SEASON 2005

After a couple of tough years of consolidation I¹m delighted to report a sharp upsurge in activity at all levels - crowned last week with a sponsorship of our youth work for £30,000 from Network Rail - (20k +10k from SportsMatch). In addition, our performance ladder is almost complete with the U15s being given the green light by the Rugby Football League to compete at international level and the formation of a Scottish U18 side to compete against the English regions. Former Bradford Bull and Scotland captain Nathan Graham retired from the international game at the end of last season but has shown his ongoing commitment to Scotland by taking up the post of A team coach. The pathway from schools all the way to the full national side is nearly complete.
All this needs to be underpinned by a vibrant domestic competition so it¹s time to prepare for the coming summer season - contact your old club and get the boots out for the Scottish Conference! Or start a new one!





REFEREE¹S COURSE - Sat/Sun 30/1 April/May, Lourdes School, Glasgow

We¹ve got funding to underwrite a programme to identify new referees and reward those who give so much of their time and effort to officiating. Each club should ensure that they have a couple of personnel on the course so that no game is cancelled for lack of a referee or assistants - it¹s also great for players and administrators wishing to get a better knowledge of the game. Courses for Scottish-based entrants will be paid by SRL. Get an application form now by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 078-550-33-838.




EDINBURGH 13s TOURNAMENT - Saturday 7th May - Portobello Rugby Club, Edinburgh
Registration and warm up from 1pm - first game at 2, final at 4. A great way to get into the game - individual new recruits will be allocated a team. Union clubs wishing to enter will receive basic training beforehand - make an effort to get more union clubs and players involved.





SCOTLAND ŒA¹ TRIAL AND TRYOUT - Sunday 15th May - Glasgow Southern RFC.

1pm registration and warm-up. 2-4 - training, coaching and evaluation game. Don¹t be shy - give it a try!
Nathan Graham will be in charge of the A side and the Trial Day. All players are welcome - it¹s not just for elite athletes - it¹s also an integral part of the build-up to the season. The A side will play at home to ireland and away to England and Wales this year in the Four Nations. Last year three A players made it through to the full national side - Andy Brown (Fife Lions), Ross Marshall (Clyde Buccaneers) and Andy McPhail (Glasgow Bulls).






PAISLEY 9s - Saturday 21st May - the abbreviated game is a fantastic way to sharpen up before the Conference starts the following weekend. 2pm start. Venue TBC - keep an eye on the website.





MODIFIED GAMES COURSE - Lourdes School, Glasgow - Sunday 3rd and Sunday 10th July.

If you missed the Club Coach Course get on this one - it¹s a great introduction to the game and qualifies you to coach kids. Next year the coaching set-up will change and require 60 hours of lectures and practical - this qualification is valid for three years. For an application form contact - Mark Senter on 0776-46-27-252 or [email protected]





EUROPEAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP - THE FULL SCOTLAND TEAM

As an aid to expansion of the game I expect that the three places in the full squad reserved for domestic places will be expanded as last year¹s successful experiment. Whitehaven¹s Stave McCormack is again Head Coach. Our group fixtures in Oct/Nov are still to be announced but are expected to be away to Wales and home to Ireland.






SCOTTISH CONFERENCE CLUBS 2005


FIFE LIONS - Train Wednesday nights - 7pm @ Fife Southern RFC. Contact - Jimmy Glover - 0790-360-1171, [email protected]

MORAY EELS - Train Tuesdays and Thursdays @ Lossiemouth - 7pm. Contact - Mark Bean - 0771-752-3928, [email protected]

PORTOBELLO PLAYBOYS - Train Tuesdays commencing 1st May - Cavalry Park . Contact Rab Walls - 0131-665-3219

EDINBURGH EAGLES - Train Wednesdays starting 27 April. Contacts - Aran Simm - 07868-680-838; John MacDonald 07843-746-011; Mike Wallace - 07840-462-633

CLYDE BUCCANEERS - Train Wednesdays starting 27 April @ Paisley. Contact - Colin May 07767-27-0307; Ron Kane 077-333-11120.

GLASGOW BULLS - Train Wednesdays starting 27th April @ GHA Rugby Club (aka Glasgow Southern). Contact - Barry Edgar 07879-656-891; David Jamieson 0795-874-4953. E-mail - [email protected]

EASTERHOUSE PANTHERS - Train Wednesdays @ The Cranhill Beacon. Contact - Mark Senter 0776-46-27-252. [email protected]


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This article was posted on 26-Apr-2005, 11:06 by Hugh Barrow.