The competition phase of the Rugby Football Union for Women’s (RFUW) divisional programme for 2011-12 came to a successful conclusion with a festival of matches, training and coaching for Under 15s and under 18s at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire over the weekend of March 31 and April 1.
Each of the four divisional under 15s sides played 40-minute matches against the other three divisions, while the U18s completed their season’s series with the North defeating London 22-14 and the South West as 49-5 winners over the Midlands.
There were also coaching clinics split into forwards and backs, attended by international players Danielle Waterman, La Toya Mason and Isabelle Noel Smith as well as a number of RFUW divisional coaches who gave the girls a different perspective to build their personal development.
All the girls may hope to follow the example of Maggie Alphonsi, the England Women’s international flanker who is the London & South East talent development officer.
Alphonsi, who recently helped England Women win the Six Nations Grand Slam, was on hand at Hartpury to run her experienced eye over all four divisions’ budding stars.
“Overall the divisional programme has been a great success and I am pleased by the number of good players we have had come through the pathway,” said Alphonsi.
“With this being the last set of fixtures for both U18 and U15 age groups all divisions were looking to end on a high and demonstrate their skills.”
Each of the four divisions selected a player of the festival.
Izzy Collis (Sussex and South Sussex Barbarians) and Scarlett Millen (Kent and Folkestone) were the London & South East winners in the U15s and 18s respectively, for their overall contribution across the weekend.
The next step for all the players in the RFUW divisional programme this season is the chance to be selected for national talent development groups.
Around 30 players each will go to an Under 15s camp at Wellington College, and three camps for the U18s, while others may be involved in summer training camps.
Development of players is the principal aim in the RFUW divisional programme, which runs at three age levels – seniors, U18s and U15s – and forms an integral part of the RFUW Player Pathway helping talented girls move from club rugby to representing their county, their division and their country.
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Left to right; Courtney Arberry; Lotte Clapp;
Olivia Stenbridge; Maggie Alphonsi;
Scarlett Cooper-Wall; Shira Kilgallon; Oren Blindell |
London & South East Under 18s:Bozenna Jackson, Southwold and Eastern Counties
Madeleine Lockwood, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Yasmin Pemberton, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Catherine Pugh, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Vicky Childs, Ellingham & Ringwood and Hampshire
Zoe Barber, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Fran Hall, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Zoe Joslin, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Courtney Arberry, Welwyn and HertfordshireOren Bindell, Welwyn and HertfordshireLotte Clapp, Welwyn and HertfordshireScarlett Cooper-Wall, Welwyn and HertfordshireSydney Gregson, Welwyn and HertfordshireShira Kilgallon, Welwyn and HertfordshireOlivia Stembridge, Welwyn and HertfordshireScarlett Millen, Folkestone and Kent
Samantha Parker, Folkestone and Kent
Hannah Phillip, Beckenham and Kent
Flo Williams, Aylesford and Kent
Serena Carter, London Irish and Surrey
Lydia Davey, London Irish and Surrey
Gemma Joblanska, London Irish and Surrey
Siobhan Longdon-Hughes, London Irish and Surrey
Amber Luke, London Irish and Surrey
Rebecca Pritchard, London Irish and Surrey
Rochelle Smith, London Irish and Surrey
Emma Swords, London Irish and Surrey
Gabie Archer, Worthing and Sussex.
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Left to right; Ellena Perry; Harriet Austin; Zoe Harrison;
Maggie Alphonsi; Hayley Everett; Rosie Kay; Katy Walker |
London & South East Under 15sChloe Rix, Lakenham Hewett and Eastern Counties
Lucy West, Colchester and Eastern Counties
Georgia Bradley, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Emily Ferguson, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Faye Smale, Rochford Hundred and Essex
Megan Okey, Thurrock and Essex
Hannah West, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Alex Clay, Solent Sirens and Hampshire
Harriet Austin, Hertford and HertfordshireHayley Everett, Old Albanians and HertfordshireEllena Perry, Welwyn and HertfordshireZoe Harrison, Welwyn and HertfordshireRosie Kay, Hertford and HertfordshireKaty Walker, Hertford and HertfordshireElla Levey, Aylesford and Kent
Georgina Neary, Aylesford and Kent
Laura Tolley, Aylesford and Kent
Tazmin Bricknell, Medway and Kent
Aegean Leech, Aylesford and Kent
Daisy Lengthorn, Aylesford and Kent
Elizabeth Nicholl, Aylesford and Kent
Boo Wadhams, Medway and Kent
Sarah Bern, London Irish and Surrey
Jessica Boyd, London Irish and Surrey
Hannah Trenholm, London Irish and Surrey
Eleanor Boatman, London Irish and Surrey
Charley Brunton, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex
Jessica Breach, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex
Hermione Caddick, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex
Izzy Collis, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex.
