Worthing 10s TOMORROW!

The draw for tomorrow's Worthing 10s has been published, with Letchworth U15s drawn in Group A

Gloucester 10s: Joe invites the world to come and play

Joe has now circulated his invitation to clubs to attend the Gloucestershire Girls’ rugby 10s tournament - and has asked for it to be circulated as widely as possible. So here it is. Tell everyone!

Easter 2010 saw Girls’ rugby teams from around the UK descend upon Harptury College in Gloucestershire for the second annual Gloucester City 10s, a 2 day rugby festival organised and operated by Gloucester Girls Rugby Charitable Trust Fund (GGRCTF). The event was a huge success both on and off the field with approximately 500 girls participating over the weekend, the event managed to attract substantial support from a number of well known sponsors. Regrettably by Summer 2010 the charity was in the process of being wound up and any chance of the annual event continuing seemed unlikely

However the show must go on and with the support of both the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union and Hartpury College, the event returns in 2011. The competition now under the name of 'Gloucestershire 10s' is being organised by a volunteer management team who now invite entries from interested clubs.

The 2011 event will be held over Easter weekend with an under 15 tournament on Saturday 23 April and an under 18 tournament on Sunday 24 April. Clubs may enter both U15 and U18 teams, and there are up to 16 team places available in each age group. The management team are pleased to announce a new pricing structure for the 2011 event, with the standard entry fee reflecting a reduction of £15 on last years price. This is an open tournament and has the potential to be the largest Girls 10s festival in South West England. Please find attached a copy of tournament invite letter, entry form and rules & regulations documents. If you are interested in entering, please follow the instructions outlined with these documents. If you have difficulty opening the attached files please contact Joe Randall, Event Manager by email (joe.gloucestershire10s@live.co.uk).

The tournament management team is keen to hear from businesses or organisations that are interested in getting involved with the tournament. For information on possible sponsorship opportunities please contact a member of the management team using the details below.

It would be appreciated if you could forward this message to any teams clubs you feel might be interested in entering a team.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Kind regards,

Joe Randall

Gloucester 10s 2011 - now under new management!

A familiar face has taken over the running of one of the best weekends of club rugby.

Joe Randall - coach of our girls team from 2005-2007 (and hopefully to be involved with the Old Girls game) - has taken over the management of the Gloucester 10s tournament.

Gloucester 10s was first played in 2009 as a replacement for the popular (but unaccountably cancelled) RFUW National 10s, which had been a popular event for the previous 2-3 seasons. It has been an even bigger success than the old Nationals, and with Joe in charge promises to be just as great an event this season.

The new season has resulted in some rethinking about its dates, but after some thought next week Joe and Gloucester RFU will be inviting entries to the 2011 tournament, to be held again at Hartpury College on 23rd-24th April (probably U18s on Day 1, and U15s Day 2).

Letchworth took part in the first edition in 2009, but we were unable to go in 2010 as our partners last season - Saracens - did not wish to attend. Hopefully we will have sufficient players on our own this year - it may just be a question of transport.

Back from the brink

Good news that Gloucester 10s looks like taking place next season after all. The winding up of the previous organisers - Gloucester Girls' Rugby Trust - seemed to suggest the end of this popular and well organised event, but it seems that neither the county's RFU, nor the "home" of the event - Hartpury College - were willing to let it go.

The two bodies have therefore called on an ex-Hartpury student and county girls manager called Joe Randall (you may have heard of him) to take on the task of organising Gloucester 10s 2011. It'll be a challenging task as next season's calendar is so different to anything that has gone before that all of the "traditional" slots that have been used by the likes of Thornbury 7s, Gloucester 10s, Worthing 10s, Herts 7s - and even the National 7s - have all disappeared. All of the organisers of these competitions will be looking for new dates - perhaps trying to cram them into a season that is now a month shorter, perhaps trying to get permission to continue to play in May. Hopefully they will all be talking to each other - it would be a disaster for the game is any of these events clashed!

On the subject of competitions coming back from the dead, the Thames Valley Cluster League will still be played next season. A matter of weeks after it was announced that it would not continue, it seems that the RFUW are going to allow the organisers brand their division of the National League as the TVCL. What is not yet revealed is whether or not they will also have to abide by the National Leagues as yet unannounced rules, or whether they will be able to keep to their own.

