Dick Dickinson St Albans RFC

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Dick lost his battle with cancer on Monday evening.  He passed away peacefully in his sleep with his family around him. Not only was he a staunch club supporter but also a loyal supporter of rugby throughout the county. 

His funeral will be held in the Lady Chapel at St. Albans Abbey on Friday 30th November at 2pm.  There will be refreshments afterwards at the Rugby Club.  We would love to see as many of you there as can make it. 

He will be sadly missed by all, our thoughts are with his family at this sad time. Contact details for the family are as follows; 

pip.andrews@tiscali.co.uk. 

GoPlay Rugby on Target

GO PLAY RUGBY ON TARGET TO RECRUIT 6,000 NEW PLAYERS

The RFU's Go Play Rugby campaign is on target to bring more than 6,000 adult players back into the game this season.

More than 700 clubs and 140 universities and colleges are taking part in the most sophisticated recruitment initiative ever run by a single sport in England.

And while England have been battling their way into the final of the Rugby World Cup in Paris, the grassroots game back home has been seizing the chance to build on the sport’s sky-high profile.

"All the feedback we've been receiving from clubs indicates that we're on course to meet our target of bringing 6,000 players into the game, which would represent a six per cent increase in adult participation in rugby," said the RFU's campaign leader Andy Lees.

"Thousands of volunteers have run hundreds of recruitment events throughout the country and the imagination and dedication they have brought to the campaign will make a lasting impact on all levels of the game.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and the campaign isn’t finished yet.”

Go Play Rugby, launched at the England training camp in the build up to the Rugby World Cup this summer, is designed to reach out to potential players and equip clubs with the resources to recruit them. So far:

Two million of our target audience have watched Go Play Rugby advertising in cinemas

300 radio and TV stations with an audience of more than 36m have covered the campaign.

20,000 people have searched for places to play on the www.goplayrugby.com website or texted their postcode to 64411 to find their nearest club.

1.6 million resources – including business cards, beermats and posters – have been distributed to club teams around the country

300 Go Play Rugby events have taken place, ranging from beach rugby tournaments to World Cup parties

Free Seminars for Clubs

Calling all sports clubs…….

As part of its support programme for voluntary sports clubs in Hertfordshire, the Herts Sports Partnership has organised a series of seminars and practical workshops, to be held at the University of Hertfordshire Sports Village, Hatfield.

The programme kicks off with two seminars on Sunday 28th October 2007 and is FREE to all representatives of the county’s 2000+ voluntary sports clubs.

Facilitated by Gareth Edwards of Company Solutions, the afternoon session, starting at 2pm – “Managing your Volunteers” – will cover areas such as recruitment, reward, recognition, induction, training and communication, and is aimed at voluntary sports clubs and other organisations that depend on volunteers for their own operations.

The evening session, commencing at 6pm – “Practical Fundraising” – will target those clubs looking to generate increased funding, and will signpost funding from grant aid bodies, charitable trusts, and emerging opportunities for fundraising through the internet.

The session will further outline the funding available through the Herts Sports Partnership towards the development of club – school links, and projects aimed at increasing participation in sport and physical activity for those in the 16-24 age group.

This session will also feature a presentation by Susannah Butt, Corporate External Funding Officer for Dacorum Borough Council, who has developed specialist knowledge on sources of grant aid available to such clubs.

In announcing the seminars, the chairman of the Herts Sports Partnership Grahame Bowles said:

“Voluntary sports clubs are the lifeblood of sport in our communities, and without them, sport in its current form quite simply could not exist. Those running our clubs, give up their time selflessly for the benefit of others and this effort is now given against a backdrop of burgeoning legislation, increased regulation, heightened expectation on the part of the funders, and a generally more litigious society.

So that many volunteers continue to give freely of their time to keep our sports programmes flourishing is a great tribute to each and every one of them. As a County Sports Partnership, we are determined to recognise and support this effort, and our forthcoming series of seminars, organised in response to the expressed needs of those clubs, will, I hope, go some way to demonstrating that support.

Increasingly, sport is gaining due recognition as a very powerful vehicle for positive social change and as a cost effective contributor to educational attainment, health improvement, social inclusion, community cohesion and crime reduction.

