Dec 2009
Redingensians has had a longstanding relationship with Wokingham Council, and more recently with The Bulmershe School-Sport Partnership, to provide rugby coaching and playing opportunities.
A new competition this season was the Y7 competition, contested by six secondary schools – Emmbrook, Forest, Maiden Erlegh, Piggott, St. Crispin's and Waingels. The tournament took place over four evenings, under floodlights at Redingensians.
After three evenings of groups matches followed by a finals night, Waingels won the A competition, with Piggott the losing finalists and Maiden Erlegh winning the third/fourth playoff.
The B competition was played as a league over the three evenings, with all teams playing each other twice. Piggott triumphed in this competition, with St. Crispin's the runners up and Forest in third.
The rugby was of a very high standard, and those players not attached to a club have been invited to try rugby at Redingensians. Hopefully, many will discover that rugby is a very enjoyable game, and thus begin a lifetime in the sport.
On the evening of Friday 27th November Redingensians Youth Section were awarded the Wokingham Services to Sport in the Community (Club) Award. The awards took place at the Loddon Valley Sports Centre, with the Guest of Honour being Jo Ellis, England & Reading Hockey player. 18 categories were voted upon, with over 100 nominations being received.
Redingensians were crowned winners on the back of the community work undertaken by the Youth Section, examples mentioned in the citation included our sucessful Outreach session, providing assistance to London Irish in coaching under privileged children in Reading & developing close links to local schools.
Accepting the award on behalf of the club were Alex Williams & Max Clark from the current U12 squad, along with Jacqui Williams, U12s Manager & Paul Clark, Mini Manager.
Redingensians were crowned winners on the back of the community work undertaken by the Youth Section, examples mentioned in the citation included our sucessful Outreach session, providing assistance to London Irish in coaching under privileged children in Reading & developing close links to local schools.
Accepting the award on behalf of the club were Alex Williams & Max Clark from the current U12 squad, along with Jacqui Williams, U12s Manager & Paul Clark, Mini Manager.
June 2009
Redingensians Academy wins the inaugural England Touch Rugby U18 championship.
The Redingensians Academy was formed to develop the skills of the most gifted youth players at the club, and a key tool in this development process has been Touch Rugby. A team has competed in the Reading In2Touch leagues and this weekend played in the first England U18 championship.
The team was hugely successful, winning the competition without conceding a try, picked up the friendly drop-off competition, and won the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.
In addition, the matches were watched by England selectors, and many of the boys are under consideration for the England team.
Squad: James Ephraim, Andrew Gorman, Dom Gosling, Alex Hogg, Robert Jones, Alex Leicester, Jonno Piller, Harry Stapleton and Tom Vooght
The team was hugely successful, winning the competition without conceding a try, picked up the friendly drop-off competition, and won the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.
In addition, the matches were watched by England selectors, and many of the boys are under consideration for the England team.
Squad: James Ephraim, Andrew Gorman, Dom Gosling, Alex Hogg, Robert Jones, Alex Leicester, Jonno Piller, Harry Stapleton and Tom Vooght
The Redingensians Academy is open to players from all clubs and schools in the area. For more information contact Alan Jones enquiries@wokinghamsport.co.uk.
Redingensians "Open Doors"
Redingensians has a longstanding partnership with the Bulmershe School, and offers frequent opportunities to local children to try playing rugby. The latest initiative is the Open Doors project, which is part of the National School Sports Week.
On 28th June children will be able to come to Redingensians and try rugby. All local school children should have received a copy of the Open Doors brochure from their school. This lists all the opportunities to try a wide range of sports. Redingensians is the only local Rugby Club taking part in this scheme, and is offering 90 minutes of Rugby between 10.00 and 11.30.
On 28th June children will be able to come to Redingensians and try rugby. All local school children should have received a copy of the Open Doors brochure from their school. This lists all the opportunities to try a wide range of sports. Redingensians is the only local Rugby Club taking part in this scheme, and is offering 90 minutes of Rugby between 10.00 and 11.30.
March 2009
Get in to Touch this Spring
The sport of Touch Rugby returns to Berkshire playing fields this spring, with Leagues in Maidenhead (Maidenhead RFC) and Reading (Redingensians Sports Grounds) set to start on April 28th and 29th, for an 16-week season.
The Leagues are now in their 6th year in the area and Berkshire has one of the highest numbers of Touch players in the country, with over 800 registered players. The game has something for everyone, form people looking to try something new and get fit to players who have gone on to represent England at Touch World Cups. The game is becoming popular due to it's minimal contact rules and mixed gender teams, allowing men and women to play on the same teams. The game is very accessible, played on mid-week evenings after work, and no previous rugby knowledge is needed.