It will also be interesting to see what the organisers of other former leagues will make of this. Will there be pressure now to allow some of these leagues to reform themselves as part of the National structure? It was always a mystery (one of many!) why RFUW decided to break up tried and tested successful competitions to  create the new untried leagues. Have they, maybe, seen sense? Is this another sign of the edifice cracking? Of a last minute outbreak of common sense? Probably not, but you never can tell...

Rewriting history

There are times when you read an RFUW press release and think that you have fallen into some parallel universe. Take this one, issued last weekend. It includes such statements as...

On Saturday, in torrential rain, the National Under 15s 10s tournament took place. ...

On Sunday, Lichfield hosted the National 10s Under 18s... The final of the National U18s Cup saw last year’s winners Reading Baa Baas take on London Irish, with London Irish this time triumphing 20-10. The RFUW Fair Play award also went to North Dorset RFC.

Just a minute WHAT NATIONAL 10s???!!!!  Everyone will remember that last year - after two successful years - the National 10s was cancelled as there was (according to the RFUW) no demand for it. It is why the Gloucester 10s came into being - to fill the gap created by the cancellation. The decision to cancel the 10s was staggeringly unpopular but was not reversed for 2009/10 - there was nothing in the calendar and no general invitations were sent to all clubs - so where on earth did this tournament come from? And how did those clubs who took part get invited?

The answer - after a bit of digging and investigation (ie. working out what Reading did win last year) - this seems to be that a replacement for the National Cup, which was cancelled this year due to a lack of entries (the National Cup was completely different to the National 10s, being a tournament for 15-a-side teams - indeed, thanks to the rules, 15-a-side teams who could field squads of 22. It is small wonder that so few clubs entered!). At the last minute, without telling anyone, it seems to have been changed into a 10s tournament (a format that, according to RFUW only a year ago, no-one was interested in), and that only those teams that had entered the National Cup were invited to this competition instead.

It does not seem to have crossed the minds of anyone at Twickenham that a whole stack of clubs who were not interested in the National Cup would  have been interested in the National 10s, clubs that (going by my email box) are now ever so slightly upset about not being given a chance to play this year!

Even more remarkably this is not the only weird, strange and unexplained RFUW tournament advertised in press releases this week - there is also...

The Mysterious Case of the St George's Day Sevens.

This is a new, high profile, national sevens competition that will be played at Twickenham for the next three years as part of the "legacy" of the World Cup. Teams from "across the country" took part in the first edition apparently - 150 girls in all (hmmm... only about a quarter of the size of Herts Sevens then)?

At Letchworth we have always enjoyed Sevens, so why did we not take part? Very simple - because (as with the "National 10s") we were not invited. Nor were Saracens - or, so far as I can gather, about 99% of the nation's clubs. Quite how those teams who did take part got an invitation is difficult to work out - looking at the report it seems to be a curious mix of random school teams with (for some reason) the odd club like Liskeard thrown in. Still now we all know about it maybe clubs outside a select few will get a chance to play at Twickenham next year? Though, there again, maybe not as it doesn't appear in the "final" calendar for 2010/11...

Fact is that a new Sevens tournament would be an important development as most existing (and larger!) Sevens tournaments, including Herts 7s, are under threat next year. It is a strange sort of "legacy" that allows tournaments like Working, Dorking 7s and Herts 7s to disappear and be replaced by closed, select, invitation events.

"Wonky's Word" on the Worthing 10s and Letchworth Saracens U15s

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the girls on their fantastic results at the Worthing 10's tournament. The day left me in high spirits for the future of girls rugby in our clubs.

Arriving at Worthing, it was apparent that there would definately be the odd shower through the day - ha ha - and, with the U15's still trying to get comfortable with each other, we were sure to have a slow start. The girls went out against local rivals Welwyn and, not long after the whistle, the first torrential downpour made conditions a little difficult. With a slippery ball and unsure footing due to the mud they were playing on - I was surprised to see how quickly the girls settled in. Welwyn are always a very strong team and threw everything at the Letchworth Saracens team who fought hard but lost by a single try which was the only score in the game. The girls came off the field with their heads held high and so they should have!

