East U14s v East Midlands: Match report

U14 regional coach Simon Shutler reports:

Contrary to the RFUW website and email, the East U14's actually beat the East Midlands in another very cold day up north, and this is how...

East Captain Claire won the toss and elected to receive from the kick off. EM chose to play with a strong wind at their back in the first half and with the slope of the pitch favouring them. The East game plan in the first half was not to kick the ball away but keep it in hand and drive into the wind. From the kick-off they did this and kept possession and play around halfway. Unfortunately they turned the ball over and were penalised for handling on the ground. EM took a quick tap and were tackled, but East were penalised for not being 10m. EM took another quick tap and ran in to the corner to score.

Captain Claire gathered her team together and from the kick-off they recovered the ball and drove into the EM 22. From the resulting scrum Layla took the ball blind and Yas backing up was tackled just short of the line. Further East pressure caused EM to concede a penalty. East took the scrum option and Charlotte was able to run in and score out wide.

EM kicked off and again East kept the ball in possession on halfway, unfortunately they again conceded a penalty in the same position as before and a replay of the initial try happened in conceding a penalty being penalised for not being 10m and then seeing EM run into the corner again.

However, heads did not drop and from the kick-off the East recovered the ball, Anna made a break and found Alex, who held off an EM defender and headed for the line, to be brought down just short. Yas backing up took the pass to score.

The second half was a different game, East backs were much more fluent in their running and passing.A scrum on halfway saw the ball come left and Charlotte broke free to score her second try.

The East with the wind on their backs were able to retain possession and put pressure on the EM line. Stout defending kept them out, until the EM conceded a penalty in front of the posts. East elected to scrum and lined up single file behind it to confuse the defence. The move did not quite work as planned but the ball was quickly recycled for Sam to score.

East again worked the ball into the EM 22 and pressured the line, unfortunately they lost the ball under the posts and the EM countered moving the ball to their quick wing, who ran the length of the pitch to score under the posts.

East from the kick-off keep possession and wok the ball into the EM 22. From a resulting scrum the ball is worked right, Sam is stopped but the ball is recycled and passed out for Charlotte to again score in the corner.

A great result by the squad with some fantastic passages of play. The coaches will be working on some aspects of play before the next games but the girls did everything that was asked of them.

Herts Sevens update

There is the potential for some of the players from yesterday's East Region U17 verses East Midlands Region U17 game to play each other again (hopefully not in a hailstorm on May 20th!) as Kettering are confirmed as 12th U17 side to enter the Herts Festival. There are now just 4 places in the U17 section left.

East seniors miss out on final by narrowest margin

East seniors won their game against East Midlands today - but missed out on the final by only points difference, and will have to play their neighbours again in two weeks time (31st March)in a third place playoff at Wasps. The seniors were left to rue a last minute try conceeded to South East in an opening game they had othewise dominated - or maybe the luck of a draw that saw South take on two of the eventual bottom four teams and West Midlands three of the bottom five, while East had had to play (discounting themselves) two of the top four.

The final Senior table was as follows:

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	DIF	BP	PTS
WEST MIDLANDS	3	3	0	0	96	5	91	1	16
SOUTH	3	2	1	0	43	20	23	0	13
EAST	3	2	0	1	43	31	12	2	13
EAST MIDLANDS	3	2	0	1	27	23	4	1	12
SOUTH EAST	3	2	0	1	34	36	2	0	11
NORTH WEST	3	1	0	2	39	39	0	2	9
THAMES VALLEY	3	0	2	1	34	41	-7	1	8
YORKSHIRE	3	1	0	2	18	41	-23	1	8
SOUTH WEST	3	0	1	2	15	82	-67	1	6
NORTH EAST	3	0	0	3	36	67	-29	2	5

It is proposed that from next year the new U18 championship will be based in the senior model instead of the Sun Alliance festival at Rugby School, which it is suggested will become an U15-only affair.

However, this year the juniors continue with a pattern of warm-up games leading to the final festival. Today the first warm-ups saw the U14s came back from conceeding an early try to beat East Midlands 25-15, while the U17s game was abandoned in the second half with East Midlands leading 19-5 when an unseasonal hail and snow strom turned the ground into something that looked like the front of a Christmas card.