Over a quarter of all voluntary activity is sports-related, and voluntary sports clubs generate massive social capital and make a huge contribution to society. We will continue to lobby to ensure that our clubs get all the support that they need and deserve.”

For more information or to book your place please contact Graham Keen on 01707 281006 or G.A.Keen@herts.ac.uk

Note

The Herts Sport Partnership is a non-profit making organisation. It is made up of a number of organisations, (sports clubs, coaches, volunteers, governing bodies, local authorities, etc) and people with local interests whose common purpose is the advancement of sport and physical activity at all levels and for all people in the county of Hertfordshire.

The vision of Herts Sports Partnership is to develop a sporting community where we will be “Working together to co-ordinate and promote a quality sporting infrastructure allowing everyone to get involved, stay involved and reach their full potential in their chosen sport or physical activity”.

Website: www.sportinherts.org.uk

Watch out for Thieves

IMPORTANT SECURITY INFORMATION FOR CLUBS

TAKE ACTION NOW TO ENSURE THAT YOUR CLUB IS NOT THE NEXT VICTIM!

THE FOLLOWING ITEM HAS COME TO US VIA THE CITY OF LONDON POLICE

The following article was posted at Westcombe Park RFC's (Orpington, Kent), news sheet.

"Watch Out! There’s A Thief About 

Not the usual type of lead story for The Bugle but this is something that everyone should know. 

There is a “young gentleman” who makes a hobby out of nicking from rugby clubs. This is how it works. 

He turns up to training (which should make him easy to identify) and makes himself available for the 

following Saturday. He gets selected for one of the lower senior teams. He turns up and plays but is 

unlucky enough to be “injured” before half time. He leaves the field, showers and gets changed. He takes 

his valuables from the valuables bag... and everyone else’s too. Last week his haul included mobile phones 

and a Mercedes car. He has done at least two clubs near to us. So, watch out! And make sure you know 

who’s got their hands on your valuables."

There was a spate of thefts involving a 'old blazer type' who would sit at club bar's regularly. Then be handed the valuables to look after as a good sort, only to run off with them. The West country clubs have had a regular problem with this last year, especially around Gloucester. This latest version of the theft scam, is a bit different as most playing members are usually introduced by someone to a club.

So read and learn!!

Richard Morkill 

T/Detective Inspector 

SCO Crime Policy & Crime Support Unit 

City of London Police 

Phone- 0207 601 2039 

Mobile- 07921 111648 

E-Mail- richard.morkill@city-of-london.pnn.police.uk

THE FOLLOWING ITEM HAS COME TO US FROM THE RFU

Dear All

It has been brought to our attention that local rugby clubs in the West and South West of London have unfortunately been the victims of thefts and break ins recently. This is almost certainly the work of one individual or small group.

The main problems seem to have been cars of players, referees and others left at the clubs on match days and also training evenings. The other problem has been referees rooms (which have been locked) have been broken into and wallets and valuables have been stolen.

Please can you make your clubs aware of this problem and alert local police of any suspicious behaviour.

Kind Regards

Laura Fear (RFU)

Formal Launch of Herts School of Rugby

The Hertfordshire School of Rugby will be formally launched at Old Albanian RFC, The Woollam Playing Fields, Harpenden Road, St Albans on Monday, October 22nd 2007.

The timetable of events will be as follows:

10.00am Session starts

12 Noon Lunch break during which Weston Homes Plc (Stuart Thomas, Financial Dir) will present a to Hertfordshire RFU for the sponsorship of Herts Rugby throughout the county and especially the Hertfordshire School of Rugby.

Ben Skirving (England and Saracens) will be arriving at approx 12.45pm once he is clear of training and will be able to stay for most of the afternoon session where we could get a photo shoot.

1.00pm Afternoon session begins

3.00pm Session ends

The Hertfordshire School of Rugby, which started this summer at the University of Hertfordshire, will identify and develop the best young rugby players in the county. With our leading coaches, and based at the best facility in the county, the School of Rugby will help our top players between the ages of 12 and 16 develop their skills and achieve their rugby potential.

