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Squad Training Monday 7th April at Longton RFC
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Match against Cheshire Sunday 13th April at TBA
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Click here for Lancashire match report
TEAM NEWS
Welcome to the newly formed Staffordshire u18 Academy (2008 - Phase 1)
The Academy will run from January to November and for 2008 will be attended by players who were born in 1991. It may also include those born in 1992 if we are requested to include them by their Midlands or England coaches.
To be eligible for the Academy, u18’s players must be under 18 on the 31st December 2008.
The Academy contains two phases;
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Phase 1 - whole squad developing as a group, being coached as elite players, playing friendly matches against other County academies during the period January to April 2008
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Phase 2 - final squad playing as an established team in competitive matches as part of the Midlands Championship during the period September to November 2008. This final squad may include those players who represented the Midlands at u16’s level during the early part of 2008 or any other player whose selection is deemed suitable, and it will be these players who will be hoping for selection to the Midlands in December 2008
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives are three fold:
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to develop the county's best players
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to provide the best possible platform for the players to be viewed by the Midland’s u18 Selectors
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to win the Midlands Championship, concluding on Super Sunday
To achieve the objectives a single squad will be formed following a selection day and subsequent trial match. This squad will initially contain between 35 and 40 players but will be shrunk, just after the Staffordshire Coaching Conference (summer 2008), to the final group of 25 to 30.
ACADEMY MANAGEMENT
The Team Manager and Assistant Coach is Rob Barlow – 0774 756 6210 or if non-urgent e-mail to rob.barlow@edmund-nuttall.co.uk
The Coaches are Jeremy Edwards, Tom Williams and Paul Green.
ACADEMY TRAINING SESSIONS
The squad selected for Phase 1 of the Academy is listed here, it includes both Midlands and nominated but injured players. These additional players will be considered for the Academy as they become available
The next squad training session will be held on Monday 7th April 2008 at Longton Rugby Club, Sir Stanley Mathews Way, near Stoke FC’s Britannia Stadium, Stoke.
For the evening sessions players should arrive ready for a prompt start at 6.45pm, the session will finish around 8.30pm.
Players who cannot attend a session are asked to contact Rob Barlow beforehand.
The sessions will concentrate on team play and group skills, but whilst fitness training is not an element, players should expect some sessions to be demanding both mentally and physically and these may well include some limited contact.
COUNTY DEVELOPMENT MATCHES
The team for each of these matches will be listed on this page as soon as known.
Cheshire - Sunday 13th April at TBA - Playing squad to be listed here when selected.
Those named in the playing squad will all play, the others in the squad being deemed off rota and will not play.
If any one would like to submit a match report for any of the above please do so and it can be added to the website. The report should be produced electronically and be e-mailed to Rob Barlow.
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES
For each of the Championship matches a named squad of 23 will be selected, from this only a maximum of 22 can play, and who actually plays will be at the decision of the Academy Management.
Midlands Championship dates will be provided to us in August
Super Sunday – at Broadstreet RFC, the finals of the Midlands Championship and conclusion of the selection process for the Midlands - usually held in November.
PLAYING KIT
Staffordshire green shirts will be provided. Black shorts and black socks must be brought by the players.
DRESS CODE
It is hoped that players will
1 arrive at the matches in warm up kit, showing the SRU logo
2 wear a white shirt and tie after the match.
COUNTY TIES
Ties will only be awarded to those who play the Midlands Championship matches in Autumn 2008
SRU WEAR
This will be available for purchase during January and February, it will be strictly be on a cash with order basis.
TRANSPORT
Player transport will not be provided to either training sessions or matches, nor will expenses be paid.
VIDEO
The Midlands have requested a video of each of the two Championship matches, and to this end a ‘permission given’ note will be requested from parents or guardians. This note will be circulated in September.
Thanks and please spread the news!
Rob Barlow