Herts Sevens update

Letchworth, last years hosts, and Eastern Furies, a combined team from players in Norfolk and Suffolk Clubs have now confirmed their entries in both the U14 and U17 sections of the Herts Festival. There are now 11 teams entered in the U17 section (out of a maximum 16) and exactly half of the available places in the U14 section have been booked.
If any Club is intending to enter this tournament you are urged to enter soon as the U17 section, in particular, is nearing capacity.

New title, same great online magazine

A new issue of Rugby Player Magazine is now out. This is not a new publication, but the "DSM Rugby" magazine with a new title.

Its still an impressive publication, available only online, and totally free. The latest issue includes:

• Danielle Waterman column – Danielle reviews the RBS 6 Nations and previews England's Grand Slam game in Cardiff.
• Magnificent 7 Last-Minute Tries - with video links
• Power Play – Exeter Chief’s Kevin Barrett looks at modern power training techniques.
• Men's World Cup update – with this year’s men's RBS 6 Nations almost over, Adam Hathaway looks forward to the tournament coming up in France.

Herts Sevens Update

Reading and Aylesbury & Milton Keynes are the latest two clubs to enter both U14 and U17 teams into the Herts Festival. This means we are past the half-way point for the U17 section as nine teams out of a maximum 16 have now secured their places, whereas six sides are now confirmed for the U14 section.

The Festival will cater for all standards of Rugby as once the initial group stage has been decided, the tournament splits into the teams competing for the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield at both age groups. Therfore all 16 teams in each section will have something to play for right until the end of the day.

Review recommends major changes to regional programme.

The recommendations of the Regional Programme Review have now been published - and there are some major changes planned, especially for the juniors.

At senior level the only major change comes in 2008/9 when seniors move to eight regions - effectively mirroring the RFU regions (so East will gain Middlesex and possibly lose Huntingdonshire - though the latter needs to be confirmed). In addition by the following year a national county structure is planned leading to closed trials - in other words the same as the junior system which came in this season.

For the juniors....

From next season the U18s will mirror the senior programme - ie. there will be no tournament at Rugby School, but instead three regional matches with the top four qualifying for a final and third place play-off. U15s will remain as they are, with two warm-up fixtures and the tournament.

This would inevitably mean that - instead of the two junior squads working together, sharing physio support, etc. - they will now be largely independent entities. It maybe that the U18s will have the same fixture and training programme as the seniors - that is not confirmed.

However before the adminsitrative and organisational implications of that sinks in there are even more changes planned for 2008/9.

In that year the U18s drop down to the eight RFU regions, as with the seniors BUT the U15s gain an extra region and will therefore run on a completely separate 12-team regional system. In practice this will not affect East/London North too much as it seems that even in the 12-team format the borders will be the same (ie. the U15s probably gain Middlesex as well) - the main areas of confusion will be in the new North East & Yorkshire, South, and South West regions which will "split" at U15 level while being "combined" at U18 and Senior.

Other reforms will be a nationally standardised trial procedure for closed trials, including a nationally agreed criteria for "wild cards".

Finally the regional programme will now be officially considered a "Talent Development" programme while the County Programme will be charges with promoting "Participation". What this means in practice - if anything - (and how it will be adminstered) is, at this stage, unclear.

Bumper bundle of RFUW news and competition information

... should be dropping on doormats and e-mail boxes shortly (or even already). The mailing gives information and entry forms for:

• National Sevens (Leighton Buzzard, 26/27 May)
• Regional and National 10s (Various venues, 28/29 April)
• League "intention to affiliate" forms (for senior clubs)
• Senior draft calendar
• Regional programme group review report

All of which will keep club adminstrators and managers happy for a few hours.

If you have not had the information most of it will also be on teh RFUW website by now.

Regional Tens: entries now open

Another thing that has slipped out is that entries are now open for the Regional Tens, whichare on the 28th (seniors) and 29th (junior) April.

