Formed 2004 ... Herts 7s U14 Runners-up 2005 ... North Herts U14 team, Herts Youth Games 2005 runners-up (coached by Letchworth)... Herts Superteams U14 Runners-up 2005 ... Herts SuperTeams "Fairplay" winners 2006 ... Rochford 10s U17 Champions 2006 ... East Midlands 10s U17 Runners-up 2007 ... East Midlands 10s U17 "Fairplay" winners 2007 ... National 10s U17 5th place and "Fairplay" winners 2007 ... Herts 7s U17 Plate runners-up 2007 ... National 7s U17 Plate winners 2007 ... RFU "President's XV" Award winners 2007 ... Herts Superteams winners 2007 ... Midlands 10s U18 Runners-up 2008 ... National 10s U18 4th place 2008 ... North Herts U11 team, Herts Youth Games 2008 runners-up (coached by Letchworth girls) ... London and SE 7s U18 Plate runners-up 2008 ... Herts 7s U18s runners-up 2008 ... National 7s U18s quarter-finalists 2008 ... Gloucester City 10s U18 Bowl runner-up (6th) 2009 ... Worthing 10s U18 Plate runner-up 2009 ... National 7s U18 Plate winners 2009... Worthing 10s U15 Plate winners 2010... Worthing 10s U18 Shield winners 2010... Herts 7s U15 and U18 Bowl runners-up 2010... National 7s U18 Plate runners-up 2010...

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Life as an international

I've just come across a really excellent warts-and-all article about what its like to be a international rugby player, published in the lead up to today's Wales/England match. It comes from the Western Mail - Wales' "national newspaper" - and features a four-page interview with members of the Welsh squad.

Starting with the different ways in which members of the men's and women's squads are treated (its the little things than rankle, like the way in which the men have kit washed while the women have to take theirs home to wash themselves), to the lack of recognition, to the levels of dedication needed to balance family, jobs and training - a dedication which their coach says "separates the men from the women... the only difference coaching men and women rugby players is that women are more committed."

There is a certain irony that the Welsh should complain about a lack of recognition - this article is considerably longer than any newspaper coverage that England seem to get!

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