With wise words from Simon and a harsher line from myself, the girls had something to think about for their next game against Aylesford Bulls, which was going to be no easier than the first. A nail biter followed with numerous breaks from both teams throughout the game but, due to the "never say die" attitude of both teams, the scoreboard remained at a stagnant 0-0 until the last minute of the game when the opposition made a full length dash for the try line and scored in the corner. Another game lost and spirits were a little low but the U15's were getting used to playing with each other and communication was definitely improving.

Ellingham and Ringwood had beaten Welwyn and the girls had their work cut out in the final group game. There was also the added problem of injuries which left us with only 10 players - so no subs were available for this game. The girls had narrowly lost to two very strong opponents and, although they did not like losing, they knew that they had made the opposition work for their points. With a "take it to them" attitude Letchworth Saracens scored first - finally all that hard work had paid off! The simple reward of one try can do so much to confidence levels and it showed immediately : the back line were a lot more verbal in defence, the forwards had found their feet and were working together. The team were putting numerous phases together with great discipline and support. Not once in this game can I recall a forward or back walking or resting and the hard work paid off : Letchworth Saracens accumulated a big enough lead to give the bonus point needed to finish second in the group and compete for the Plate.

The great thing about these tournaments is that mistakes can be noted and rectified through the day thus giving coaches numerous opportunities to point the girls in the right direction. Letchworth and Sarries girls listened and wanted to learn and, consequently, the knock-out matches that followed saw the U15 squad grow in confidence to achieve fantastic results.

The girls faced Worthing in the semi-final followed by Penguins in the Plate final. In winning both games, they communicated well, defended well and when winning showed great sportsmanship. The combined score for the day was 68 points for and only 22 points against - a great performance!

Group matches :

Welwyn 5 v. 0 Letchworth Saracens

Aylesford Bulls 5 v. 0 Letchworth Saracens

Ellingham & Ringwood 5 v. 25 Letchworth Saracens

Plate semi-final : Worthing 0 v. 26 Letchworth Saracens

Plate Final : Penguins 7 v. 17 Letchworth Saracens

Letchworth Saracens scorers :

Tries : Sydney (7), Emily (2), Melissa (2), Catriona (2)

Conversions : Emily (2), Sydney (2)

A big thank you to Rebecca Belcher, Abi Parsons, Catriona McNaney and Devon Holt from Berkshire Baa-Baas for helping us out, we couldn't have done it without you! Thank you Simon, Alan, Jackie, Mike and Heather for the hard work you put in. Thank you to all the parents who made the long journey down to support and, lastly, thank you girls for being good sportswomen!

See you at training!!!!

Wonky

News from Gloucester 10s

Although we didn't send teams this year, you may be interested to know that the Gloucester City 10s took place this weekend at Hartpury College. The whole weekend took place under blue skies, with sunstroke being a real problem for some teams who did not expect weather like this (especially so soon after the winter we had).

The tournament was even bigger this year than last with several Welsh teams taking part. Apparently Worcester won both the U15s on Saturday and the U18s on Sunday. This continues a trend of success at club and school level for the teams from west of the country - Hartpury College themselves won the girls' school National Sevens tournament only a few weeks ago in the first year they had entered.

Second Gloucester City 10s a sell out

The competition that grew out of RFUW's still largely inexplicable cancellation of the National 10s last season has grown even bigger and has already "sold out", over two months before the event.

Gloucester City 10s had one of the most troubled births of any competition ever last season - at times you almost believed that someone, somewhere didn't want it to take place for some reason - but was a huge success, despite only having last minute clearance from those in authority. This year it seems to have been far less troubled and as a result Lisa Holmyard (the indefatigable organiser) has now announced that she has closed the entry. The tournament on 17th April will feature an amazing 42 teams and over 600 players in three age bands - U12, U15 and U18.

So a big congratulations to Lisa and all her helpers at the Gloucester Girls Rugby Trust. If nothing else it shows how the junior game continues to grow!

Reserve this date now: Gloucester 10s 2010

Stop Press: Gloucester City 10s is on again for next year! So make a date in your diary NOW for...

