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West Cumbria Colts Are Recruiting
Andrew Branthwaite15 Aug 2021 - 22:14
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Under 18? Live in West Cumbria? Come join the team.
The West Cumbria U18s got underway on Sunday 15th August with their first training session through at Wigton RUFC. A successful start with 16 players from Aspatria, St Benedicts, Wigton and Workington taking part in this first session. Plenty of room for more players too!
There are 12 clubs in West Cumbria, however in a good year, 2 clubs may be able to field an U18s side. This is despite a number of clubs having youth set ups throughout the younger age groups. Retaining sufficient numbers at that U18s level is difficult. This results in a number of players that are keen leaving the game due to not enough rugby with a lot of travelling. This then has a detrimental impact on participation at the senior level. The impact has been heightened this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in players not playing games in 18 months and the RFU’s safety precaution preventing U18 players playing senior rugby until least January 2022, allowing them time to ease back into contact with player their own age before being thrown in against adults. Whilst logical, this does not help the players in West Cumbria that don’t have an U18s team at their club due to lack of numbers.
Workington Coaches Andrew Branthwaite and Lee Harden came up with the West Cumbria Colts (U18s) proposal. It has received a positive reaction from the clubs. Any club that can not field a colts team themselves in a season will pool together their resources so that players in the area get regular competitive rugby. Whilst Andrew and Lee are heading up the coaching this season, coaches from Wigton, St Benedicts and Cockermouth have confirmed that they would be happy to support some sessions. This season the team will play in the North East and Cumbria league, with clubs supplying players getting a home game and training rotating between these clubs.
This means that any club in West Cumbria should be looking to recruit U18s. They can now guarantee them rugby via the West Cumbria Colts team, without the pressure of having to find another 14 players.
If anyone else is U18 and wants to come and play, please get in touch either via your local rugby club or via Instagram @westcumbriacolts. No previous experience is required.
There are 12 clubs in West Cumbria, however in a good year, 2 clubs may be able to field an U18s side. This is despite a number of clubs having youth set ups throughout the younger age groups. Retaining sufficient numbers at that U18s level is difficult. This results in a number of players that are keen leaving the game due to not enough rugby with a lot of travelling. This then has a detrimental impact on participation at the senior level. The impact has been heightened this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in players not playing games in 18 months and the RFU’s safety precaution preventing U18 players playing senior rugby until least January 2022, allowing them time to ease back into contact with player their own age before being thrown in against adults. Whilst logical, this does not help the players in West Cumbria that don’t have an U18s team at their club due to lack of numbers.
Workington Coaches Andrew Branthwaite and Lee Harden came up with the West Cumbria Colts (U18s) proposal. It has received a positive reaction from the clubs. Any club that can not field a colts team themselves in a season will pool together their resources so that players in the area get regular competitive rugby. Whilst Andrew and Lee are heading up the coaching this season, coaches from Wigton, St Benedicts and Cockermouth have confirmed that they would be happy to support some sessions. This season the team will play in the North East and Cumbria league, with clubs supplying players getting a home game and training rotating between these clubs.
This means that any club in West Cumbria should be looking to recruit U18s. They can now guarantee them rugby via the West Cumbria Colts team, without the pressure of having to find another 14 players.
If anyone else is U18 and wants to come and play, please get in touch either via your local rugby club or via Instagram @westcumbriacolts. No previous experience is required.
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