Contrary to previous advice on the subject, entries forms are from RFUW who are setting the fees (£25 per team, plus a £50 deposit) but need to be sent to the appropriate venue (and cheques made payable to the hosts, it seems).

Full details on the RFUW website

National Sevens Update: forget everything you thought you knew!

No official announcements yet that I have seen but readers should note that the dates and venue for National Sevens 2007 will not be what you expected.

The sevens WILL be at Leighton Buzzard RFC in Bedfordshire.

The Adult Sevens will be a one-day competition this year on Sunday 27th April (not a two day event over the Saturday and Sunday, as in previous years)

The Junior Sevens will be held on Saturday 26th April (not the Bank Holiday Monday, as in previous years) and WILL include events for both U14s and U17s. Indeed it will be of some historic significance as it will be last day of rugby for these age groups.

National Sevens on the move?

Surprising news in a posting tucked away on the website of Leighton Buzzard RFC. It would appear that Harpenden are NOT hosting this year's sevens after all - apparently they are refurbishing both pitches and buildings at their ground.

However, although this says that Leighton Buzzard are taking over the hosting the dates given on their website are only those originally put by for the senior event. No news of the junior tournament, due to take place on the 28th May (Bank Holiday Monday).

And nothing to confirm any of this on the RFUW website - so you saw it here first!!

Women's rugby - the place where young coaches get noticed!

In your late teens or early twenties? Interested in developing a career coaching rugby? Then contact your local women's or girls' team - because THAT is the place to go!

That is the subliminal message to come out of last week when the four of the country's leading young coaches - all recipients of the RFU's"Young Volunteers Plus" award - were invited to join the England (Men's) U20 side for their pre-match preparation last Tuesday and game against France on Friday (see here for the full report on RFU website).

Three of the four winners work in the female game - including two from Hertfordshire (Joe Randall from Letchworth and Luke Williams from Welwyn - or "Wilham" as the RFU call him...) which, considering the mismatch in the numbers of male and female teams in the country, is pretty unlikely to have happened by chance.

It is more likely to be the case that young coaches are given far more opportunities to take on responsibility and prove themselves - not just a club level but even at county and regional level - than in the more crowded (and, dare on say it, staid) atmosphere of the men's game. After all it is vanishingly unlikely that even the best teenage coach in the country would get to work with a senior mens regional or divisional team (as Joe has this season) or that someone in their early 20s would be a lead coach for any county team (as with Luke).

It is also possible that women's and girls' teams are more appreciative of their coaches efforts, and more willing to put them forward for awards like this.

But whatever the reason, the message is clear - if you want to make a name for yourself as a rugby coach then your quickest way to the top is to pick up the 'phone and contact your nearest women's or girls' team. They're waiting for your call!

Regional News

• U14s will be informed shortly (or may alreday have been informed) as to who will be travelling to Aylestone St James (click here for directions) on Sunday. 12.30 meet at the grounds for 2.00 start.
  
• U17s are at the same venue, and have the same match times. All U17s have been asked to travel as it is intended by both sides to use the fixture as a training event, trying out different positions and combinations - there being only one other fixture and one more training session before squads are selected for the final tournament.
  
• Seniors are at Coalville (click here for directions) , 12.30 meet for 2.00 start. This is their final "league" fixture. A win will definately give them a top four finish - and could (if West Midlands or South East lose) see them into the final!

Current standings are as follows (and note that South play South East in the next round of games, so they both cannot win!)

Team	P	W	D	L	For	Aga	Diff	Bp	Points
West Midlands	2	2	0	0	77	5	72	1	11
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	2	8
Yorkshire	2	1	0	1	18	22	-4	1	7
Thames Valley	2	0	1	1	22	19	3	1	5
North East	2	0	0	2	24	38	-14	2	4
North West	2	0	0	2	10	27	-17	2	4
South West	2	0	0	2	3	70	-67	1	2

Herts Sevens update

Worcester have now confirmed that they will be fielding one Under 14 side and two Under 17 sides. This means that both Finalists in last season’s U17 National Sevens (Basildon were the Winners) will be at this seasons Herts Girls Sevens.

Neat promotional idea

Good idea this from Saturday's A Rugby Day..

"I was playing around one day on Wikipedia and found that several sports teams in our city had added themselves to the Wikipedia page on Madison. And also had their own pages. So I added our rugby teams and also added a page for my own team. You can do it too, you just need to make sure it's all factual/objective, not subjective or opinion. "

What makes it a particularly impressive tip is that the world's most popular search engine - Google - currently puts anything on Wikipedia very high in its rankings, so if you create a page for your club/team on Wikipedia chances are that your page will appear in the high up in the results of any Google search.

National Cup venues announced.

The big day for some of our clubs is only a few weeks off - and at last they know wherethey will be going.

In the U14 cup Hertfordshire Barbarians (Saracens, Letchworth and all points east) team will be at Petersfield in Hampshire.

In the U17 cup Welwyn and Letchworth will be at Camberley in Surrey (home of "Cramberleigh").

The opponents for the U14s will be up against Cranberleigh (from Surrey), Ellingham and Ringwood (Hampshire), and Thornbury (Gloucestershire), while the U17 teams will face Ivel Barbarians (Somerset), and Wimbourne (Dorset).

Both days will be a round-robin tournament with the winners qualifying for the final against the northern champions on 15th April (somewhere in the Midlands normally).

Make the Herts blog your team's blog!

Some interesting developments behind the scenes means that this blog can now become a news service for not just the county, but your individual club or school or... whatever.

As you will see from a couple of entries down, I am not now the only writer on here. Peter McCullough from Welwyn has joined me to post news on here about the Herts 7s competition he is running.

You could do the same thing with your club or event as well. Instead of sending stuff to me to put on (or not), you can add things directly yourself, in your own words, with whatever links or pictures you wish!

And what is more - thanks to the introduction of "categories" - you could even have what amounts to your own club's "page" - for example a page of news relating only to Saracens Amateurs can be found here, or a page of Herts 7s news can be found here. There is a list of all current categories in the column to the right - more can be added.

This means you can get all the communication and promotional advantages and ease of use that comes with a blog without having to worry about the tedious business of setting it up or maintaining it.

If you are interested, drop me a line and you could be publishing your club's news on here by tomorrow.

Are you getting all the information you need?

The RFUW is asking all women's and girls' sections to ensure that either the "Volunteers co-ordinator" in your club, or equivalent, is passing on all information from the RFU about volunteering. If this is not happening, please check that the co-ordinator has your contact details.

If your club does not have a volunteer co-ordinator, or a not very good system, please choose a person to be the contact for information from the RFU and give this person's details to Carole Thelwell Jones at the RFU.

Child welfare: a reminder

It is a requirement that all coaches, team managers, first aiders etc, in fact anyone working with U18’s in girls rugby, to hold an up-to-date CRB check by the RFU.

These usually last 3 years and you should receive a reminder from the RFU to get a re-check done. Please would you all send this out to all clubs and remind them of this, and ask for new volunteers to make sure the club welfare officer completes a disclosure form with them.

No coach or team manager should be involved with the County programme or the Regional Programme without a clear RFU CRB check, and anyone involved who does not have this clearance can be asked to step away from the programme until they produce their certificate.

More grant tips

Some recent advice from Herts Sport Partnership on sources of funding:

Sportsmatch- sponsorship of a minimum of a £1000 in cash or kind, can be matched £ for £. So for example, if you persuaded a garage to give you a car, you could get the cars worth in cash! You will need a clear plan of how the money (and car if you got one) would increase participation. This funding stream cannot be used for replacement kit, general existing running expenses. More usually a company will agree to sponsor you so many £1000’s, and so you will have double that for your project. For a project Sportsmatch do prefer one sponsor but in some cases will match the sum of up to three sponsors providing each gives at least £1000.

Possibilities: development of a new team, or a new second team, both of which would then need new kit, coaches courses, first aid courses, first aid kit including strapping, new equipment, advertising, admin cots, maybe coach hire (wheeled variety), venue hire, maybe new trophies for end of season awards; perhaps the hire of specialist coaches for development.

