Stags Move Again

The Hertfordshire Stags Match against The Army U20 on Sunday, 15th February has been moved for a second time due to the effects of the winter weather. With the pitches at both Harpenden and Bishop's Stortford out of action, the RFU U20 National Championship match will now be held at Tabard RFC, kick off 2.15pm

The Stags team selected for the match is:

15 Full back Henry ROBINSON Letchworth

14 Wing A N OTHER

13 Centre Kyle LEMON Stevenage Town

12 Centre Brad MARTIN Saracens Amateurs

11 Wing Rob RICHARDSON Bedford Academy

10 Fly half Stuart SMART Hertford

9 Scrum half Elliot BIRCKBECK Old Northamptonians

1 Prop Rob SCHILLACI Hertford

2 Hooker Mike SKINNER Bedford Academy

3 Prop Ross MEALING Letchworth

4 Lock James DORAN Old Albanian

5 Lock Sam BARROW Tabard

6 Flanker Miles DEMPSEY Fullerians

7 Flanker Joe COLLINS Tring

8 No 8 Tom JANKOWSKI Welwyn (Capt)

Replacements:

16 San FARENDEN Hertford

17 Steve DURNING Hertford

18 Sean McGINTY Hitchin

19 Alex LENNON Letchworth

20 Matt CHAMBERS Bishop's Stortford

21 Liam CHENNELS Tring

22 Jack TREDGET Letchworth

Hertfordshire Stags v Middlesex U20 Postponed

Unfortunately the weather has again disrupted the Stags RFU U20 National Championship programme.

Following the postponement of their match against Kent, the Stags game against Middlesex, scheduled to take place at Tabard RFC on Sunday 8th February, has been postponed due the severe winter weather.

The Stags’ next match is on Sunday, February 15th, against The Army U20 at Harpenden RFC. Kick off 2.15 pm

Eddie Jones to speak at Members' Dinner

Hertfordshire Rugby Football Union

Dear Club Secretaries, Club Chairman, Club Committee Members, HRFU

Members, Players, Supporters and Friend of Herts Rugby

Annual Dinner- Thursday 5th March 2009

Once again it is time to book tickets for yourself, partner and friends at the Annual Dinner of The Hertfordshire RFU.

Following the great success of last year’s dinner we are delighted to have been able to book again the Mid-Herts Golf Club, Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead for the occasion. Wives and partners are especially welcome, aperitifs are from 7.15pm with Dinner commencing at 8.00pm.

We are delighted and honoured to have as our guest speaker Eddie Jones, Director of Rugby for Saracens. Eddie is a highly respected international coach with immense experience of the game not only here in the UK but also from his homeland of Australia and the southern hemisphere in general.

In addition John Owen, Senior Vice President of The RFU, has agreed to be our guest, we look forward to giving him yet another memorable evening with Herts Rugby.

The ticket price has remained the same as last year at £35 per head. Once again we will be under the control of our very own MC, Mark Elliott, so please do try and make this special evening.

Please return your ticket request to John Atkinson complete with your cheques, made payable to Herts RFU as soon as possible, but latest by Friday 27th February

We look forward to seeing you.

John Drew, President.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Please return to;

John Atkinson, 86 Winterscroft Rd, Hoddesdon, Herts EN11 8RJ

Tel: 01992 462206 e-mail: tony.edlin@btconnect.com

I/We will be attending

Please supply ……. Tickets, payment enclosed £ ………………

[Please provide a list of guests for seating arrangements]

I will require a vegetarian meal

{Please Print}

Name: ……………………………………………………………………………..

Address: ……………………………………………………………………………..

Club: ………………………………………………………………………………

Stags Squad for East Midlands

The Hertfordshire Stags (U20) squad for their match against East Midland U20 @ Hitchin RFC on Wednesday, 14th January, KO 7.30 pm is:

1. R. Schillaci (Hertford)
2. S. Durno (Hertford)
3. R. Mealing (Letchworth)
4. D. Calnan (Tabard)
5. S. Barrow (Tabard)
6. T. Jankowski (Welwyn)
7. T. Meller (Stevenage Town)
8. M. Chambers (Bishop's Stortford)
9. E. Birbeck (Old Northamptonians)
10. S. Smart (Hertford)
11. M. Claire (Bishop's Stortford)
12. S. Ellis (Hertford)
13. B. DeGrandis (Bishop's Stortford)
14. K. Lemon (Stevenage Town)
15. H Robinson (Letchworth)
16. M. Connors (Bedford Academy)
17. M. Dempsey (Fullerians)
18. H. Howman (Letchworth)
19. R. Richardson (Bedford Academy)
20. J. Tredgett (Letchworth)
21. J Davis (Tabard)

Herts Student Festival

Twas the Monday before Xmas… and the cream of the county’s young players flocked to Old Albanian RFC for the inaugural Herts Xmas Festival. Over 150 young players – a combination of students back for the holiday period, colts and younger players from the senior sides - representing eight clubs turned out for some festive fun. Playing ten minute matches with no penalties, the action was fast and furious.

