Radical youth rugby shake up

Published 10 Jun 2010 09:00 0 Comments

Share this

SHAKE ON IT: Back row (l to r) Lomond School headmaster Simon Mills, SRU development officer Tyrone Sterry, Helensburgh youth rugby chairman Jon Simmons. Front row (l to r) Lomond School first XV player Johnny Vickers and Scott Simmons, from Helensburgh under-18s

EXCITING developments are afoot for school-aged rugby players in the Lomond and Helensburgh area for the season ahead.

Discussions have been taking place over the last few months to consider how best to respond to the Scottish Rugby Union's stated aims of 'growing the game' throughout Scotland.

Senior staff from Lomond School and officials from Helensburgh Rugby Club have met to formulate plans for a merger of playing and other resources which will enable players from club and school to play competitive fixtures on Saturdays and Sundays.

Jon Simmons, chair of Helensburgh Youth Rugby, explained the thinking behind the new plans from the club's point of view.

He said: "A number of factors were influential in opening up dialogue with Lomond.

"First, the SRU's charge to increase playing numbers but also to ensure that players were playing safely at the correct levels in line with the Rugby Ready programme.

"Second, that this joint venture will allow boys at Helensburgh RFC to get a Saturday or Sunday game when in the season past we have not been able to get fixtures or field teams.

"Third, there was already considerable overlap in playing personnel with many Lomond boys representing the club on a Sunday anyway.

"This seemed an ideal opportunity to further develop the very strong links between the club and the school."

Lomond's headmaster Simon Mills and head of rugby Dominic Fitzgerald also emphasised what they saw as the 'win-win' nature of the tie up.

Mr Fitzgerald stressed that the role of the SRU's local development officer, Tyrone Sterry, was key for the development of this plan.

He said: "Tyrone was already working closely with both the school and the club and when the suggestion was first developed it seemed to be the right time in terms of squad development throughout the school and the club. Tyrone will bring his own coaching skills to the table and also to coach development throughout the new set up."

The intention is to organise joint teams at first XV, under-18, under-16 (S4), under-15 (S3), under-14 (S2) and under-13 (S1) to allow for the best use of player availability, pitch space and coaching sessions.

The fixture card will be based on that employed by Lomond School so games will be played mainly on a Saturday largely against West of Scotland schools, but occasionally the traditional club style Sunday fixtures may be played.

The 'brand name' of the new set up will be 'Lomond and Helensburgh Rugby' and officials are currently working on a new kit to reflect the traditions of both partners.

The new set-up will be with secondary aged youngsters only and Helensburgh RFC will continue to manage their own very successful mini rugby set up and Lomond will continue to run its own primary school team. Lomond and Clyde SRU development officer Sterry said: "Lomond School and Helensburgh RFC are to be commended for grasping the nettle of structures that were static and developing a new and exciting environment for youngsters in this area."

Lomond and Helensburgh Rugby will take to the field at the start of next season with the full support of both club and school.

This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 10 Jun 10

Follow @helensburghadv

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.