We have selected players for the School from this season’s Under 13s, Under 14s, Under 15s and Under 16s that have been nominated by either their club or school. How many? Probably around 20 in the older age groups, with perhaps a few more in the Under 13s. We are not selecting a team, though – these will be the best players in Hertfordshire, irrespective of their positions.

We are running the School of Rugby when there is the least possibility of clashing with other school and club activity. The sessions lasting the full day during school holidays – in August, over the Xmas holiday period and during the October and February half terms. We will expect players to commit themselves to attend the sessions.

As well as skills coaching, the players will benefit from lifestyle and nutritional advice and specialist input on conditioning and other key subjects. We are very fortunate to have the financial backing and expertise of Saracens RFC and Western Homes Plc to support the Hertfordshire School of Rugby in line with The RFU guidelines and support. We are delighted to have Ben Skirving, (Bishop’s Stortford, Herts RFU, Saracens and England) on board, with his pedigree we are sure that the individuals involved will be taking this very seriously.

Tim Bonnett, our county Welfare Officer, is co-ordinating the introduction of the School of Rugby and coaches can email Tim with any queries. Read more about Schools of Rugby by reading this document on the RFU website:

http://www.community-rugby.com/communityrugby/index.cfm/Fuseaction/Home.Download_Counter/StoryId/15629/downloadid/1241/filename/Schools_of_rugby.pdf

Borehamwood Has New Ground

Borehamwood RFC is pleased to announce that it has a new home. From the beginning of this season the Club will play at Pursley Football Ground, Shenley. Full details of the ground are set out below.

Borehamwood RFC

Pursley Football Ground

London Road

Shenley

Herts

WD7 9EP

Directions:

From M25 Jct 22

Head southwest on A1081 Bell Lane

After 1 mile, turn left at roundabout into Shenleybury

Go straight on at two roundabouts (Black Lion Hill), through the village (London Road), then straight on at a third roundabout (London Road).

The ground is 80 yards on the right.

From Stirling Corner

Head north on A1 and turn off at next junction (Moat House)

Take A5135 towards Borehamwood,

After BP garage, stay in right hand lane and follow signs for Well End / Shenley (Rowley Lane)

Go straight at the roundabout. Road then bends sharply to right, and to the left at Mops and Brooms pub (becomes Well End Road, then Silver Hill, then London Road).

The ground is just after the Tomten Kennels on the left.

England Counties Draw with France

France Amateurs 21 England Counties XV 21

Fylde wingman Nick Royle has scored in all three England Counties XV games during the FIRA/AER Rugby Festival in South West France, but the try in the sixth minute of injury time that brought the Counties a draw against France Amateurs in St Paul Les Dax was easily the best and most important of the trio.

Trailing by seven points and struggling to break free from the French grip on the game, England had reached panic stations, two simple opportunities going begging as the game moved into injury time.

But a nice piece of handling skill by replacement Jack Smales finally give Royle the sniff of an opening and he delivered a spectacular finish to race diagonally 45 yards through the heart of the French defence for a try that fly-half Tristan Roberts converted.

Having suffered a humiliating defeat earlier in the season, the French were bitterly disappointed to have victory snatched from them at the death, but closer examination will reveal that their place kicking let them down more seriously than their defence.

It was evident from the outset that the Counties expectations of the toughest game of their programme were fully justified, with France fielding a much more organised and powerful side than the one beaten 41-10 at Blackheath earlier in the year.

The French were quite content to take the Counties on up front and were rewarded after three minutes when England were penalised at a ruck and fly-half Phillippe Lafue kicked the first of his two penalties in the first-half.

The second came 27 minutes when lock Tom Bason collected a yellow card for killing the ball at a ruck under the Counties posts, fly-half Tristan Roberts matching him with a brace of penalties to keep the sides level after 32 minutes.

An ankle injury resulted in full-back Frankie Neale being stretchered off and replaced by Jack Smales, and England’s problems were then compounded when flanker Stanislav Durand scored at the posts after 42 minutes after a strong forward drive, Lafue converting.

There was still time, however, for England to win a footing in the French 22 and a smart tap penalty brought a try for No 8 Jim Jenner, who was lurking undetected on the flank, to leave France leading 13-11 at the break.

