2011 - 2012 Season A Women and Girls’ Rugby Football Club … with a difference The Final Destination England U20s Sanata Barbara, USA ‘The Leopards’ Liskeard Leopards Womens Rugby Football Club Ltd Registered Address: Tripcony House, St Germans, Saltash, Cornwall PL12 5LS E: [email protected]; www.leopards.org.uk Chairman’s Welcome – 2011 Welcome Leopards to our third season! I hope that you have all had a really good rest this summer so that you are raring to go again now that the season has started again. The Demaines were very excited to travel to Santa Barbara in July to watch Lucy and the Women’s England U20s play in the Nations Cup. If you were keeping an eye on the RFU website you’ll know that the England team had impressive wins over the USA, Canada and South Africa and went on to beat the USA 48:11. Lucy will tell you that she scored a classic try against South Africa! The squad were not allowed to get sunburnt, dehydrated .....or drunk! Not so for the supporters. Being in California reminded us all why we are here. Lucy started playing 12 years ago and has got that far – but so could some of you! The RFUW realised that last season’s attempt at a national league was a step too far for Devon & Cornwall, so this year’s fixtures will be friendly triangulars. We hope that this will mean that all girls will get experience at 15- aside rugby (or 13 aside if you are under 15s). Leopards will be hosting 5 of our games and these will be spread across our patch. Everyone involved in girls’ rugby has been concerned to ensure that U12 girls (yeaar 7) are attracted to the game we love. If girls have played rugby since they were mini-midi, some are happy to go on playing with the boys until they get into year 8. However, many girls only first start playing rugby when we come into the schools and give them a go during PE lessons or after school clubs. There has been a debate at the RFUW about developing an U13s game (years 7 & 8) and David Rose has designed a game called ‘Tag to Tackle’ to encourage new girls to join up. The RFUW had been expecting clubs to start the new game this September. However, in the end, it was realised that the time frame was a bit too short. The result is that girls in year 8 this year will continue to play U15s rugby and we will attract as many year 7 girls as usual. Towards the end of this season, however, we will probably begin to play an U13s game in preparation for next year. Watch this space! As well as the club games, we really want our girls to join in the County development day and Trials on the 25th September. As well as those selected for the squads, there will be opportunities for girls at both ages to come to the county training sessions. These will be at St Austell RFC on Monday evenings. As last year, a small number of girls may be nominated at the end of the county season to trial for the Divisional squads. You may have noted from last year that this is a very competitive step as the best girls will be selected from 8 counties! Emily Kneale and Ella Sanford were selected for the U15s divisional squad last year. Big congratulations need to go to Emily who has now been selected for the National U15s Talent Development Group (TDG), one of 2 girls from Cornwall. Once again, we hope that girls will enjoy this season and will want to invite their friends to come along too. We have a great body of volunteers – but can always do with more, as ‘many hands make light work’. This will be particularly important when holding fund raising events and even just helping out in the background at training nights and match days. We have not raised the registration fees again this year. However, we are asking girls to bring £1 per training session or match in order to save up for the nice things at the end of the season. There will be a draw each session and the girl’s name drawn will go home with £5! We had another great day out at Twickenham again last season but Sarah would like your ideas about where you would like the club to go away at the end of this season. She rather fancies Wales; what do you think? Yours in rugby, Andy Welcome from the Girls - 2011 Chloe Hocking and Caitlin Henderson are two of last year’s U12s Chloe started at Leopards when she was still in year 5, but has stuck with us and is now able to play real matches. Watch out other U15s! Caitlin is another stalwart, starting with the boys and waiting patiently to be able to play. Both girls went to St Georges Day Tournament last year and helped the u12s team get to 3rd place. Ella Sanford, Athalie Redgrove and Ellie Broughton are three of our U15s players Whilst Athalie had played rugby with her twin brother since she was small, Ellie and Ella both started rugby in year 7. All were part of the Liskeard School team that went to Twickenham where they were runners up. Ella, Athalie and Ellie are going to be your U15s team reps this season. Emma Thomas & Laura McLuckie U18s Martial arts expert Laura found her place as a lock and jumper last year playing for Leopards and County. Newcomer Emma played most positions (I think that she’d like to stay in one place this season). Laura and Emma were part of a small and select U18s Leopards team last year whose talents improved exponentially. They will be the U18s team reps this year and will actively be seeking more U18s players! Committee Members’ Biographies Andy Demaine – Chairman / Coach / Referee Coordinator: Andy started coaching rugby 11 years ago when Lucy and Tom started playing. He enjoyed the challenge and is now an RFU level 2 coach having coached boys and girls rugby at club, county and regional levels. In 2004 he and Ann set up the Leopards when Lucy could no longer play mixed rugby. As well as being active in the club, Andy is always looking for opportunities to improve his coaching techniques to bring back to the girls and the other coaches in the club, and is involved with England Ladies rugby. Ann Demaine – Secretary / U12s Manager: Ann has also been involved with boys and girls rugby for as long as she can remember! She has done most odd jobs in her time but is still actively involved in the girls’ game, managing the girls’ teams in the club and also the Cornwall County U18s squad for the last 6 years. She is treasurer of the County WAG committee and has also been a Safeguarding Officer but now is the Cornwall Safeguarding manager for Cornwall. Although Lucy has now left for University, she is very excited about attracting the U12s to the game. Sarah Kneale – Vice Chairman / U15’s Manager & Coach: I have been involved with the Leopards Girls Rugby for the last 5 years, watching my own girls thoroughly enjoy the game,the training and oh course the matches. I enjoy seeing the girls of all ages come up through the age groups and sometimes go onto represent the County and Region. I am the Leopard Vice Chair, the Under 15s Manager and I have recently acquired my Level 1 Coaching, which I intend to make full use of within the Club and within the Community. Chris Redgrove - Treasurer: My interest in rugby began as a player at school. More recently, 3 of my children have played with LL rugby club where I would help out occasionally. When my daughter was no longer eligible to play mixed rugby she joined the Leopards and I became more closely involved by joining the committee and attending various courses, including Rugby First and Safeguarding. I have now taken on the role of treasurer where I will work to maintain the financial stability of the club. Rachel Redgrove: Safeguarding Officer/ Club Volunteer Coordinator I am married to Chris and it is through my daughter Athalie that I came to be here today. I am registered disabled and as such have not been able to partake in much sport as I grew up. However my children have more than made up for me. I have taken on the role of safeguarding officer as I feel that I can empathise with many of the problems both children and parents face these days. I will ensure that your children are properly looked after and that they are able to play rugby in a safe, happy and enjoyable environment whilst they are members of The Leopards. Paul Woodhead – Coach & Club Coach Coordinator: Paul has an extensive sporting background being involved in Fencing, Track and Field Athletics, Volleyball and Boxing at an elite level. He played rugby at representative level whilst in the Armed Forces. Qualified as a RFU Level 2 coach he has been coaching rugby for the past 8 years. Paul is currently the Club Coach Coordinator and is keen to recruit and develop individuals of all ages who aspire to coach rugby within The Leopards. As well as coaching within the Club, Paul has held coaching positions with County and Regional under 18 teams. He remains keen to develop his own coaching skills as well as those of others.