17th/18th April 2010

Click here for updated 2009/10 Calendar

The best junior rugby tournament ever?

Finally a few minutes to look back on yesterday. Mike will be doing his report shortly, and we are all looking forward to hear how the U15s got on today, but its worth looking back on the first (of many, hopefully) Gloucester City 10s overall. Because it was quite something.

The early wake up calls we could have done without! Bubbles was on the ball, texting Carla at 5am to ensure that Carla was up and about - such thoughtfulness clearly delighted Carla as she told all and sundry about it. No general meet, so everyone toured around picking up their own individual car fulls before making varied routes to Hartpury.

A cold arrival, the promised sun not appearing until later in the day. First priority was the location of the loos (and Hayley was not even with us!) the registration, changing, setting up camp, and getting the measure of who else was there. The usual. And then maybe not. Not many tournaments have Harrier Jet cockpits to crawl over, for example - the RAF were here as main sponsor (yes - a girls' tournament with a sponsor!).

Then the schedule. It made sense. One match per hour - no three hour gaps followed by back-to-back games here! Always knowing exactly where you were playing and when was also a plus -this was a tournament that ran to time!  Plus the RAF Challenge (which everyone enjoyed, even if the result was - for us - rather forgetable!)...

The squad - a picture of concentration as the RAF Challenge is explained. Mel especially... 

As for the games - some quality teams on show, and possibly the best U18 club game most of us have ever seen (the pulsatating cup semi-final between Worcester and Burfield - a game that had all the neutrals on their feet applauding - fantastic game). And elsewhere there was the tackle by one of the Drybrook/Hucclecote girls (I think?) that sent Sasha crashing over the touchline into the crowd - not a sight you see every day! The finishing positions, 1-10, were something like this:

1st: Drybrook/Hucclecote combination

2nd: Worcester

3rd: Burfield

4th: Suffolk Sabres

5th: Exeter Saracens

6th: Letchworth

7th: Welwyn

8th: Newquay

9th/10th: Old Northamptonians/Berry Hill (not sure about the result of their playoff!)

All that plus free lunch after the group stage, and a free hot meal at the end. Just think what a day it would have been if the Welsh had been there as well - but even without them this was an amazing day of rugby that everyone will remember. Well done Gloucester Girls' Rugby Trust - you are brilliant!

Then, suitably refueled, it was in the cars and home again. Car fulls of rather quieter girls, I suspect if mine is the example to go by. No emergency toilet stops for once (can't think why...), and home at around 10pm via the country lanes around Meppershall (Georgie's house giving "hard to find" a whole new meaning!). Quite a day!

Wonder if there will be a report on the RFU website? ;-)

• Phil's pictures now available

Weekend arrangements

You should all know about your various transport arrangements to get to Gloucester. If you do not know please contact Mike for U18s on Saturday, or Wonky for U15s on Sunday.

Beyond that...

• Remember to bring trainers/gym shoes for the indoor "RAF Challenge" part of the day.
  
  
• Draw details and fixture information can be found here. There are three trophies up for grabs in each tournament, which have been designed to avoid "dead rubbers" (see previous postings!). Every game will matter because in every match teams will always be playing for something!
  
  
• The address of Hartpury College (for GPS purposes) is:
  Hartpury College
  Hartpury
  Gloucestershire
  GL19 3BE
  
  
• Joe's suggested route is:
  

1. - Prefered route to M25
   
2. - Exit M25 Jnct: 16 - Signposted M40 OXFORD
   
3. - Exit M40 Jnct: 8 - Signposted A40 OXFORD/CHELTENHAM
   
4. - Continue on A40 (apprx 40 miles)
   
5. - Turn Left A436 - Signposted A436 GLOUCESTER
   
6. - Pick up A417 - GLOUCESTER
   
7. - On approach to GLOUCESTER - Turn right A40 - Signposted Ledbury
   
8. - Continue on A40 around GLOUCESTER following signs for Ledbury
   
9. - Turn right @ roundabout A417 - Signposted LEDBURY/HARTPURY
   
10. - Continue on A417 (apprx 5 miles) turn left - Hartpury College
    
11. - If you find yourself in Hartpury village you have gone to far.
    