Development of a developing coach and other volunteer infrastructure within the club, coaches courses, refs courses, volunteer courses, volunteer co-ordinator development etc. Some clubs have used the funding to pay for a dedicated CRC or YDO, if you wish to do this, speak to your RDO.

• Can not be used for tours abroad, and also not usually for physio therapy costs.
• The main thing here is to remember that the new sponsor must not give you the money or sponsorship in kind before you have got the o.k. from Sportsmatch.
• Records of publicity, attendance numbers etc will need to be kept as will clear accounts.
• A club can have more than one Sportsmatch application going on at ny one time.
• For sponsorship over £5000 the NGB will be involved, helping ensure all goes to plan.

Ideally get the business sponsor to commit for 3 years, they do have the option of pulling out, but if they only commit to one year, they cannot then decide to do another year without putting in even more money. So in the first year, if a business sponsors you £3000 you will end up with £6000, in the second year the business again gives you £3000 and Sportsmatch will give you up to £1500 and in the 3rd year, once again, £3000 from the sponsor and £750 to £1000 from Sportsmatch.

Applications are considered at set dates throughout the year. It may take a few months from when the sponsor first says they will sponsor you. Forward planning is essential.


Awards for All- only 1 application per club per year, so ensure the club exec know whts planned. Grants given from £300 to £10,000. To increase access and participation. W&G are a target they wish to meet. Each region may have slightly different targets, look on the website to check. About 8-12 weeks for an answer.


Small Grants Fund-google “small grants fund” because each local authority has slightly different criteria. Grants up to £500 for running costs that volunteers usually cover themselves e.g. ink cartridges, paper etc. Grants up to £2000 for things such as, refurbishing the clubs kitchen, a new store for equipment, security equipment for the club, new kit for a new team, projects which will improve participation, enjoyment and health. Decisions made as the applications come in.

Youth Opportunity and Capital Fund-goggle this title, as each local authority has some funding which they control. The unusual thing about this funding possibility is that the young people themselves complete the application form and run the project!!!!!

The Youth Opportunity Fund, could for example be for increasing participation and recruitment of girls, so maybe use the funding to put young adults on coaching courses and get them coaching in schools, it may possibly be used to pay an adult coach to coach in schools, but the main thing is its for kids, by kids.

The Capital Fund has no upper limit and is for capital projects e.g. facilities.

The panel has young people on it as well as adults, and grants are considered on 1st Friday of each month

Local Network Fund-again google this title. This fund will come to an end at the end of this year I believe so get your application in quickly. Funding is for increased access and participation and again girls are a target, but boys could apply too. Simple application form and the record keeping is not difficult. About 8 weeks for a decision.

Commander Collins Bursary-google title. Matched funding up to £500 for development of volunteers, so coaches and refs courses, maybe LTAD seminars, Running Sport workshops etc etc

B&Q you can do it, community fund.-Each branch of B&Q has about £2000 a yar to give away. They tend to give it in £500 lots. Apply in writing to the store mnager. Money to be used in the store for paint, coat hooks, signs etec…to smarten up your club house.

Post Office- If you have a club member who works for the P.O. get them to contact their regional office. The post office gives grants to its employees sports clubs. £5000 I do believe. The employee must hold a position at the club, e.g. coach, team manager etc.

Foundation for Sport and the Arts (http://www.thefsa.net/). This is a funding body that fund new and refurbishment of facilities, and will also provide revenue grants.

Community Foundations. E.g Herts Community Foundations-these bodies hold charitable funds and act as distributors. Ask your Local Authority for contct details and then phone and ask if they have any grant bodies which support sport.

Who else will know where to look for money?: Your County Sports Partnership may well have a list of funding bodies both National ones and local ones. The CSN or Community Sports Network will also be helpful to you in finding funds or applying for funds. They can help if you have a big project, £10,000 plus, by helping you look at the possibility of CIF, Community Investment Funding. CSN’s vary from district to district. Contact either your CSP or your local authority to ask where and who makes up, your nearest CSN.

Completing Application Forms:This is easier, much easier if you have a development plan. Your Local Authority may, in the volunteers department have someone who will sit and help you complete the application form.