Playing with the slope, France continued to have the better of the game territorially and they extended their lead on 50 minutes when flanker Stanislav Durand scored on the left.

Roberts then cut the deficit again with a penalty before a drop goal by Phillippe Labrouche gave France a seven point cushion.

The sin-binning of wingman Tom Jarvis and French No 8 Bruno Rolland with 10 minutes remaining contributed to a more frantic finale, but having missed two simple scoring chances after kicking through, Royle slipped into top gear for the first time to supply the heartbreaking moment for the French and leave the Counties as elated as they were relieved.

England Counties XV: F Neale (Blackheath & Kent); T Jarvis (Stourbridge & Gloucester), C Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), K Dench (Otley & Yorkshire), N Royle (Fylde & Lancashire); T Roberts (Cinderford & Kent), C Aikman (Halifax & Lancashire); D Jacques (Redruth & Cornwall), G Cooper (Redruth & Cornwall), J Tideswell (Stourbridge & North Midlands), T Bason (Blackheath & Kent), R Snowball (Otley & Yorkshire), M Payne (Henley & Oxfordshire), J Kellard (Blackheath & Kent), J Jenner (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire) capt.

Replacements used: P Joyce (Redruth & Cornwall), C Rowland (Stourbridge & Somerset), D Cooper (Durham University & Durham), D Archer (Henley & Hertfordshire), J Doherty (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), P Mooney (Otley & Northumberland), J Smales (Tynedale & Northumberland).

France Amateurs: R Ourak; J Delhaye, D Laborde, P Labroche, D Marque; P Lafue, L Frison; V Claireaux, F Marque, V Violle, L Robert, G Trotignon, E Serna, S Durand, B Rolland.

Referee: G De Santis (Italy)

Archer aiming high with England Counties XV

Hertfordshire RFU captain and flanker David Archer will make his debut for the England Counties XV against Spain in Morlaas, South West France, in the second game of the FIRA/AER International Festival of Rugby.

The Henley player was one of four players in the 26-man squad that sat out the opening 76-10 win over Russia in Fleurance last night (September 6), but in line with the agreed selection process, he will start against Spain and win the international cap that persuaded him to forgo a four-figure sum in wages to make the trip.

And even before he runs out against Spain, there are no regrets about the decision to make himself available for the three-match, 12-day visit.

He is quick to express his thanks to his colleagues at Carter Hatch Primary School in Enfield, whose support enabled him to have time off and to Gwyn Williams, the Hertfordshire Chairman, who nominated him for the Counties squad and gave him the opportunity to experience international rugby for the first time.

“I was extremely excited about being selected,” he says: “I was asked whether I would be available for the Russia trip earlier this year, but didn’t make the final cut, so to be involved now is a big thrill, as I know it is for Henley club-mate Matt Payne, who is also here for the first time.

“It has probably cost me around £1,000, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I spoke to team-mate Liam Wordley about it and he said the look on his father’s face when he came home with an England shirt was something you can’t beat. Obviously the pride of playing for your country and your family takes the experience to a new level.”

And has the reality lived up to expectations?

“Definitely,” he says: “From the moment you arrive at the team hotel and are presented with your England Counties kit to starting training twice a day – it’s just a different approach to training Tuesday and Thursday nights.

“We have ice baths at Henley as part of the recuperation process, but here we are weighed every morning to see that we are hydrating and eating properly. That’s quite an interesting process. I’ve always wanted to see what the professional rugby lifestyle was like and while there is quite a bit of waiting around to make sure that food is properly digested and also the travel time, it's a very professional environment and you settle into it.

“The club cliques that are inevitable at the start when players don’t know each other quickly give way to bonding within the group and a good spirit has quickly developed. I know I’ll have some lasting friendships when it’s over and I’m already looking forward to meeting the lads again when we play them in the league.”

And the problems of welding a team together in a short time?

“Obviously rugby is a game for 15 men and you can only play well when the 15 play together as a team, with all 15 involved,” he says: “What the coaches have tried to instil in us is the confidence to trust our experience as players and play heads-up rugby and also trust in each other and believe that we’ll have support inside and outside whenever we have the ball.

“There’s also the interaction with some very good players and that provides and added dimension to the learning process and also encourages you to think outside the box.”

Archer and his team-mates are also facing the added challenge of trying to play a much more expansive game than is generally found in the often stodgy club game where fear of failure conspires against adventure.

“We’re being encouraged to play a very idealistic style of game. It’s a different approach, but it also depends on the people you are playing with and in this team we have backs who can score from their own line and break tackles.”

The challenge facing Archer on Monday against Spain was intensified by the romp against Russia, which completely went according to the manager’s vision of what should be possible in the Counties XV environment.

Twelve tries, some stunning handling and support play and a clear belief in the time-honoured ethos of making the ball do the work set the benchmark for the programme.

The Hertfordshire man now knows that the Counties’ philosophy is not simply a pipe dream, but rather an achievable goal for teams who have the bottle to set their sights high.

Which is exactly why he showed so much commitment in making the trip in the first place!

Archer helps England to Win

Late rally is decisive for England Counties XV in France

England Counties XV 21 Spain 15

Two tries in the last eight minutes of a keenly contested encounter gave the England Counties XV the second win of their three-match programme in the FIRA/AER Rugby Festival in Morlaas, South West France tonight.

Having destroyed Russia with a 12-try rampage in their opening game, the Counties objective was to develop the enterprising, attacking style that had left their supporters and management in raptures only a few days previously.

There was never on doubt in the Counties camp that Spain, recently elevated to 20 th in the IRB international rankings, would present a sterner test than Russia and that perception was quickly reinforced.

The Counties contributed to their first-half malaise with a handful of uncharacteristic handling errors, while the place-kicking of fly-half Tristan Roberts fell some way below the standard that brought him eight successes in the opening match.

Spain were also much better drilled defensively and more street wise and physical at the breakdown, which left the Counties struggling to either create or find the space to move the ball with the freedom and fluency they showed in scoring 12 tries against Russia.

As a result, the action never really flowed and scoring was restricted to the place kicking of the fly-halves, Roberts landing two for the Counties and Mathieu Gratton finding the target three times for Spain to leave the Counties trailing 9-6 at half-time.

With prop Peter Joyce in the sin-bin for an offence at a ruck, the Counties were unable to impose themselves on the match in the face of staunch opposition and with fly-half Gratton and replacement Manuel Olivares both converting penalties to keep Spain in the driving seat, the game moved into the final 10 minutes before the crucial scores arrived.

On 74 minutes a catch-and-drive at a lineout finally gave the Counties the lead after a Roberts penalty had put them within striking distance, replacement hooker Glenn Cooper emerging with the ball to claim the try after a well-constructed maul.

Replacement Frankie Neale made no mistake with the conversion and the Counties wrapped up the win in the style that they had been chasing all night, when they finally created space for wingman Nick Royle to run at front-row forwards wide out and he left three players in his wake for the final try after 82 minutes.

England Counties XV: J Smales (Tynedale & Northumberland); N Royle (Fylde & Lancashire), K Dench (Otley & Yorkshire), P Mooney (Otley & Northumberland), T Jarvis (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire); T Roberts (Cinderford & Kent), J Doherty (Wharfedale & Yorkshire); C Rowland (Stourbridge & Somerset), D Bick (Blackheath & North Midlands), P Joyce (Redruth & Cornwall), M Owen (Manchester & Cheshire), T Bason (Blackheath & Kent) capt, J Kellard (Blackheath & Kent), D Cooper (Durham University & Durham), D Archer (Henley & Hertfordshire).

Replacements all used: G Cooper (Redruth & Somerset), J Darren Jacques (Redruth & Cornwall), R Snowball (Otley & Yorkshire), D Allen (Blackheath & Kent), C Aikman (Halifax & Lancashire), C Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), F Neale (Blackheath & Kent).

Spain: C Sempere; M Tudela, M Mazo, R Turrion, P Martin; M Gratton, C Arenas; J Insausti, M Cidre, J Moreno, I Criado capt, S Souto, M Acena, C Hijar, J Tourtoulou.

Replacements used: M Serrano, J Recuerda, M Olivares.

Referee: P Guazer (France)

Hertfordshire RFC’s GoPlayRugby Campaign

Since the introduction of professional rugby union the game appears perilously close to a sense of humour failure and it seems to be fast losing the charm, goodwill and sense of humour that marked it out from just about every other game on the planet.

Inadequate player recruitment and retention at all levels of the game, including schools, has resulted in steadily declining numbers over a sustained period of time. If we are to keep the best team game on the planet thriving we must nourish its roots to ensure we leave behind a positive legacy for future generations to enjoy.

In support of this objective the RFU are investing in a national recruitment campaign with a target of recruiting 6,000 players between the ages of sixteen and thirty. This will engage some 600 clubs, 100 universities and will involve a dedicated RFU support network. It has been planned to coincide with the Rugby World Cup 2007 and the RFU will leverage the event with an aggressive national and regional media campaign.

In support of this the majority of our constituent clubs have seized the opportunity to benefit from this welcome RFU initiative and by working closely with the County Campaign Team significant progress has already been made in Hertfordshire.

Our campaign was launched on April 18 at the University of Hertfordshire Sports Village. Over twenty clubs attended and with Andy Farrell, Saracens RFC and England, fully backing our campaign the evening was a great success.

Follow up workshops covering such topics as, Players Recruit Players, Welcoming New Players and Volunteers and How to Organise Rugby World Cup Events, have taken place in May, early June and a final one at beginning of July just prior to the national launch on July 9.

Our target is to recruit 160 new players across Hertfordshire and I am sure with the enthusiasm shown by clubs attending the two most recent workshops that we will achieve our goal.

Ross Hopcroft

Hertfordshire GoPlayRugby Campaign Leader

GoPlayRugby hits Cinemas

Hertfordshire Rugby Football Union

Press Notice

 

RUGBY HITS BIG SCREEN WITH CINEMA CAMPAIGN

The Go Play Rugby campaign to recruit more players hits the big screen this week with an advert being shown in 294 cinemas in England.

The 20 second commercial will be screened before the Bourne Ultimatum movie on August 17 to 31 and reach an audience of more than 1.2million.

Fans will also get the chance to watch Rugby World Cup games for free in 20 selected Odeons in September and October as part of the Go Play Rugby recruitment drive.

Players from the Cinderford, Old Patesians, Bredon and Cirencester clubs took part in filming for the cinema advert at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire last month.

The action follows one former player, George Brooks, who experiences a range of emotions as he's welcomed back into the sport and back onto the field.

"We wanted to look at someone going back to the game, to make it realistic and have a character people in our target audience could identify with," said director Simon Tate.

"We follow him through the trepidation he feels, to being welcomed into the dressing room, going on to the field and feeling the joy and elation of playing again, then in enjoying the social side as he’s accepted back into the fold.

"That emotional journey is reflected in the way that the film is shot with colours washed out at the start and gradually introduced to give a feeling of warmth he feels more comfortable."

The Go Play Rugby team opted to run the commercial alongside the Bourne Ultimatum as the film most likely to fit the target audience of male former players aged 16-30.

It also fits in with a innovative media campaign being followed up by local clubs who have trained recruitment teams armed with resources like banners, posters, beermats and business cards.

The aim is to make contact with former players and encourage them back into the game by directing them to the www.goplayrugby.com website and to find their nearest Go Play Rugby clubs by texting their postcode to 64411.

A longer two-minute version of the film will be screened as part of a promotional package before Rugby World Cup games are shown in Odeon cinemas during the tournament that kicks off next month.

The 20 Odeons involved are at: Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Covent Garden, Guildford, Huddersfield, Hull, Kingston, Leicester, Liverpool, Maidenhead, Maidstone, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Sheffield, Southampton, Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, Wimbledon.

Entry to these licensed venues will be free and all the games involving England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are being shown as are all of the knock-out stages.

"It should be a great opportunity to watch the game on a large screen, in a comfy chair and in a great atmosphere," said Go Play Rugby team leader Andy Lees. "It's also a unique opportunity for clubs to recruit and target rugby enthusiasts."

Go Play Rugby, the largest recruitment drive ever mounted by a sport in the United Kingdom, aims to bring former players back into the game and is timed to coincide with this year’s Rugby World Cup.

