ESSEX UNDER 18 2007
Manager - Mike Norris
Head Coach - Gary Cook
Assistant Coaches - Chris Green; Dave Catchpole, Simon Hoult
Fitness Coach Simon Nainby
Physio: Vic Bellamy
The U18's finished their campaign with a 20-17 win over Hampshire at Westcliff on Sunday the 4th November. The campaign began at the begining of the year with the nominsted players taking part in the U17's matches. During the summer, additioanl players were given the opportunithy to trial and take part in the training sessions. Following these sessions the final squad of 35 was selected for the Felstead weekend development camp at the end of August.
The weekend camp proved hard work for the players. Adrian Gilbert, Assistant manager for England U18's opened the weekend with a presnetaiton on what lay ahead for those boys who wanted to proegress to London divivion and England repressentative rugby. Saturday's sessions were led by the Essex coaches assisted by Saracens Academy Coach Matt Davies. The concluded with a presentation by David Locke of the Referees Society on the laws of the game. Sunday morning saw the arrival of Tony Diprose of the Quins Acadamy who took the players through a defensive coaching session before the afternoon final trials under the watful eyes of the coaches and selectors.
The weekend was very successful and improved the team spirit and bonding amongst the group but more importantly, their skills. The early planned sessions in September were withdrawn due to them being outside of the structured season and so no warm up matches therefore took place. Despite this setback the squad was finally reduced during their final two sessions to 30 from which the match day squads were then selected.
In their first match against Eastern Counties, the lack of match practice proved be be a draw back but the more the boys playeed the better they became and though they just lost the match 6-5 this was a fine all round performance with 10 of the players being identified for the shadow squad. In their next match agianst Middlesex Essex led 5-0 at half time but allowed Middlesex to come back at them in the second half with the final result being 8-5 to Middlesex. In their final match at Westlicc RFC the boys finally got used to playing together and went in at half time 12 -5 in the lead. In the second half Hampshire made little impression and Essex were able to draw further ahead taking their score to 20 - 12. In the last quarter with both sides made many changes to give the rest of their squads the opportunity to take part. Hampshire took advantage of the changes and scored and additional try to make the final score 20-17 to Essex.
Head Coach Gary Cook thanked the players for their spirit and commitment to the team and County, in return the team applauded their coaches and support staff. The players eagerly await the decision of the London Division selectors and the announcement of the invitations to the London Division Trials.
U18's programme 2007 - 8
The Essex U18 representative coaching team will be holding trials for those players that have not been identified as being of County standard so far on the dates listed below. As with last year, the selection and training programme will start early as it proved most successful last year, with our squad finishing undefeated and 10 of that squad achieving London Divisional selection, and a further 4 achieving full England U18 selection.
Those players selected will then be invited to a residential weekend at Felsted School where they will receive coaching from Saracens, Harlequins and Essex County staff. At this stage a final cut will be made and a 26 man squad selected. There are no development squads at U18 and above.
It is important to note that only players born in 1990 are eligible for the U18 County squad and in exceptional circumstances 1991 on invitation only. This WILL affect players in 2 age groups within your Club structure.
Selection feedback will only be given to those players making the Stage 3 session and are not selected, as numbers are anticipated to be high at the Stage 1&2 sessions. There is no longer a schools pathway to secure London Divisional or England selection as all players come through either the Professional Academy or County structures. The selection dates are as follows:
|
DATE
|
Session
|
Venue
|
TIME
|
|
30TH APRIL
|
STAGE 1 SELECTION
THURROCK
RFC |
Thurrock
|
1930
|
|
14TH MAY
|
STAGE 1 SELECTION
THURROCK
RFC |
Thurrock
|
1930
|
|
21ST MAY
|
STAGE 2 SELECTION
|
Thurrock
|
1930
|
|
17/18/19TH AUG
|
STAGE 3 SELECTION
|
FELSTED SCHOOL
(RESIDENTIAL)
|
Fri1900
Sun 1600
|
|
Mon -10th Sept
|
Development
|
Thurrock
|
|
|
Mon 24th Sept
|
Development
|
Thurrock
|
|
|
Mon
|
Match preparation
|
Thurrock
|
|
|
Sun 14th Oct
|
Eastern Counties (A)
|
Colchester
|
L 6 - 5
|
|
Mon
|
Match Preparation
|
Thurrock
|
|
|
Sun 28th Oct
|
Middlesex (A)
|
Old Millhillians
|
L 8 - 5
|
|
Mon
|
Match Preparation
|
Thurrock
|
|
|
Sun 4th Nov
|
Hampshire (H)
|
Westcliff RFC
|
W 20 - 17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
London Divisional Days TBC
|
See www.london-and- southeast-rugby.org.uk
|
Essex County will provide those selected with a full training / playing schedule as soon as it is available so as your Club/School coaches may plan around those dates.