• On arrival (expected to be around 9.30) please park in the main car park which is located at the top of the main drive. After parking please meet outside the main entrance to the Sports Academy building, which can be seen next to the rugby pitches at the bottom of the hill.
  
  
• Lunch and hot dinner provided. 
  
  
• If you get "lost" you can contact Joe on 07794 608076

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?

Plans for the Gloucester Tens announced

Information about Gloucester Tens -  the "unofficial" replacement for the cancelled National 10s - is now available, and it sounds like being an amazing weekend.

Despite everything that the RFUW could do, 18 teams will be taking part - 10 U18s and 8 U15s. While its down a bit from what was originally hoped for, we all know whose fault that was, and that is now history. Its time to look forward - and there is much to look forward to. 

Saturday 18th April will see us and our U18s take on some old foes, and some new faces. Welwyn, Worcester, Suffolk Sabres, Exeter Saracens, and Old Northamptonians we know and have played before - Burfield, Newquay, Cullompton, and Berry Hill we will be less familar with. We are in Pool B and our games are:

• 10.40 v Suffolk Sabres
  
• 11.30 v Worcester
  
• 12.20 v Newquay/Cullompton
  
• 1.10 v Berry Hill
  
• 1.35 RAF Challenge
  

On the Sunday U15s our girls will be combining forces with Berry Hill to take on Burfield, Gloucester, Newquay, Welwyn, Worcester, Old Northamptonians, and Hereford. The U15s will get at least five games overall. They are in Pool A and their games are:

• 10.15 v Newquay
  
• 10.45 RAF Challenge v Burfield
  
• 11.45 v Burfield
  
• 12.45 v Gloucester
  

Both days should finish c5pm.

The RAF Challenge will be a "physical and mental fun team challenge" - so it sounds a bit like the old Herts Superteams which we tended to do pretty well in (well, Mel's team did!). Its a great idea as it will fill the gaps between games which is often a problem a festivals.

Prizes.... well, eat your heart out National Knockout or National 7s! Sponsors of the event are the RAF, and what is on offer is... remarkable!:

Typhoon Cup (for the tournament winners)

• Overall 1st Place Team Award Trophy (Under 15 & Under 18) plus
• Full 22 Player Team Kit Voucher for new Shorts, Socks and Rugby Shirt (colour of your choice);
  
• Voucher for Luxury Gumshields sponsored by OPRO
  
• Gold Medals and certificates for all team members 
  
• 2nd Place team - silver medals and certificates for all team members
  
• 3rd Place team - bronze medals and certificates for all team members

Tornado Shield 

• Team Award Trophy
  
• Certificate for all participants 

Harrier Plate

• Team Award Trophy
  
• Certificate for all participants
  

 Plus awards for the "RAF Challenge" competition!

And finally...

 A number of teams have requested an entertainment theme, so to help make the "barbarian" teams feel more at home, we suggest "famous female barbarian / warrior heroes" - so you are welcome to dress as Roman, Celtic warriors (Boadecea) or as Amazon tribal warriors, be it the "sheet wearing" tribe or the grass skirted ones from Africa or even those from other planets!! (Whatever it is, please make it easy to put on/remove to accomodate the busy "double challenge" during the day!).

More information at http://www.gloucestergirlsrugby.com/id47.html

RFUW clarify rules on Welsh teams... but doesn't explain Gloucester ban

After some discussion on the RFUW forum, which in turn arose out of the posting here last month, which says that teams from Wales (and other "foreign" Unions) can take part in English club tournaments so long as a few basic rules are followed:

• The appropriate permissions have been received by either the RFUW or Leisure Rugby Department for the tournament to be held PRIOR to invitations to teams being made.
  
• That the tournament is being run by clubs that are affiliated to the RFUW.
  
• That the tournament is played under RFUW regulations and age bands.
  

One small matter of note is that this seems to imply that anyone running any tournament (a term that is not defined - is a triangular a tournament?) must seek permission from RFUW and/or the RFU Leisure Rugby Department beforehand. This is new - I've certainly never seen that as a requirement before.

