ECCLES JUNIORS Welcome to all our sponsors, spectators and visitors from Eccles RFC Mini’s and Junior Section and my regular view from the rugby soap box! Last Sunday saw over 300 minis and juniors of all age groups, U6s - U16s, finally get a game, and all hosted by Eccles! A wonderful achievement after a few bad weeks of weather saw numerous cancelled fixtures! Well done Leeann and Marie and everybody else! A recently published article in the Guardian on junior rugby and its league system set-up prompted mixed opinions. My own due to participation with the coaching fraternity of our U14s and the Mini and junior section as a whole. The level of competitiveness is amplified on those league or cup fixtures where the influence of a different ‘type’ of game can be felt and despite the RFU directive of ‘non-competitive games’ it’s all-to-play-for performances from most teams! So the suggestion of clubs breaking away from any league structure, although completely understandable, can have the adverse effect down at grass roots. I don’t imagine the Kiwis or South Africans defer their competitive junior rugby until their players are of an age where they understand what is needed when required to lift their performance levels. Are we really ‘institutionalising the idea of ambition?’ I understand the need for junior clubs to regulate their traveling arrangements so they may retain players at a senior level, thereby fulfilling fixtures. Andy Northey’s views on junior rugby may ring true to a lot of you, but at what point do we introduce our young players to competition rugby? If, as he says, there are lads who would rather be in Benidorm within 2.5 hours than play rugby against a club a similar journey time away, is that not what the closed season is for? I’ll conclude with a proud announcement of a new team sponsor for our U14s and hope they enjoy being a part of Eccles RFC. Supporters of youth will always receive a warm welcome at a club that thrives on the development ‘Home Grown’ Talent. Paul Fleming, Mini and Juniors Chairman, Eccles RFC
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