TOUCHLINE EDUCATION January 2015

U18 SCHOOLS CHAMPIONS TROPHY SUCCESS The U18 Schools Champions Trophy, involving 32 top rugby playing schools and particularly serving those who play one term only, saw excitement and success in its inaugural season. Schools who don’t normally meet on their circuit tested themselves against new opposition. Some great matches included: Millfield v Tonbridge; Oakham v Epsom College and the Grammar School at Leeds v RGS Guildford. A very fine Millfield School team took the final honours, beating a well– drilled Grammar School at Leeds 31–24 in a thrilling finale at Allianz Park. Said Millfield captain Bailey Ransom: “Credit to Leeds, they showed the talent that got them to the final. I just can’t put into words what this means to us, the emotions are running high.” Grammar School at Leeds Head of Rugby John MacKenzie added: “Millfield were the quality side we thought they’d be and the better side over the 70 minutes. But we weren’t a million miles away, and we’ll take heart from that.” Plans for next season continue. If you want to discover more about eligibility contact: [email protected]

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS FOR FREE

British Universities and College Sport TAG TO TWICKENHAM are offering all schools the chance to apply for free tickets to Twickenham STEPHANIE GILES Stadium on the 27th March 2015. Tag 2 Twickenham has given more than 40,000 Primary School children the Top teams at the National Festival were St Lawrence To apply please contact greg.sturge@ chance to play tag rugby in local festivals, through to the National Festival at Primary School, Shropshire, and Balfour School, Brighton, who bucs.org.uk Rugby School, the finalists playing before a Twickenham Test match. played in the QBE International England v Australia curtain raiser and formed the guard of honour as the players ran out. Congratulations came also for Batt C of E Primary School, Oxford, for earning the most core values points in the National Festival, consistently demonstrating teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship. Both finalist schools are previous winners, St Lawrence in 2010 and Balfour in 2013. Maybe some of them could be playing for England one day!

TOUCHLINE EDUCATION – JANUARY 2015 NATWEST SCHOOLS CROSS ACTION HOTS UP CURRICULAR As 2015 dawns, competition is intense in the NatWest Schools U18 Semi finals for the U18s and U15 Cup and Vase. Cup and Vase will take RESOURCES Entries having remained at record place on Saturday 7 March levels, with a number of new schools at Allianz Park and for the England Rugby, in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust joining those who traditionally U15s Cup and Vase the and a group of dedicated school teachers, launched compete, and there have been some following Saturday 14th www.englandrugbyteachersresource.com earlier this year. impressive matches. At the time of March, at the same venue. The site is packed with cross curricular teaching resources writing, Dulwich College were still These will be stellar events to help teachers to bring rugby and the Rugby World Cup in contention at both U15 and U18 in advance of the big finals to life in the classroom. The site is FREE to use and can be Cup levels. day at Twickenham on accessed via PC, tablet or smartphone. Wednesday 25th March. Work is underway to add primary school literacy, numeracy Entry is free – bring your and PE resources, as well as developing some great new teams to watch the best rugby themed English, Maths and Science secondary school schoolboy rugby of the teaching ideas. This is being carried out by Andy Naslas season. No tickets required. (Joseph Whittaker School), Tom Williams (Redcar Academy) Gates open at 10.30am. and Martin Cooper (The Manor Academy).