However, it also does not explain in any way the RFUW ban on Welsh teams at Gloucester. The simple truth is that Gloucester Girls Rugby did not send out any invitations to anyone until last month after permission was given. So all the above rules were followed - but still Welsh teams are not allowed at Gloucester.

Lisa from GGR has produced a long reply on the forum detailing all that has gone on which deserves repeating here, not least because the rather "unique" (ie. out-of-date) nature of the forum software makes it difficult to read as its strips out all formatting. However, it is also the most detailed account of matters that has thus far reached the public domain:

Dear RFUW, 

Some useful positive feedback. 

1) Perhaps place some procedures on the RFUW NGB website about cross border playing as the current information only details the "laws" and states "matches have to be reported", suggesting no application before a match is required to gain permission to play, just as long as the results are reported using "RFUW Match Report Forms" - not that this matters in this instance over the much pressed Gloucester City 10s event. 

2) Perhaps also help respond to event application forms in 2 days rather than 3 months

3) Actually thoroughly read application forms (the first sent 09/09/08 clearly stated Wales had been indicated by the acronym "WRFU" and "SRFU" too just in case!) 

4) Perhaps pick up the phone and talk to volunteers, telephone numbers are listed in Table 2 of the RFU event application forms 

5) Maybe observe name changes on forms (National to Local on second application sent on 02/01/09 )

6) Perhaps speak to the organisor of an event over issues (and inside the country) before going outside to get facts correct, and in this case before speaking to the Elite Manager at WRFU - (your emailed and stated "counterpart"), who was nothing to do with Community Rugby, and who would have advised you that her colleague and the Welsh Community Manager responsible for community rugby representing WRFU had emailed Aug 08 and advertised to her clubs that they could enter the event

7) Do whats best for the children and the game. 

An attempt to cover tracks through publishing new procedures, fair enough, but the fact is that permission was requested, and refused, refused, refused and refused and consequently invites have only now been sent to 17 out of 42 registered interested clubs. Yes, I repeat, now a decision has been received, invites have now just been sent. (Just as one would not organise an event without first ascertaining the interest in it, nor would one wish to cancel an event with much interest). 

So 120 Welsh players registered interest to play, supported by their NGB. What would make RFUW so adamant that they should not allow them to play when actually procedures old and new were followed? Copies of last years emails from WRFU, of RFU Leisure Event Application emails with 2x application forms available upon request. 

Irrelevant of procedures, negotiations, conversations, emails and forum chats -the fact is, somewhere, someone has made the ultimate decision to exclude 120 children - irrespective of what, when, who, where or how - they should be playing rugby and all of us have failed them. 

I feel ashamed of this decision (if no one else does). We can all masquerade failings in procedures and excuses, all of us should be concerned and certainly the IRB should be very concerned. The Government and charities are ploughing millions into health strategies and campaigns to get kids into sport. 

Hopefully more than 3 clubs will attend the RFUW Board AGM, (and request to move the meeting if it is inconveniently planned next time). Reading the forums, there are plenty of agenda items to help our professionals focus on more productive outcomes - perhaps to help to promote, encourage and inspire volunteers and players. I would like to suggest the need for a "National Community Manager for Volunteers" who focuses on communication with volunteers and for the grassroots game and club development, (which would help fund the elite game through greater numbers) and to prevent just a focus of the elite Player Pathways for the very special few. 

Yours in great expectations. 

Lisa Holmyard 

RFU Leadership Academy. 

I think we all now await the RFUW's response to this with considerable interest. If there is one. After all, the tournament is not until April so there is time yet for a change of heart.

Tens: An note from Gloucester Girls Rugby Trust

In response to the debate (see post-but-one below) GGRT have sent me a letter detailing the background to the Welsh club exclusion and related matters:

GGRCTF offered to run the National 10's to help eradicate negative press of the game due to cancellation of it. We had the experience, inspiration, vision, belief and energy.

We advertised.

The Wales RFU Women’s RDO called - August to see if she could encourage her Welsh clubs to enter having already played some teams and secured a good relationship with Team Managers. Fantastic I said - great for the players!

We received 42 team entries.

