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It's our History that creats today's Geography....
SCHOOLS AND YOUTH RUGBY IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
In 1964, at a meeting held at The Great Northern Hotel, Leeds, representatives from the Schools' Unions of the six Northern counties of Cheshire, Cumberland & Westmorland, Durham, Lancashire (though then Manchester & Merseyside), Northumberland and Yorkshire agreed that they had progressed from a friendly get-together to a more business-like organisation.
Thus was the Rugby Football Schools' Union of the Northern Counties formed to arrange trials, representative matches and tours. In due course the Union took on the mantle of the North Division of the E.R.F.S.U. and for the past forty years has been responsible for the organisation of trials and selection of squads at variously Under 15, Under 16, Under 18 & Under 19 to represent the North.
In addition and separately from the selectorial function, the Counties agreed to act in unison to promote and encourage the game of rugby football amongst the schools across the north of England.
The recent review of Schools and Youth Rugby by the R.F.U. has meant a considerable change in this procedure. Whilst the 16 Group has remained within the management of the E.R.F.S.U at Divisional and National level, the 18 Group sides of Schools and Clubs are now combined and form part of an elite development programme run by the R.F.U.
The Northern Counties R.F.S.U. therefore seemed for the most part redundant. However, at the A.G.M. in 2004, it was agreed that the Union should continue to function, funded by the Schools' unions of the six counties and that the constitution should be rewritten in the light of present conditions. The primary aim would be to encourage and support rugby football in schools across the North.
Nevertheless, as all Under 16 players are by definition schoolboys, there will be a level of continuation at 16 level. A committee has been formed under the auspices of the E.R.F.S.U. with representatives from both Schools and Clubs and it will be responsible for the arrangement of trials and development at Divisional level. There will be a Selection Committee which will consist of a Chair and two representatives nominated by each County who will attend, in the case of the season 2004/2005, two festivals to select 50+ players for a Development Weekend. The weekend will be run by the Head Coach of the North Division with his chosen assistants, and Selectors will attend the event.
Once this has been completed, two trial teams and appropriate replacements will be chosen to attend the North Trial. At this point the National Selectors will join the selectorial panel and a North Squad will be invited to take part in the England selection and development process.
Eventually, this season, two Under 16 sides will be chosen: an England XV to play Italy and Wales and an "A" XV which will take part in a Festival at Millfield and play against other international "A" and Provincial sides.
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