Nigel Orton CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE In my first term as Executive Chairman of England Rugby Football Schools’ Union, it has been a privilege to head up a forward looking team on our committee, with an exciting plan underway to develop schools’ age grade rugby. We were honoured to have HRH Prince Harry actively support our England Rugby All Schools programme and enthusiastically joining in with play at Eccles during a festival for 12 participating schools. Great growth in girls’ rugby, including in schools, followed England Women’s World Cup win and we are hoping that Rugby World Cup 2015 will stimulate even more interest in young people to try the sport and join the rugby family. Many of our schools turn out large numbers of teams each Saturday to play block fixtures and the skill displayed is generally of a very high order. We must thank the professional teachers who do SCHOOL RUGBY AMBASSADORS such a fine job coaching and refereeing, making it fun while also through rugby delivering wider educational aims, social skills, and sportsmanship. TAKE CHARGE Around the country teachers, Community Rugby Coaches and Rugby Development Officers are working together to introduce rugby to young people in schools and clubs. They are producing the GEORGE COOPER next generation of adult club players, and it’s vital we keep these players post 16, when many new School Rugby Ambassadors at Shenley Brook End School ran a One Year to Go tag festival for local interests start to compete. primary school students. Asked to help run the event for children aged 10 to 11, what we didn’t know Increasingly schools and clubs are becoming linked, sharing resources. We in England Rugby was that we would be organising the whole tournament! Schools are working in partnership with colleagues in colleges and universities, both in CBs and In the style of ‘The Apprentice’, we had our very own boardroom, used to plan and organise nationally, to provide an ‘education voice’ and a playing continuity for young people. the festival. With guidance from RFU coach Bob Hardman, and Richard Williams from the Sport A highlight of this term was being at Saracens’ Allianz Park for the well–staged final of our Education team at the MK Dons, it was up to us as School Rugby Ambassadors to decide on every inaugural U18 Champions Trophy. The match between The Grammar School at Leeds and Millfield detail, from the warm up, to the teams, as well as the format and the prizes of offer. School was a really great exhibition of talent. The game was streamed, with 10,000 views. We thank We learned the rules of tag rugby, uncovering every aspect to referee the games. Certificates were the RFU staff who worked hard with us to create this successful new venture on behalf of ERFSU. prepared, a ‘round robin’ tournament table for the six teams made each team was assigned a country Meanwhile, the NatWest U15 and U18 competitions will reach exciting final rounds in the New Year and a coach. Medals were picked up and our timing structured precisely to ensure players would so put Twickenham Schools’ Day on March 25th in your new diary! never have a dull moment. Tries, sweat and teamwork followed, as our School Rugby Ambassadors refereed, coached and delivered an excellent tag event for primary schools from around Milton Keynes. We encouraged the students to follow the TREDS core values and I am proud to say I believe we achieved this. In our ‘Apprentice’ themed task, nobody heard the dreaded “You’re fired” but a rousing “You’re hired” as we encouraged young students to take up rugby and spread the word of the Rugby World Cup. To find out how your school can get involved in the School Rugby Ambassadors programme go to the Rugby World Cup 2015 section on www.youthsporttrust.org DEVELOPING FOR FREE The ERFSU and RFU will be hosting Teacher Development Forums again this summer. Attendance at the workshops is free but places are limited so early book early to avoid disappointment. The programme will be distributed shortly, with six workshops planned for June across the country. To discover more about locations near to you contact: [email protected]

LV=YOUNG REPORTER COMPETITION LV= are looking for the next generation of rugby writers, the competition invites children under the age of 16 to submit a 200 word review of any LV= pool game with a winner selected per round. A panel will then review the four finalist reports and select one overall winner. Prizes included a REDCAR ACADEMY NATWEST LV= goodie bag, a chance to take part in an England v Italy press conference and to work on the Daily Telegraph sports desk for a day. For more information please visit https://atheart.lv.com/ FUTURE STARS sport/lv-young-reporter-competition Redcar Academy had never played rugby before joining the All Schools programme in September 2013 but, having entered the NatWest Schools Cup this season, they have now trained with England star players. PARTY ON Head of PE and the school’s rugby coach Thomas Williams discovered the NatWest Future Stars competition, run in partnership with England Rugby, and sent off an application. The school’s Year 10 teams, boys and girls, toured Twickenham Stadium, before their training session with Jonny May, DOWN! David Wilson and Matt Mullan at the Lensbury Hotel, where a question and answer session followed If you have tickets for RBS 6 Nations and a meal replicating what the England players eat in camp. England v France on 21st March 2015 England forward Wilson said: “It certainly brought back memories of my days playing in the at Twickenham, please join us for a competition. Taking part in a tournament as big as the NatWest Schools Cup provides a great drink and a bite to eat in the West Fan platform for youngsters to enjoy competitive rugby and even make the step up to the next level.” Village. To book your place, please email The students have also taken part in Young Leader training with some delivering rugby to local [email protected] primary schools that feed into the academy.

