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Spotlight on Schools Floodlit Rugby
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Only one Lancashire School remains in the 22nd Floodlit competition, attracting 24 schools from across the north of England.
Hutton GS left the Quarter Final stage last week, leaving Manchester GS to carry the flag. Cheshire with two, Yorkshire's trio and long time supporters of the competition, RGS Newcastle, make up the rest.
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| Quarter Finals |
Semi Final |
Final |
WINNERS |
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For more information about the sponsors |
| Manchester GS |
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The University of Central Lancashire |
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| 11th Jan - 4.00pm |
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| RGS Newcastle |
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25th Jan - 5.15pm |
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| Wirral GS |
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| 11th Jan - 6.30pm |
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| Kings' Macclesfield |
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FINAL at Preston Grasshoppers |
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Wed 1st Feb |
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7.00 kick off |
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| Hutton GS |
7 |
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| 16th Nov - 6.30pm |
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Woodhouse Grove |
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| Woodhouse Grove |
22 |
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25th Jan - 6.30pm |
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| Bradford GS |
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| 23rd Nov - 5.15pm |
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St Peter's York |
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| St Peter's, York |
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click here for
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Previous Winners |
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| Floodlights... |
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At the time of Liverpool St Helens withdrawing from hosting the competition, Preston's new floodlighting (for which funding was partly achieved through RFU support) was the key to the event progressing at Lightfoot Green.
With over 24 school teams now entering annually from across the North, from Northumberland to south Cheshire, and using the same pattern as previously followed at LSH, matches continue to take place weekly on Wednesday evenings through to Christmas with a mid-February final.
Not only is this a well-established competition, it has been well-supported by the northern county schools who were excited at the prospect of it moving to Hoppers. In recent seasons, rugby followers have been able to watch some entertaining rugby football on Wednesday evenings.
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| UCLAN step in to save the event... |
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In the current economic climate, the Grasshoppers' club, with its other extensive youth and community commitments, would have struggled to fund the tournament and there was some doubt as to whether the weekly event would go ahead.
After sponsoring the Floodlit Final in 2006/07, The University of Central Lancashire has become the event's headline sponsor adding an increased level of sponsorship, partly thanks to the University's Nick Passenger, himself a Lancashire squad coach with local club and school connections.
Dr Adrian Ibbetson, Academic Director of Sport at UCLAN, said “We were impressed with the competition when we got involved last season and think that it is most important to support sport in this age group to help ensure that youngsters continue to participate as they approach the end of their school years and move on. We intend to maximise our investment by involving other faculties within the University, giving students valuable practical experience. Preston Grasshoppers has great facilities and, as our local club, we are keen to develop relationships to mutual benefit.”
Preston Grasshoppers partnership with The University of Central Lancashire can be seen as of great benefit to both organisations.
Speaking at the time, Hoppers' Vice-President and event co-ordinator, Henry Porteous, added, “This is great news. This floodlit competition has proved extremely popular with the schools and gives Under 16s players an opportunity to experience different opposition in a professional environment. We are delighted to be working with UCLAN and will do our utmost to ensure that we justify their generous investment and, just as importantly, that the participants enjoy the experience.”
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| Background |
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For sixteen years, Liverpool St Helens hosted an Under 16s Schools Floodlit Tournament, throughout arranged by the Liverpool Referees Society's international match official, Dave Matthews.
In the early days, Lancashire and Merseyside schools formed the bedrock of the entries, but the successful format encouraged the inclusion of Cheshire schools, and beyond.
Wanting to rebuild their own Junior section with mid-week, evening training sessions, LSH’s Moss Lane ground became unavailable and the future of the competition was threatened.
Preston Grasshoppers were then persuaded to take on the event. Now, in their sixth season as hosts, the Wednesday night competition continues to be one of the biggest of its kind in the country.
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ANNUAL UNDER 16s
SCHOOLS KNOCK-OUT
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sponsored by
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| Match Reports |
| October & November |
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September Highlights
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for a full screen version:
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| The UCLAN Rugby Club |
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Preston Grasshoppers
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Click here for:
and
website
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Previous Winners
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1989-90
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De La Salle School
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1990-91
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Merchant Taylors School
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1991-92
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Merchant Taylors School
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1992-93
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De La Salle School
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1993-94
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St Anshelm's College
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1994-95
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Stonyhurst College
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1995-96
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Stonyhurst College
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1996-97
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Stonyhurst College
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1997-98
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King's School, Macclesfield
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1998-99
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Arnold School
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1999-00
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Manchester GS
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2001-02
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Lancaster RGS
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2002-03
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St Ambrose College
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2003-04 *
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St Ambrose College
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2004-05 *
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St Edward's College
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2005-06 *
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St Ambrose College
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2006-07 +
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Lancaster RGS
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2007-08 $
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Hutton GS
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2008-09 $
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Lancaster RGS
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| 2009-10 $ |
Wilmslow HS |
| 2010-11 $ |
St Peter's, York |
| 2011-12 $ |
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| * |
Competition sponsored by SYSCO |
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Final sponsored by UCLAN |
| $ |
Competition sponsored by UCLAN |
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| Tournament Outline |
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The tournament runs from September to February and matches take place mainly on Wednesday evenings, kicking off at 5:30pm.
This season (2010/11), twenty one schools from all over the North West entered, plus two schools from the North East and Yorkshire.
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