Eastern Counties Rugby Union

Further to the introduction of the new Age Grade Competition Regulations this season, and Kids First Rugby, you will all be aware that county cups can no longer take place at the U13 age group.
We are unable to run any competitive program at U13s, other than a Waterfall or similar arrangement.
However, this has given us the opportunity of introducing an exciting alternative, with a series of 3 festivals, taking place across Eastern Counties on 3 Sundays, as previously signalled :-
13th November 15th January 5th March

1) Each Club fielding an U13 squad next season will be invited to one of 3 County (Suffolk / Norfolk / Cambs) Festivals on 13th November 16.
Where a club is able to field 2 or even 3 squads, each team is invited – “Rugby for All”
There will be no maximum squad size, but clubs with 25 or more players will be encouraged to field 2 sides
If a club is unable to raise a full 13 man squad, they will be encouraged to enter, provided they are able to field 10 players, with opposition equalising numbers (preferably by lending players)

At each Festival, each team will play 4 others in 15 minute one-way games.
Scores will be recorded in order to establish the basis of playing standards for “seeding” at a second Festival.

2) Each County will run a second Festival on 15th January 17, with the same sides participating
Teams will be “seeded” on the basis of results of first Festival, in order that larger, more talented sides play each other, with more modest sides also playing each other – in order to provide meaningful and appropriately competitive fixtures for all boys.
At each Festival, each team will play 4 others in 15 minute one-way games.
Scores will be recorded, with the aim of nominating 2 teams per County to a number of County Clubs Tiered Festivals

3) Eastern Counties will run a series of Tiered Festivals on 5th March 17.
Each of the 3 Counties will nominate leading 2 sides to the “A” Festival
Each of the 3 Counties will nominate next 2 sides to the “B” Festival
Each of the 3 Counties will nominate further 2 sides to the “C” Festival
Each of the 3 Counties will nominate further 2 sides to the “D” Festival
And so on, until ALL teams participate.
In order to provide meaningful and appropriately competitive fixtures for all boys.
At these tired Festivals, each side will play the 4 teams from the other counties in 15 minute one-way games.
There will be no need to record results in these festivals.

May I ask all clubs intending to enter to confirm their entry (and number of teams) to their County Youth Chairman, with a copy to me, by Monday 24th October

Cambs – to Chris Mepham chrisdmepham@btinternet.com
Suffolk – to Darren Wright darren.suffolkrugby@gmail.com
Norfolk – to Andy Jermy rugbyandy@btinternet.com

To qualify for the 2nd & 3rd Festivals, you should enter the first on November 13th
Cambs Festival on 13th November will be held at Cambridge, Suffolk at Ipswich, Norfolk at Norwich

We are conscious that November 13th is Remembrance Sunday – so all festivals will kick off at 1.00, in order to allow boys to attend services in the morning.

Look forward to hearing from you, and to an exciting round of festivals

Ross
Chairman – CCPD – Eastern Counties