Old Albanians and Bishops Stortford won their pools and in a tight final Bishop’s Stortford just edged the host club to become the first club to lift the Herts Returning Students trophy. Other awards during the evening went to Joe Brouder (Old Albanians) for Best Try, Alex Brookes (Welwyn) for Best Hit, and Francis Denny (Old Albanians) for Best Player.

The festival was organised by Peter Engledow, the Herts Rugby Development Officer, who said he was pleased with the response: ‘It’s all about keeping players involved with their clubs, particularly those that move away to attend college. This gave the guys a chance to meet old friends, play a bit of rugby and have a couple of beers – what better way to start the Xmas holidays!’

John Drew, President of the Herts RFU, was on hand to award the trophies and he was in no doubt that the Festival should be a permanent fixture in the Herts rugby calendar. He said: ‘We’ve seen some quality play here tonight and I’d like to congratulate all who made tonight’s festival go so well.’ There were county selectors present and, as MC Hardwick reminded the crowd, there was plenty to play for with the U20 County Championship, U23 fixtures and the senior County Championship Shield coming up.

The clubs taking part were Barnet, Bishop’s Stortford, Cheshunt, Fullerians, Harpenden, Hertford, Old Albanians (two sides) and Welwyn. Each club got a Gillette community rugby bag containing training balls, bibs and water bottles, courtesy of Apex Multisports and the Herts Sports Partnership. Thanks to OAs for hosting the event, and to the Herts Referees’ Society, whose refs put their fitness on the line!

Herts students invited home for Christmas rugby

Hertfordshire rugby clubs are encouraged to invite their student players back to represent them at the county's first Under 23 Student Club Rugby Festival this month.

Old Albanian RFC near St Albans is the venue on Monday December 22, 2008, with the accent on fun and social rugby but a serious message too as it allows clubs to stay in touch with players who have gone to college or university.

"The rugby will be 20-20 style and we are looking at 10 to 15-minutes games," said Peter Engledow, the RFU's Hertfordshire rugby development officer.

"This is a great way to bring back all the Herts players to the county and enjoy a super late afternoon and evening playing rugby and building friendships."

Organisers are hoping around 150 to 200 students take part on behalf of their clubs, and there will be scope for the county's smaller clubs to field combined teams if they are short of numbers on their own.

"The selectors of Herts' Under 20, U23 and senior sides will be there too, to spot some talent," said Engledow, "but most of all it is about playing with your mates and having a good time."

Food and drink will be on offer and Engledow is hopeful this will become an annual rugby festival for the county in support of the RFU's Play On campaign which aims to maintain and develop contact with rugby players in the 16 to 24 age group who may have moved away from home for work or further education. 

Clubs are asked to confirm their entry and nominate a key person who will be in charge of getting their players together.

Contact Peter Engledow on peterengledow@rfu.com or 07764 960407.

Hertfordshire Schools at Wembley

Nine schools teams from Hertfordshire took to the world famous Wembley Stadium turf last week as part of the rugby festival that was a unique curtain-raiser to Barbarians v Australia match.

Pupils from Francis Combe (Watford), Sir John Lawes (Harpenden), Sandringham (St Albans), Knights Templar (Baldock), Mount Grace (Potters Bar), The Priory (Hitchin), Fearnhill (Letchworth), Greneway School (Royston) and Wheatfields Junior School (St Albans) were among more than 1300 school children in the London North / Barbarians festival designed to generate interest among players either new or recently introduced to the game.

Some of the children met England flanker Joe Worsley at the end of a fast and fun day's action organised jointly by the RFU's London North development team and the Barbarians in which the teams played 10-a-side matches lasting 10 minutes each. Year 5 and 6 teams played Tag rugby, and Years 7 to 10 took part in the contact version with scrums and line-outs. 

All the schools teams, parents and supporters were able to stay on to watch the evening match which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Olympic rugby competition won by Australia at the London Games of 1908.