RFUW responded having heard about the event to not call it "National". To pacify and encourage good relations, we amended the name to "Gloucester City 10's".  We had offered to run it on behalf of RFUW bearing in mind most of our club trustees already "served" and had served (one having been a RPM) as volunteers on other programmes for RFUW, this could have overcome "national" issues. No gratitude or reply to this offer was received. We could not stop press releases already released reference "National".

RFU responded sending the "permission to run a leisure event" application form. This was sent to us by RFU Leisure Events Team. RFU declined to sanction due to RFUW.

I met with RFU Director & RFUW MD on 18/12/08. One month on, the 2nd application was eventually accepted, with new edicts.

To be accused by RFUW to my fellow RFUW affiliated club Trustees "for raising expectations out of RFU/RFUW control", is just unbelievable. How can inviting kids to an event to play in passing a bit of rubber with air in it, be considered raising expectations. 

As an ethical organisation, we try not to practice exclusion. Where kids come from is not a consideration for us(as long as their Union has authorised it, which as far as I was aware through the phone call, they had, and due to the influx of entries post phone call). The feedback meets with our expectations.

There was no mutual agreement to call the event local - we were just told to call it local or not have the event sanctioned. We opted to not let players down, but in changing the nature of the game, the goal posts moved to then introduce the edict of "no none RFUW affiliated teams allowed" - including WRFU.

Needless to say, I have spoken to Wales teams and the original associated management and apologised, they understand the problem and are as disappointed for the players, clubs and the game as us. 

In the interests of player retention, we will deliver subject to the following. 

We are aware some clubs have now dropped out due to the delays.  Thus, we will survey all remaining clubs teams (32) to ascertain interest and proceed from their. As time is running out, we may now require additional volunteer resource for officiating, your help will be requested at the same time.

We apologise for any upset or inconvenience caused in offering to deliver this event.

I hope this clarifies the situation.

Kind regards

Lisa Holmyard (formerly Walsh) DMS / RFU Leadership Academy

Chairperson GGRCTF

RFUW ban Welsh clubs from Gloucester tens - and every other tournament?

News has come through that the RFUW will not allow Welsh clubs to take part in the Gloucester Tens. This surprise decision has, apparently, been taken on the basis that the tournament is not a "national event" and so cannot be open to teams from outside the Union.

This is, to put it mildly, a remarkable ruling as - if this is now how Twickenham interprets rules concerning cross border matches - it means that the participation of any Welsh clubs (or come to that clubs from anywhere outside England) in any tournament run by anyone other than the RFUW (because only RFUW can run national events) is now impossible. This news that will come as a bit of a shock to many, many tournament organisers - especially those close to borders. For example, it would mean that our "Canada Day" event in 2007 was probably illegal, and I hope Worthing have no Welsh clubs taking part this year.

It also means that the reverse must be true and that any English clubs playing in tournaments in Wales not run by WRFU will be breaking the rules - so our boys' U11s had better return the trophies they won in Aberystwyth last year as they should not have been there. Or does this rule only apply to girls?

It also very strange. Wales actually changed its age bands this season to match those of England, presumably so as to make cross-border matches easier to take place - looks like that was a waste of time. Or are single cross-border fixtures be okay, but tournaments not?

I am sure there is a terribly good reason why this rule exists - but I cannot work out what it might be. If someone could enlighten me and let me know how it contributes to the development of the game I would really like to know.

Meanwhile the GGRT will now have the difficult task of breaking the news to the Welsh clubs who had entered. Can there ever have been a club tournament more tied up in red tape than this one? You can only have sympathy for them - they have put so much effort into putting on an event for clubs shocked by the loss of the National 10s, moreover an event that will not cost RFUW a single penny, and its been a struggle all the way. Its hardly a tale that would encourage anyone else to try to organise girls rugby tournaments.

"Not the National" Tens... is ON!!!

Well, as near as dammit because RFUW have agreed to support an event for "RFUW affilitated" teams. 

The teeny snag is that several Welsh teams have entered (with the WRU's support) and so, if this were strictly adhered to, they could not play. Gloucester Girls Rugby will be seeking clarification on this rule as they presume that it is there to prevent rogue sides from participating, and had not taken into considreration that Welsh sides had entered. If this is the case, which seems the likely, it can easily be resolved by only allowing teams affiliated to their National Governing Body, which will support the original intention. 

