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...

Friday, April 03, 2009

Defining "popular"

Further to yesterday evening's bit on the National Cup, feedback reveals that apparently only four teams have entered in the North/Midlands - so that is ten teams in total for the entire country at U18s. As a result of this the North/Midlands first round has been abandoned completely - and frankly the southern round could have been disposed of in a single weekend as well with a modicum of imagination (see below).

U15s may be doing slightly better - certainly the Worcester U15 blog reveals a full complement for the first round in that region at least - but really it does again raise the question of the frankly mysterious and inadequately explained cancellation of the 10s. Its interesting the note that the Gloucester 10s - despite the problems imposed from outside, and despite being (for inevitable geographic regions) a south/midlands event - also has 10 U18 entrants. And why - again - was the 10s cancelled for "unpopularity" despite having more entrants when last played?
 
You will note that the National Cup - despite being an irrelevence for over 90% of junior clubs - already has three dates in next year's calendar. Why not use one of those dates be used for a revived National 10s?

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:25 AM

    and how popular is this years National 7's???
    Last year the event at junior level was full up with a week to go with sides prepared to wait to see if anyone dropped out. This year only 10 sides to date in each competition. No schools or colleges this year??
    The seniors looks dire only 2 sides have entered. I hope the 7's does not go the same way as the 10's because of senior support

    ReplyDelete
  2. I had not checked out the 7s yet - but looking at the entry fee (especially for the adult event!) - and noting that it clashes with the more heavily marketed and - frankly - higher profile Bournemouth Sevens perhaps I am not too surprised.

    I suspect that numbers will grow for the juniors at least Bournemouth does not run a junior sevens so there is no alternative

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous3:09 PM

    The cost of the adult event is totally over the top. £150 for a one day event is not value for money.I also dont want to see the junior 7s events cancelled in future due to the lack of support from the adult teams but £150 is a lot to pay. The rfuw events are the most expensive to enter compared to other club organised tournaments.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Total Pageviews (since June 2009)

 
Sport Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory