Herts Stags Play Kent for a "Jason Leonard and London & SE Trophy"

Herts Stags will play Kent U20s for a "Jason Leonard and London & SE Trophy" on Sunday, March 30th as part of a day of age-group rugby, to which Jason Leonard, RFU Council National Member and former England prop, has leant his name.

The highlight of the day is the Hampshire and Middlesex play off at the Army Stadium in Aldershot for the right to represent London & South East in the semi-finals of the National Under 20 Championship.

The two counties won their respective round-robin pools between January 27 and March 2. The winners of their play-off final will be rewarded with an away tie against the qualifiers from the South West on the weekend of April 19/20.

The second-, third- and fourth-placed teams from the group stage were each due to play off for a trophy named after Leonard, although Surrey have withdrawn from the competition and will not be facing Sussex as intended.

That leaves matches on Sunday between the Army and Essex (Stadium pitch, 12pm) and Hertfordshire and Kent (Queens Road Pitch, 1.15pm), each for the ‘Jason Leonard and London & SE Trophy’.

The Stags team for Sunday is:

Henry Robinson (Letchworth); Kyle Lemon (Stevenage Town), Carling Colfer (Old Albanian), Joe Weston (Saracens Amateurs), Kris Cottendon (Letchworth); Zak Vinnicombe (Fullerians), Elliot Birkbeck (Old Northamptonians); Sam England (Old Albanian), Tom Haller (Old Albanian) (capt), Ollie Day (Bishop's Stortford), Pieter Frisch (Hitchin), Jamie Molloy (Fullerians), Miles Dempsey (Fullerians), Tom Mellor (Bedford), Tom Jankowski (Welwyn)

Replacements: Joe Frewin (Fullerians), Barry Mellor (Letchworth), Sean Mcginnty (Hitchin), Sean Hughes (Saracens Amateurs), Brad Martin (Saracens Amateurs), Tom Sadler (Saracens Amateurs)

Tabard - Seal of Approval Club of Year

In August 2006 Tabard RFC gained the RFU Seal of Approval in record time! The Club Development Group enthusiastically embraced the challenges ahead and spearheaded many changes to bring new young players into the club. These changes have not only resulted in an influx of new players at lower levels, but has necessitated the training of new coaches, which in turn has enabled the club to apply for funding and offer rugby coaching to schools, colleges and youth groups, starting after school rugby clubs as well as running skills days during half terms.

Being awarded London North Region, Seal of Approval Club of the Year for 2008 is a huge honour. Both club chairmen, Ross Hopcroft, for the Seniors and, Laura-Jo Pearce, Mini and Youth Chairman are thrilled that all the hard work of the CDG team is being recognised nationally. This prestigious award will help the club to drive up standards and continue with its ambitious development programme to bring rugby to the community and the community to rugby.

Farrell Captains England

Owen Farrell (Hertfordshire & St George's, Harpenden) in his second season in the England U 16 team captained the side in the opening match of the Four Nations Tournament in France. Unfortunately England went down by the narrow margin of one point, 13-12, to Wales U16s, their first defeat at this level since 2003.

England's first try came when fly half George Ford, son of the England defence coach Mike, combined with his inside centre and captain Owen Farrell who delivered a double miss pass to Edgerley who scored in the corner. Although England went on to lead 12-3 at half time, Wales fought back and a late penalty just won the match for Wales.