After all, Welsh regional teams have played in the RFUW's own regional championships so cross-border competition even at official events is not impossible - and the Gloucester City 10s (to give the event its correct name) is not even an "official" event, and so far as I am aware it is not unheard of for Welsh clubs to take part in English club fixtures.

Decision day for Not-the-National 10s

A long, winding, path that began back in the summer when a surprise omission on the RFUW calendar was spotted at last appears to be reaching a conclusion. The many, many clubs in England and beyond who have expressed an interest in entering will shortly be receiving this letter from Gloucester Girls Rugby Trust (published today on the GGRT website):

Dear Entrants,  

 

Re: Gloucester City 10's ~ 2009

 

We are pleased to annouce that a decision to sanction the event will be made by the RFU Leisure Events Team and RFUW by this Friday.

 

As part of local governments very important healthy living campaign, the Right Worshipful The Mayor of Gloucester, Councillor Norman Ravenhill, has sanctioned use of our City Crest in support of this volunteer run local event. The RAF & OPRO awards will be presented by him and a rather famous RAF dignitory.

 

The Everyclick.com mouse has scheduled us in and hopes to come along to share helpful fund-raising ideas with you on how to support your clubs' financial development.  (I hope your raffle tickets have been selling well too!!)

 

We would like to thank you for your impressive patience and words of kind support over the last few months. 

 

We hope to have good news for you on Friday, until then, have a good week.

 

Kind regards

 

Lisa Ruth Holmyard*

Chairperson

Gloucester Girls Rugby Charitable Trust Fund 

*(formerly Walsh)

Assuming RFUW say "yes" this will almost certainly be the biggest girls rugby tournament ever held in in this country - certainly the biggest club tournament. With at least 32 teams sending squads to the weekend we are looking at maybe a sixth of the registered teenage playing population in England, and probably a significantly larger fraction of the active players. 

And it won't be costing Twickenham a penny, not least because of a line up of sponsors that is incredible - lead now by The Royal Air Force, no less, as well as other including mouthguard manufacturer and keen sponsor of many RFUW events, Opro. The event also has the support of the mayor of Gloucester - hence the official title of the "Gloucester City Tens" (but then how could a man named after a famous rugby ground say no?). Has there ever been a women's or girls' club rugby event with a more impressive line-up of supporters?

After a pretty miserable season for clubs with so many big events falling by the wayside due to the weather, ground availability, or other unavoidable events this at last promises to be some good news. So fingers crossed for the right decision on Friday!

Weather forces county cancellations

Late, late news from Nottinghamshire - the U18 section of the NLD tournament has been cancelled due to waterlogged pitches at Mellish, but so far as I am aware the U15 tournament at Paviors is still on. Having spent the day in these parts I have to say that I am not remotely surprised that Mellish is off as driving in that area was not much fun.

Elsewhere county U12 training at Hitchin has also been cancelled, while the England A international against Italy (see below) has already been moved to the Old Deer Park, Richmond - and may still be cancelled if conditions deteriorate. A decision will be made early tomorrow morning. In the meanwhile last night, before the monsoon hit, the England Development team beat Italy A 20-10 (report here). 

Its really been an awful first half of the season for rugby tournaments. Rochford, Beckenham, Essex County and now NLD all cancelled - for different (generally unavoidable) reasons - but it makes it all the more important that the events planned for spring 2009 go ahead. 

The only main threat there at the moment remains the Not-The-Rfuw National 10s, but lots of work is going on behind the scenes to come up with a formula that Twickenham will accept so that that event can go ahead, and the weather should have improved a bit by the time we get to the sevens tournaments in May! 

"Not the National" 10s hits the press

Signs that the "Not The RFUW" National 10s is still very much alive comes from a well-informed article that has appeared in the local press in Gloucestershire.

The article highlights the success of the tournament in attracting nationwide - even international - interest, and also sponsorship. It also touches on the less than enthusiastic responses from elsewhere (I don't foresee a similarly positive write-up in Touchline any time soon) - and we get a mention too!

In fact we are doing pretty well for positive press in the west-country - looks like one of Gloucester RFC's supporters' clubs is a regular reader of this blog!