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, May 07, 2011

U13s: Researchers in ivory towers to blame?

Thanks to Lisa for pointing me at this - but the girls U13 scheme (and the massive changes to mini rugby that are in the pipeline) seems to stem from some ongoing research at the University of Exeter, funded by RFU, and designed to increase participation in the game.

This mainly affects mini rugby, but the overall philosophy that simplification = more players is so very similar to the RFUW's U13 bombshell that you cannot help but conclude that there is a strong link between the two.

In short, this is the "evidence base" that David Rose et al are using, the "experts" they are listening to (as opposed to the hundreds of coaches and parents to whom they have nothing but closed ears).

Note that this is "ongoing" research - its not remotely completed yet - the link above to the University's press release on the subject was only issued in March. Could I suggest that the researchers may be more open to views from clubs than RFUW are - and that it would be worth including them in any attempts to get either the U13 or mini proposals amended? Dr Mark Wilson would seem to be the main target, probably via this email address: sshs-school-office@exeter.ac.uk

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