/registration forms

The registration forms for county squads/training have been updated (see link on the right) and a very slightly different form has also been produced for U12 girls. Please complete an appropriate form and bring it along on Sunday in order to speed up the processing so that we can ensure a prompt start.

The forms are on Word format. If this causes any problems please contact the blog editor (link also on the right).

County Day - next Sunday

A final reminder that the season's first "county day" is next Sunday at Welwyn, starting at 2pm. U18s will be having their county trials, but for U15s and especilly U12s a rather more relaxed development/"come-and-try-it" session is planned.

The U12 band is a new venture, aimed at girls who in previous years would have been able to play girls rugby at U14 level but who now cannot do so due to age band changes. The concern is that many of these girls who in years past would have taken the game up, or moved over from mini rugby, will now not do so and might otherwise be lost to the game - the drop out rate amongst girls in mini rugby is very high indeed between ages 9 and 11 as girls feel increasingly isolated in largely boys teams.

The aim therefore to to try to get enough girls to form at least one "squad" which can meet to play or train together once a month or so, thereby giving them a regular "boost" to keep playing until they reach Year 8 and join U15 sides. The publicity generated by the men's world cup, which starts on Friday, is also something that should not be missed.

So not only should you be making a note in your own diaries about next weekend, but it will be a great opportunity to bring a few friends along to sample the game.

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)

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.

Herts U14 duo to take next big step forward

Two Herts U14s are now preparing to take their biggest step in rugby to date.

Courtney Arberry from Welwyn and Claire Shutler from Saracens are amongst a select group of about ten girls being put forard by East Region for selection for the first U14 TDGs - the "Talent Development Group", which is designed to bring together the best 30 girls in the country in a special programme of extra training and development.

The U17 TDGs were selected last summer when six East region girls (the largest number from any one region) were selected in the thirty from roughly 100 nationwide trialists.

The U14 trials will take place over the next few weeks (date and venue to be confirmed).

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

Senior and U17 regional trial: squad announced

The result of the Senior and U17 East Region trials on Sunday have been announced - full details on the East Region website (U17 and Seniors). The coaches report that in both cases it was by far the toughest trial there has ever been. Also note that this Saturday's senior training is now at Old Albanians.

One result of the incredibly high standards on show is that only 23 of the final 30 names for the U17 squad have been announced - 16 girls are being invited back to retrial on 11th February for the remaining seven places. Several major "names" who have been in past regional squads have missed out this year. There was a particularly tough battle for forward places - other than props -and also amongst the backs centre and full-back were heavily over-subscribed.

This imbalance was caused by many girls applying to trial for places where they had not played at county level, resulting in (at one extreme) 23 "centres" competing against each other, but only two or three "fly-halves". There were similar over-subscriptions for flankers and full-backs.

One reason is that it is suspected that some trialists may have been attempting to second-guess where it would be "easiest" to get into the squad - and the message is don't! Almost universally girls who were sucessful trialed in the positions where they normally play at club or county level.

So its congratulations to those who are through into what is unquestionably the best regional squad there has ever been. Good luck to those who are trying again on the 11th, and commiserations to those who missed out - any other year most of you would have got in. Keep going - things were so close that next time it could be you.

Regional Trials are GO - but remember you £5

Regional trials look like going ahead as planned at Ely (juniors) and Letchworth (seniors) on Sunday. Everything starts at both venues at 1pm, but please be there by c 12.00 or 12.30 to register and (unless you have done so already) pay your £5 trial fee.

The senior squad may be selected on the day as there is only a couple of weeks before their first fixture, so seniors should also be prepared to place an order for their regional training kit.

It is not compulsory to buy the kit - but it is a very good deal this year as it is being sourced centrally by RFUW for the first time (so no delivery delays!) and will include an exclusive hooded top, t-shirt, shorts, socks, and beanie - in regional colours, with East Region markings and the RFUW rose - and all for only £30.

Juniors selected for their squads will also be able to buy the same package.

Mystery of the missing regional forms: solved!

While those of you aiming for regional selection have been looking forward to the trials this weekend, for many of you your forms have been on a short national tour ... as RFUW sent them to the wrong region. This would account for all the "missing" forms being those that had been sent in around two weeks ago!

They have now (finally) arrived and the lists on the East website are now completely up to date, which means that all expected U14 forms are in along with all but three U17 forms.

Ely report no problems at their end for the Junior trials - no snow even. Yesterdays snow at Letchworth has now gone and the "top" pitch looked in good condition last night - so as things stand we are still okay there as well.

IMPORTANT: Regional trials: U17 and U14 registrations:

The final batch of registration forms received by RFUW before the closing date have now been received by the region. Most players are now registered - 80% of Under 14s and 78% of the Under 17s.

If you were invited to attend trials and wish to attend please check these lists. If your registration form was sent to RFUW but has NOT been received you will need to let the Regional Programme Manager - John Birch - know BEFORE Sunday - preferably by email (so there is a written record) and ideally with a copy of your form attached.

RFUW rules say that you should not be allowed to trial if you have not registered beforehand. Even if you turn up, form in hand, it is very possible that you will not be able to take part if the region are not expecting you.

Flooding forces relocation of senior regional trials

This venue change only applies to the senior (ie. adult) trials.
Junior (U14 and U17) trials will still be going ahead at Ely RFC .

Flooding at King's School, Ely means that the East Region senior trials will have to move - again. The pitches and other grass areas at the school are under water following yesterday's weather and will not be fit for use for at least a fortnight. Its incredibly unlucky for the East's women players as the same thing happened for their first trial in December.

Fortunately (unless there is another serious deterioration in the weather) Letchworth Garden City RFC - who also hosted the rearranged first trial at short notice - should be able to host again (see map below for directions)

It is appreciated that this is not ideal, especially for players coming from the north-east of the region, but Letchworth is the nearest club to the centre of the region willing to host the trial - and the policy of the region has always been to have trials as near to the centre as possible.

Regional trails: applications (links corrected)

The second batch of registration forms from RFUW have now reached the region:

• 70% of U14s invited to trials have now registered (see here for details of forms received).
• 49% of U17s invited to trials have now registered (see here for details).
• 50% of TDG girls have returned registration forms (see here for details).

As things stand at the moment the selectors will not have a very tough job! But there is still a week to go to get your trial forms in, so come on you U17s!

Its all gone a bit quiet on here...

Considering how much news appered on here over December, it may appear that things are a bit quiet.

Basically this is because matters of a representative nature are in a bit of limbo pending the outcome of the regional trials on the 28th. After that happens counties - and indeed clubs - will have a better idea of where they stand on player availability, so we will all have a better idea about what it may be possible to organise over the rest of the season.

Full fifteen-a-side county games may be difficult to arrange (they proved impossible last year) but hopefully - if there is sufficient interest - we will be try to ensure there is something like last year's inter-county sevens (we have to defend our U17 title after all!).

Anyway keep an eye on the blog - news will appear here first!

Junior region trials: registration

The first few forms from girls registering to attend regional trials have begun to appear. Remember - although you may have been invited to trials you must still register using the RFUW's registration form.

Although the requirement to register does not technically include TDG girls, East are requesting that they submit forms in order to ensure that the region will have accurate contact and medical information for all squad members.

Details of forms received by the region to date now appear on the East website (U14 and U17).

If you have sent your form into the RFUW but it is not indicated as being received do not worry - there is a delay of several days beween RFUW receiving the forms and seending them on to the region.

However, if you have not sent in your registration - and you wish to trial - time is running out! You have until the 19th January to get your form to Twickenham. Do it today!!

East Region trials: important information

If you have been nominated to attend the regional trials (see the u17 and u14 lists, published below) on 28th January you MUST confirm that you are going to attend by completing this form and returning it to RFUW by 19th January. If you fail to do so you risk not being allowed to trial, despite being nomiated.

More information on the trial process, including dates and venues, appears on the East website.

Regional trialists: U17 (with additions)

The revised and updated list of girls who have been selected to attend trials for the U17 East Region squad, which will be held at Ely RFC on 28th January is now availabel on the RFUW East region website.