Essex Area Festivals and Finals

The 2005 Emerging Schools festivals are here again. Below is a list of the area festivals, and the Boroughs which should be attending each one. The format remains the same, with each school being able to enter two teams, one into the Year 7 competition, and one into the year 8. Once again, the winners of each age group festival will be invited to the area final, to be held at Writtle College on March 8^th. The winner of this festival will go on to compete and represent Essex in the national final, held at Staines RFC, with the finalists of this event playing at half time in the Army vs Navy match at Twickenham.

The only changes to the competition this year are listed below:

·         There will be 6 forwards, and 6 backs, meaning that the scrum will include a No. 8.

·         Schools that progressed through to the U12 National final last year, will not be permitted to enter the national finals this year. They are however encouraged to attend the local and area competitions. In the event that were to win, then the losing finalists would go through to represent the CB in the National Finals.

The rest of the rules however, as listed below, remain as before. Please read through the competition rules, and also the eligibility for your school, to make sure that this is a true Emerging Rugby Schools event.

Eligibility and Rules

Under 12’s (Year 7)

·          State Schools only

·          Playing fewer than 8 meaningful fixtures in one term or 12 meaningful fixtures in two terms.

·          No established Rugby League playing schools

Under 13’s (Year 8)

·          State Schools only

·          Playing fewer than 8 meaningful fixtures in one term or 12 meaningful fixtures in two terms.

·          No established Rugby League playing schools

National Event

·          Winners of Local Festival – cannot be previous season – Under 12 - winners.

Under 12 Festival Rules

U12s Rules RFU Continuum may be found at www.rfu.com or in Schools’ & Youth Handbook

1.       As per RFU Continnum with the following exceptions:-

2.       No Kicking out of hand or to touch. Start of play via scrimmage (to create space in open field)

3.       Restarts will be a scrummage to side who would have kicked off.

4.       Penalties may be ‘tap & run’ or scrum

5.       Games last 10 minutes (one-way)

6.       No conversions

U13s Rules - Due to Festival constraints, U13s will play 12-a-side across the pitch

1.         As per rules above but with the following exceptions:

2.        Hand-Offs permitted

3.        Boys only

Dates and venues

The following table gives details of the area qualifying festivals and finals.  Before filling out the application form on the attached page, please ensure that you have checked the table to ensure that you enter the right qualifier.

Emerging Schools Festival Area Competition Application

Please complete this sheet and return it to the address below. If you have any questions on this, then please email me on the address below.

Regards

Matt Davies                          

RFU Development Officer LONDON NORTH

Rugby Development Office

Cooper’s Company and Coborn School

St Mary’s Lane

Upminster, Essex

RM14 3HS

07764 960 406

mattdavies@rfu.com

Matt Davies, Rugby Development Officer, London North

RDO Office, Cooper’s Company and Coborn School, St Mary’s Lane

Upminster, Essex, RM14 3HS

mattdavies@rfu.com 07764 960406