TOUCHLINE EDUCATION – JANUARY 2015 Martin Tucker ECRFU CHAIRMAN The autumn term is always a frenetic affair and I have talked with to improve on the current standard of league, cup and regional many colleagues who were looking forward to the Christmas and competition and grow opportunities for non–competitive New Year break. participation. The review team also includes representation Within the colleges sector it has been an equally busy term for from AOC Sport. rugby. The national leagues have again been well supported The ECRFU Board have asked the Regional Representatives and provided regular fixtures and the opportunity for more to contact local county CBs and open lines of communication to students to participate. AOC Sport is now administering all improve partnership working between clubs and colleges. The competitive sport for the sector and ECRFU has had a direct input aim is to establish college representation on any education / into the competitions review that they are currently undertaking. youth based committee within the CB to promote growth in the In addition to the AOC review, the ECRFU Board have game via the colleges. Effective partnership working is clearly charged the Competitions Committee to undertake a complete beneficial to clubs and colleges and the competition review will review of all rugby based competition. This aims to bring into aim to increase opportunities for our students to take part in line all college competitive rugby with the guidelines to be club rugby. produced from the RFU’s Age Grade Competitions Review. The ECRFU welcomes any comments or suggestions from sector Committee, chaired by Paul Young, will through the Regional colleagues and encourages all to engage in regular dialogue Co–ordinators, be canvasing college staff opinions as we look with their Regional Representatives. FESTIVALS KEEP RUGBY FUN IN ESSEX Local Essex clubs have been hosting colleges for increasingly popular mini festivals. Working with the clubs, the RFU organised events across the county to increase playing opportunities for college students. After just two events, which saw seven colleges and over 100 students playing, more colleges want to get involved. Success is largely thanks to the flexible format, games ranging from 7s to 15s depending on numbers. Some colleges have also been joining together to make up a full 15 a side game. “The Essex College events have helped us develop college rugby to a greater level, the spirit of rugby has been great and players have enjoyed meeting and playing against others from GREAT TIME FOR across the region”, said Ken Woolcott, Student Voice Officer at Harlow College. Almost half the players would have stopped rugby after leaving GATESHEAD COLLEGE school without the opportunity to continue and they will now, hopefully, stay in the game. KRISTIAN ROSS Gateshead College’s Rugby Academy students were really flying after becoming winners of the NatWest Future Stars competition. A tour of Twickenham Stadium was followed by training with three of the squad who lined up against the All Blacks in the QBE International. Said Larry Mew: “This has given me a real insight into how hard the England lads have to prepare and what it’s like on a match day.” JACK THE Team captain Elliott Beattie added: “The work ethic that we have as a unit is not only shared on the pitch, but off it too. We have learned a lot to pass on”. The players and coaching staff agree that the knowledge gained by the Gateshead College students will help them throughout the COLLEGE LAD season. This once in a lifetime trip showed what can be achieved through hard work and dedication. And the culture of England Rugby shone through in an afternoon of laughs, tackles and much for a young talented team to take home to Gateshead. BEN RUSSELL “I didn’t really enjoy the game. My mum took me down for a training session and I stood HARTPURY STUDENTS by her leg crying for an hour while I watched all the other CONTINUED SUCCESS boys play”. It didn’t take long, however, BEN RUSSELL for Jack to discover he was a Three young women from Hartpury College have been selected natural rugby player. as part of the England Women Elite Player Squad (EPS). Megan Jack started playing at Jones, Sydney Gregson and Abbie Brown, all part of the AASE Penzance Newlyn before Women’s Rugby Programme at Hartpury, will join the squad of heading to Truro College at the 52 training for the Six Nations. They join other former Hartpury age of 16 where he developed students and World Cup Winners , and his game further thanks to the help of Marek Churcher, Josh . Lords, Steve Larkin and Ian Boase. It was college rugby which Alex Matthews “It’s testament to the strength of the AASE programme here really propelled Jack to the next level and gave him the belief that that it continues to produce such he could one day become a professional player. a wealth of young women’s rugby “Thinking I could be a professional rugby player came when I talent”, said Peter Cook, Head of was finishing college. Going into college I wasn’t even expecting Women’s Rugby at the college. to get in the Truro College first team; I thought I would be in the “They will all take confidence from second or third team for the first year!” playing and training alongside others At 21 Jack has already put in five appearances for his country who have come through the Hartpury and is a key player in the Exeter Chiefs side. There’s no more ranks and being among World Cup standing on the touchline, he’s a great advertisement for winners will be a real inspiration.” college rugby.

