The 'School of Rugby' concept was introduced by the RFU across all its 28 Constituent Bodies in England. Next season will be the third season, the original Under 14s now becoming the core of the Under 16s group.
At each of three centres in Lancashire, boys in the Under 13s to Under 16s age groups have been coached in skill-related sessions, based on a month-by-month curriculum which in theory has been matched at every other centre on the equivalent date around the country.
Based on the experience of the past two years, the School of Rugby curriculum arrangements are changing, all day sessions in half-terms and hoilidays replacing some of the evening sessions.
Lancashire has three School of Rugby and District centres, Sedgley Park, West Park and Preston Grasshoppers, but the majority of the School of Rugby work will take place at Sale Sharks' training ground, with the input of the Premiership's coaches and certain players.
Boys will be introduced into the School of Rugby during the season, and some boys will drop back to their Districts, and possibly from there to their clubs. The Under 13s will stay with their Districts until towards the end of the sesason, when their District Coaches will nominate players for the Spring/Easter sessions.
Certain matches are played by the Districts, in addition to the inter-District fixtures from which the Final Trial players are drawn.
At Under 14s, 15s and 16s, the School of Rugby players should form the basis of the Final Trial for each age group, but performances in the designated selection matches will be important.
County Rugby
There is no County side at Under 13s. At Under 14s, 15s and 16s Lancashire has one squad.
For certain games, the County aims to bring together a "Presidents XV", drawn largely from the District Squads. This should encourage the performances in the District Squad matches.
The existing system of 'fast tracking' will continue, now from Under 13s upwards, to ensure that boys join the 'School of Rugby' process as early as possible and obtain the maximum benefit from the programme in place.
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