In Bucks we firmly believe in a robust but transparent selection policy throughout all age groups from Under 14’s to Under 20’s.*
Once an age group trial date has been announced by the relevant age group Manager. Contact will be made with all clubs /schools etc within the County asking for their nominations for players who they consider worthy of a County trial. Nomination sheets will be completed by the School/Club Coach and returned.
Nominated players are then informed of the trial date/time/place etc. The County staff will then draw up a list of independent assessors/selectors who will attend that trial. They will also appoint Club/School Coaches to assist with the drills on the day. It is worth noting that these Coaches will NOT take part in the actual selection process.
On the day of the trials, players will register on arrival with the age group Manager and Coaches (who will NOT have any involvement with the selection process) Players will then be issued with a coloured and numbered bib, this must be worn by the player at ALL times throughout the trial, as it is the ONLY way a player can be identified by the assessors/selectors. Players should NOT wear any Club/School/SoR rugby kit during the day.
The day will consist of skills sessions together with full/small sided games, the trials generally last about 4/5 hours which includes a lunch break of about 45 mins, together with frequent water breaks throughout the session. So it is imperative that players bring both suitable refreshments and plenty of liquids to last the day.
The County provides a qualified Phyisio throughout the day, any player injured and who cannot carry on in the trial, MUST see the Phyisio and inform the age group staff PRIOR to leaving the event.
At the conclusion of the trial, all the players will be spoken to and given a rough guide as to when they will be notified of the outcome, before being released home.
Players will be notified of the outcome by Email ASAP after the event. The decision of the Chair of selectors is final. . Generally the County squad will consist of approximately 26/28 players in total.
Players that are for whatever reason, unavailable on the trial date may at our discretion, still be seen at a later date, during a school/Club game by County staff , to see if they should be invited to the next available training session, where a final decision as to their inclusion in the current squad will be made. However it must be remembered that it will be more difficult to break into the squad at this later stage.
Age group staff, will throughout the season try to visit as many club/school games as possible, not only to monitor county squad players, but also to identify any developing players.
In general, U14/15/17’s squads will play games after Christmas. U16/18’s will take part in Area 6 trials (Bucks, Berks, Dorset & Wilts and Oxon) in October and November, which lead onto to South West divisional/ England trials in December. These dates are however subject to change.
Any complaints with regards to County matters should be passed through the relevant age group Manager, for forward submission to either the CB/Youth Chair.
* No formal trials are held for U17’s
NEALE BAKER
Director of Rugby
Buckinghamshire RFU