TOUCHLINE EDUCATION – JANUARY 2015 Ian T Elvin SRFU CHAIRMAN Welcome back to the second half of the university rugby season local, regional, national and international levels. with so much to look forward to including the BUCS and Merit The recent RFU–led census had an excellent response from the leagues, the England Students’ programme, university rugby University sector, showing programmes being delivered at well recruitment and retention projects, improved working with over 100 student clubs. Soon we will be able to link university clubs geographic constituent bodies, and improving support of the into the new Game Management System (GMS) to underpin the university game. administration of their game, ensuring improved communications The student leagues will soon become knock out rounds and and encouraging more rugby during and after university. Twickenham beckons to four teams for the women’s and men’s Meanwhile, the RFU and SRFU are working together to ALEX’S WORLD CLASS BUCS Finals on Friday 27th March. On the same day the Student investigate the potential of a National Student League and SRFU intends bringing university rugby clubs to Area Representatives are engaged with RFU University Rugby BALANCING ACT Twickenham for a seminar, celebrity lunch and AGM; so put the Development Officers devising development programmes in date in your diary. support of player retention and recruitment. The challenges are MIKE STANTON This year’s England Students’ aspirational programme looks to great but these are heady days for the university game, full of Becoming a World Cup winner a tremendous achievement, be better than ever, combining the best of college and university potential and significant support from the RFU. especially if you are in full time education and overcoming rugby under the new coaching team of Aaron James (Bath Geographic constituent bodies are also offering increased injury. Alex Matthews, part of the England Women’s World Cup University) and Ian Davies (Cornish Pirates), supported by support and recognition to the 16 – 24 year olds in schools, winning squad and now a member of the England 7s squad, did Megan Higham at the RFU with Phil Llewellyn ( University of colleges and universities. Counties like Kent and Northumberland just that. Gloucestershire) and Paul Baty (Durham University) looking after have established Education Committees which bring the sector “It was pretty hard,” says Alex, recalling juggling playing for the squad in delivering the representative fixtures. together to look at improving the rugby offer. Northumberland her country while studying Sports Psychology at the University of The first is in Lisbon on Saturday 24th January, against the RFU have recently set up twitter @NorthStudentRFU to Roehampton. “It was all about trying to balance the rugby and the full Portugal team, the second will see the development squad encourage communication between students interested in rugby. lectures. I did have to make some sacrifices, I put the social side play France Universities Development on Friday 20th March. Everyone benefits from better liaison, with increased of things to one side as I had to get up early to train and stick to Representative fixtures continue in April 2015 with a triangular opportunities to play in a supportive environment. All my routine. event including Welsh Students on Wednesday 6th May in universities are invited to contact their geographic CB to improve As the World Cup approached the centre–turned–back row Newport, followed by France Universities Saturday 11th April communication. Just look at your handbook, or go on line to seek picked up an injury that ruled her out of training camps and in Epernay. Sign up to follow the games and student rugby on out your local contact. involved a considerable amount of time on the rehab table. twitter @StudentsRFU Finally, we all want university rugby to be well represented “I was trying to do my dissertation and get back for the World We also anticipate that 7s will feature in future RFU and ask if there are volunteers interested in working with Cup at the same time. I could be doing four physio sessions a day.” development programmes. The model is still being prepared, but the SRFU at a regional or national level to get in touch with Alex came back to make the World Cup squad and graduate it is recognised that