The Club House, Norwich Road, Scottow, Norwich NR10 5BU

North Walsham Rugby Football Club

The Club House, Norwich Road, Scottow, Norwich NR10 5BU

T: 01692 538808

North Walsham RFC

YOUTH TRANSITION TO SENIOR RUGBY

TRANSITION

North Walsham RFC aim to provide a rugby pathway for all youth players to continue into the adult game. This pathway will allow players of all abilities to continue into senior rugby in a safe and managed way.

North Walsham RFC will provide Youth and mini Rugby from ages U6 to U17 with the U18 age group becoming part of the club senior programme.

This transition will allow many U17 / U18 players to convert to the senior game whilst also providing experience of senior rugby before many move on to University or other types of education that could move them away from the area. It is hoped that this will have forged strong links to the club and see a good return of players on completion of their education.

As this remains the biggest areas where players are lost from senior rugby, it is hoped that this pathway with give players a senior identity within rugby and keep them in the game for many years to come.

Early Engagement

If a player has had no contact with senior rugby before they reach the U17 age group, increasingly many are lost from the game altogether. For this reason North Walsham RFC are seeing the increased importance of the U17s becoming an integral part of the senior set up within the club.

By including the U17s in the club senior programme we aim to build a strong foundation for the club to see the rewards of having a strong Youth and Junior section. We aim to show all players/parents that North Walsham RFC is a club looking to retain all players of all standards to progress into senior rugby.

We are therefore looking to commence a programme of early engagement. For the Mini section, this focus will be on coaching support and upskilling of the coaching group to ensure a clear focus on development of core skills whilst maintaining the clubs values of fun and inclusivity.

Age groups U14s to U17s will have increasing contact with the senior coaching set up as they progress through the age groups so they are ready to make the transition when needed in the best possible way. In doing so, the senior coaching team will help the individual age group coaches to make sure the players play “the Walsham way”. It is therefore envisaged that any player from the u17s when reaching his 17th Birthday may play senior rugby (with the correct consent obtained from parent and

RFU playing adult rugby protocols carried out) should be fully capable of the transition into the senior teams.

North Walsham RFC have increased the remit of Spencer Williams, the 1st xv deputy coach to become coaching coordinator for Youth reporting to Alan Hepburn, Rugby Director and Nick Grimmer, Director of Youth and Mini. Spencer will be briefed to liaise with the Youth Coaches on Sundays and identify areas where coaching may require additional support. This will be implemented by the provision of additional coaching resource from the senior coaching team and from senior squad players who are being actively encouraged to volunteer at least two sessions a season. Youth Coaches will also be expected to attend “upskilling” sessions on specific skills run by Nick Greenhall and Spencer Williams. Nick will focus on attack, defence and back play with Spencer focusing on close contact skills, scrummaging and lineout (U16s and above).

Playing Senior Rugby at North Walsham RFC

When a player reaches U17 he will not be deemed a senior player but will be invited to become part of the senior set up and encouraged to play and train for Saturday Rugby if their educational commitments permit and if players have passed an assessment under the RFU playing adult rugby protocols and the RFU playing adult rugby form has been completed by Player, Parent and coach.. All training and matches will be remain under control of the youth club coaches for the U17 age group.

Players will be graded to the standard of Senior rugby they will be able to play. North Walsham currently run a 1st xv and 2nd xv with a desire to hold occasional 3rd XV games.

Playing standard of all players will be continually reviewed to allow players to progress through the sides.

No player will be asked to play in matches above the standard in which they have been graded to play in.

If any player is deemed unready for senior rugby we will look at the options for that player on a case by case basis.

U18/U17 Fixtures

North Walsham RFC will also run a mixed U17 /U18 side. The U17s will play as their own age group. But if there are sufficient numbers then there will be flexibility for U17 and U 18 players to join any “Colts” age group fixtures. This will allow Under 18s to remain part of the Junior Club and continue to provide an avenue for those players unable or unwilling to play senior rugby to continue to play competitive rugby.

Conclusion

In conclusion it is hoped that this transition pathway to senior rugby will not only benefit North Walsham RFC but the game of rugby as a whole. Not only will North Walsham see the benefits of all standards of players becoming senior players within the club but will lay a solid foundation for players of all abilities to play senior rugby within other clubs that their education/work etc may take them too.