The £1m campaign involves more than 700 clubs and 130 universities and colleges, and is funded by the Rugby Football Foundation and National Sports Foundation with the support of commercial sponsors Chelsea Building Society and O2.

Go Play Rugby will remind former players what they are missing and how they can get back to enjoying rugby and all it can offer. The aim is to bring 6,000 players – the equivalent of 400 new teams – back to the game this season.

ends

For more information about the Hertfordshire Go Play Rugby campaign contact Ross Hopcroft at rhopcrof@csc.com or Peter Engledow at peterengledow@rfu.com

Herts Skipper selected for England Counties

Hertfordshire's skipper, Dave Archer, has received just reward for his outstanding performances in the resen County Championship by being selected for the England Counties XV for the inaugural FIRA/AER Festival to be held in South West France from September 5/13, 2007.

The England RU Counties XV, the representative flagship of the County Championship and the game outside the Premiership, have stayed true to their development ethos by naming 14 previously untried players in their squad of 26. The Counties XV, which included Hertfordshire's Chris Rainbow, recently returned from a successful first trip to Russia, but only six of the squad that beat Russia in the Test match that wrapped up that three-match visit will be on duty in France.

Because of the impact of the National Division One league programme and the promotion of Esher to that section, the squad for France is drawn from National Division Two and below, hence the significant change of personnel.

One message the survivors will surely be passing on to the newcomers, however, is that the opening game of the three-match programme, against Russia in Fleurance, near Auch, will be a serious test of technique and temperament.

The Counties XV defeated Russia 23-21 in their most recent game, but had to defend doggedly to hold on for the win, which was only secured when an injury time conversion attempt by the Russians went wide.

Says Counties XV Manager Jim Robinson: “All three Russian sides were extremely competitive on home soil and I’ve no doubt that when they come to this festival, they will be just as passionate and skilful. Their links with France have helped to shape what is a very exciting and ambitious style and it offers us a serious challenge. Of course part of our remit is player development on both sides of the scale and I know we learned plenty from the Russian trip. Now we take on our old friends the French Amateur side, who will be very keen to redress the balance of recent results have gone our way, while we will also be extending our horizons by playing Spain for the first time.

“The festival is a first for all the teams taking part and I know it will be a competitive, challenging affair which our players will learn from. Most will be wearing an England shirt for the first time and I know they will rise to the occasion and wear the jersey with pride. The players have been chosen because of their form in the County Championship and I’m excited that we have a squad with so many young players who have already made their mark in the competition.”

The England Counties XV itinerary is: September 6: England v Russia in Fleurance (17.00); September 10: England v Spain in Morlaas (17.00); September 13: England v France in Saint-Paul Les Dax (18.00).

The England Counties squad is:

Craig Aikman (Halifax & Lancashire), David Allen (Blackheath & Kent), David Archer (Henley & Hertfordshire), Thomas Bason (Blackheath & Kent), Dan Cooper (Durham University & Durham), Glenn Cooper (Redruth & Somerset), Kyle Dench (Otley & Yorkshire), James Doherty (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Daniel Hyde (Otley & Yorkshire), Darren Jacques (Redruth & Cornwall), Thomas Jarvis (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire), James Jenner (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire), Peter Joyce (Redruth & Cornwall), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Paul Mooney (Otley & Northumberland), Frankie Neale (Blackheath & Kent), Matt Owen (Manchester & Cheshire), Matthew Payne (Henley & Oxfordshire), Tristan Roberts (Cinderford & Kent), Chris Rowland (Stourbridge & Somerset), Nicholas Royle (Fylde & Lancashire), Alastair Simmie (Durham University & Durham), Alex(Jack) Smales (Tynedale & Northumberland), Richard Snowball (Otley & Yorkshire), James Tideswell (Stourbridge & North Midlands), Liam Wordley (Henley & Staffordshire).

Gwyn Williams - Chairman of Executive

Gwyn Williams was elected Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Hertfordshire RFU at its AGM on Monday, 25th June 2007. In a vote held at the meeting he beat off the strong challenge of Daryl Hayler to win the election.