universities have the potential to play 7s at [email protected] with a summary of their interests and skills. from university and firmly believes it is very important to take part in sport while at university. “It helps in many ways,” she explained. “For me it especially helped with the practical side of my course. It also helped me DAY & NIGHT TO REMEMBER! find out what I really want to do. A lot of girls stop playing at Friday Night Lights on 27th March 2015 will see the BUCS Rugby Championship Finals at Twickenham, the men’s finale at 7:30 university, maybe due to the whole social aspect of university life and the women’s kicking off at 5pm. but many also play for the first time. I know a lot of the England Four of England’s 2003 World Cup winning squad: Will Greenwood, Richard Hill, Kyran Bracken and Martin Corry played in Squad didn’t really start playing until university.” previous BUCS Finals as did England Women and Claire Allen. Team sheets also reveal the likes of Jonny May So what advice she would give? “Enjoy it! You can’t make too and Alex Cuthbert among the BUCS star players. much hard work out of it. Enjoy it and if you work hard you may The stadium will be buzzing with student activity, the Students’ Rugby Football Union will host a development forum in the get some really good outcomes!” morning, inviting students to share their views with the SRFU committee and area representatives. This will be followed by the Alex certainly is proof of that, a World Cup Winner, a member of SRFU Award lunch and AGM. the BBC Sports Personality of the Year’s Team of the Year Award BUCS are hosting a development event focused on enhancing skills and empowering young leaders, from club captains to and part of the first ever professional England Women’s 7s squad activators and committee members to student sabbatical officers. This is BUCS way of both saying thank you and inspiring them in . to even greater heights. For further information contact [email protected] or visit www.bucs.org.uk/rugbyunion All who attend will also have their ticket to the rugby matches included. HELPING UNIVERSITIES LIGHT MORE UP TWICKENHAM UNIVERSITY HANNAH HIRST WOMEN The University of Roehampton played Kingston University under Twickenham Stadium’s brand new LED lights as a valuable trial TO PLAY run for broadcasters in advance of the QBE Internationals. Four Student Rugby Activators have been running the local “The new flood lights were incredible. It felt like we were playing development leagues in Birmingham with the focus on women’s during the day they were so powerful,” said Paddy Murphy rugby recruitment. University City of Birmingham student Hannah president at Kingston. “It was an unbelievable opportunity. You Haywood, after taking the QBE Level 2 coaching course, got four grow up dreaming of playing at Twickenham and we used the universities and more than 50 new players involved. Women and event to promote ourselves at our Freshers’ Fair. I think it helped girls pitch up and play activities linked them to local clubs. with recruiting. We’ve recruited over 50 players this year.” Twickenham and I’m sure they will remember it for the rest of Said Hannah, “The QBE qualification helped my knowledge Chris Roberts the Student Sport Development Officer at their lives. They may even tell their grandkids about it! The event of the game and gave me the ability to keep training sessions Roehampton said: “The event was a once in a lifetime opportunity is something the club can use as a selling point, that opportunities running when our coaches couldn’t make it. It has given me for the students. Not many people get to say they’ve played at like this do happen in the higher education sector.” opportunities, from playing at Twickenham to getting my team on the QBE adverts in sky. “I coach now and love seeing how fast my home team has grown. The pitch up and play definitely helped and it’s great to see the girls I coach get their first game and improve constantly! I couldn’t have done this without the help of people like WRDO Claire Antcliffe, CRC Matt Wooldridge, RDO Chris Sigsworth and URDO Chris Lowden.” At a recent pitch up and play event 16 university women were at Sutton Coldfield RFC and after training and playing together, 10 stayed to train with the Sutton Ladies, five signing up to the team.

TOUCHLINE EDUCATION – JANUARY 2015