Welcome to the new season of County Rugby.
Colts and Under 18 is a very demanding time for our players and one where decisions have to made and player welfare placed in the front of our minds.
The County will select 25 players (plus non traveling subs) for the South West selection matches in Bristol on October 22 and October 29.
I know that the following facts of life are tough - but experience says this is the way it really does work.
We will select the best available and committed players in each position - our best players will start each match.
We cannot select you if:
•If you are away or unavailable for either date (Oct 22 & 29)
•If you are involved any Professional / Premiership academy
•If you are not able to join us for training across the next five weeks
Impact on School Rugby:
What this means for committed players is that if you want to play school Rugby on Saturday - you need to take very good care of yourself and be fit to train on Sunday
For some players selecting school Rugby (which is fine) may mean that you are not fit for County on Sunday and should not get involved
Impact on Club Rugby:
If you want to play Club Rugby on Sunday – for the next five weeks you will be unavailable to your club – we all know that the Club Coaches will not like that message but you cannot do both across the next five weeks - tough call – but yours to make.
Here is the grown up deal - we have a squad of say 20 U18s and 20 U17s – we need 25 fit players and back-ups for Bristol – we will use the East Midlands and Gloucester events to select those players.
That is five Sundays in total, three squad training and two opportunities to play County Rugby – every player who travels with us to Gloucester and East Midlands will get half a match or more (if you can last that long)
If you are good enough – and want to have go – I would strongly recommend prioritising County over Club for five weeks and that will provide greater opportunities at the Club for others while you are away
Next Steps:
1.If want to or need to call me – ask questions - send an email or use my mobile number
2.If you are committed – please confirm availability and attendance next week
3.See you at Aylesbury next week 13.00 September 11
As always I hope to get better in communications - we will be using TEAMER to reach you and the players this season
Many thanks
Mark Yeomans
07802 917977
mark.yeomans01@gmail.com