Speaking of the role of Chairman Gwyn says:

"One of John Drew's last acts as Chairman was to prepare the next phase of the Strategic plan. The executive has to use this document as a working plan, not another initiative gathering dust on shelves around the county. I believe that to achieve the long-term vision of the plan, the executive have to break it down into short-term action plans, setting goals and targets 

against which we can measure our progress.

I want the executive to become more proactive in its work rather than reactive. I shall bring my ideas to the executive and push for Herts to make plans to move Rugby forward across the board, in every town in the county. We need to identify issues facing clubs and the CB and discuss them as well as discussing the various reports from sub committees. 

I wish county meetings to become more of an open forum, with published agendas that clubs can subscribe to and be encouraged to discuss. I want to make our committee meaningful to our clubs so that a greater interest is engendered in our game at a local level. And I need the clubs to buy into this vision."

John Drew had vacated the position, under the Rules of the Union, having been Chairman for 5 years. With the approval of the General Committee, he now takes over the position of Chairman of the Playing Committee, Gwyn's former position. Gwyn will continue as Chairman of Selectors and Fixture & Match Secretary.

All the other Officers of the Union and the Sub-Committee Chairmen were re-elected unopposed.

Hertfordshire's Rainbow in Russian Win

Krasnoyarsk 19 England Counties XV 27

The England RU Counties XV managed the opening win they were looking for when they scored four tries to one to beat Siberian side Krasnoyarsk in the city’s Central Stadium today.

With limited preparation time, the Counties were always expecting a stiff test against a side containing a large proportion of the Russian National team and their hosts lived up to their billing.

Though they trailed 13-3 at half-time, Krasnoyarsk rallied early in the second-half to draw level and then collected a brace of penalties to take the game to the wire after England had moved in front with a try by flanker Mike Blakeburn.

The Russian side opened the scoring with a penalty by wingman Artem Lubkov and he kept his side in touch with a conversion and four penalties, centre Igor Galinovsky finding the only flaw in a solid Counties defence to level the scores after 57 minutes.

The Counties side, the representative flagship of the club and County game outside the Guinness Premiership, were well organised and energetic in defence, but the cohesion of the team was inevitably flawed at times.

There was imagination in the cross-field kick from fly-half Mark Woodrow that brought the opening try for prop James Tideswell and the second try from wingman Paul Jarvis owed much to a smartly taken free kick by scrum-half Paul Knight.

Woodrow’s earlier penalty left the Counties in a strong position at the break, but Krasnoyarsk got back into the game and it needed a 40-yard gallop by No 8 Gregor Hayter to set up Blakeburn’s score.

The home side came back again to leave the game precariously balanced at 20-19, but in injury time centre Mark Bedworth sliced through at the posts for Woodrow to convert.

“I thought our performance was much as expected.” said Manager Jim Robinson: “There were some very good bits and some bits where the cohesion just wasn’t there, but there are good things to work on and we’ll take the positives and move on.

“I thought Mike Blakeburn was immense in the back row and Mark Bedworth had some good moments in the backs, but overall everybody made a contribution, especially in some tight defensive situations.”

Coach David Baldwin also singled our Blakeburn’s back-row colleagues Chris Rainbow and Gregor Hayter for praise.

England Counties XV: Oliver Viney (Preston Grasshoppers); Hamish Smales (Tynedale), Arran Cruickshanks (Devon & Plymouth Albion), Mark Bedworth (Yorkshire & Wharfedale), Tom Jarvis (Gloucestershire & Lydney) (Frankie Neale, Kent & Blackheath, 70); Mark Woodrow (Gloucestershire & Doncaster), Paul Knight (Gloucestershire & Moseley) (Chris Pilgrim, Cheshire & Loughborough Colleges); Duncan Cormack (Surrey & Esher) captain, Liam Wordley (Staffordshire & Henley), James Tideswell (North Midlands & Stourbridge), Alex Davidson (North Midlands & Pertemps Bees) (James Winterbottom, Middlesex & Henley, 70), David Campton (Warwickshire & Coventry), Chris Rainbow (Hertfordshire & Newbury) (Neil Spence, Bradford & Bingley, 61), Mike Blakeburn (Surrey & Esher), Gregor Hayter (Oxfordshire & Newbury) (Glenn Cooper, Somerset & Newbury, 80).