This 6-a-side game is loosely based on rugby league, with teams having 6 touches to score a touchdown. However, with no tackles, scrums or lineouts, the game is fast moving, and attracts players from a variety of sports. Teams in the League are made up of local companies, groups of friends and sports teams.
If you would like to find out more about the Leagues, and have a go at Touch, please email: paul@in2touch.com or call 07919 075627
October 2008
Links between rugby clubs and their local community are extremely important for increasing participation. The Outreach Session organised by Redingensians RFC and The Bulmershe School is a perfect example of a club-school link in operation.
On Sunday 12th October Redingensians relocated its entire Mini Rugby Section to the playing fields of The Bulmershe School, and invited local children to come and "Try Rugby". By moving to the centre of Woodley, closer to the children, it was made easier for them to turn up and play.
It is thought that this was the first time that any club-school partnership had attempted such a project, and they were rewarded by 32 new players across all of the age groups. "It was wonderful to see so many new players attending on the day across all the age groups from U6 to U12's. Taking the club to the community rather than asking the community to come to us was a great success. I hope to be able to welcome the new players to Redingensians RFC in the coming weeks" – Paul Clark, Mini's Manager.
Alan Jones, the RFU's Community Rugby Coach for Berkshire, helped the club promote the event in the local schools, and came along on the day to help with the organisation. Also in attendance were Rob Wilson, the MP for Reading East, who helped coach some of the age groups, and Philippos Kyriacou, London Irish's Community Manager came along with Digger, the team's mascot.
It was great to see such an innovative venture rewarded. It is hoped that other rugby clubs can use this successful model to recruit players from their local community and foster stronger club school links.
June 2008
The New Berkshire RFU website has been launched CLICK HERE for information on Club Rugby, Schools Rugby, Coaching Courses and much more.
Redingensians Academy Excels at Touch
Redingensians Rugby Club runs an Academy for its most promising Junior players, who receive skills-based coaching from the club's first-team coach. From this a team of 16-18 year-olds has been selected to take part in the Men's League in Reading, the only youth team in an adult competition.
With an average age of less than 16 and many players having their first experience of Touch Rugby, it was going to be a steep learning curve. Steep it may have been, but they climbed it with aplomb, winning all their league games to qualify for the final. In the process they beat one team from Redingensians and two from Reading, as well as teams from locally-based businesses.
The final against a specialist Touch team proved to be just too much, but they did have the satisfaction of scoring seven touchdowns; to put this into perspective their opponents had conceded only nine in six games to reach the final.
"The premium placed on handling skills, and the creation and use of space means that playing Touch will accelerate the players' development." says Alan Jones, the Academy Manager, "We expect to see many of these players in the Redingensians first team in the next few seasons."
Redingensians Academy is open to all players, not just members of Redingensians. For more information on the Academy, or to apply for a place, please contact Alan Jones (enquiries@wokinghamsport.co.uk).
For more information on Touch Rugby please contact Paul Farrington (paul@in2touch.com).
Redingensians Academy in Youth World Cup
The Redingensians Academy recently competed in the Youth World Cup in France, finishing as the top club side. They recorded victories against Poland, Young Munster and Cardiff Harlequins, and were only beaten by Regional teams. The Redingensians Academy provides high-quality, skills-based coaching for talented players in the Reading area, not just for Redingensians.
Please Click Here for further details on the Academy.
To nominate a player, please e-mail juniors@redingensians.info, including a brief citation.
2-TEN FM Kids donate equipment to Aldermaston Rugby Club
Aldermaston Rugby Club have been awarded £428 by 2-TEN FM Kids for specialist equipment for their youth team.
Emma Saunders, Charity Manager for 2-TEN FM Kids said:
"Aldermaston Rugby Club are just one of the lucky recipients and we are thrilled to be able to help them in this way - we know this equipment is going to make a huge difference to the coaching of their youth team".
New Training Lights for Windsor RFC
Thursday 14th December 2006, 4.30pm - our Windsor Rugby Club's new training lights were switched on for the first time today.
For more information please click Here
Congratulations to Ben Ryan
Ben Ryan has been appointed as England Sevens Head Coach for the rest of the 2006/07 IRB World Sevens Series.
The 35-year-old Newbury Blues Director of Rugby will join the Rugby Football Union from January 1 2007 on a part-time coaching consultancy basis for the remaining six tournaments.
Ryan, who will continue to coach the National Division One club as well as England Counties for their matches against Ireland Amateurs (February 23) and France Amateurs (March 10), replaces Mike Friday who has resigned to take up a business role in the City.
Ryan said: "I can't wait for this opportunity and it's a great challenge. I have known Mike for a long time and he has done amazing things for England. If you speak to any sevens player they will tell you he is one of the best coaches they have ever had. Those are big shoes to fill but he has left me with a well-oiled machine.
Rapid Access Sports Clinic
Venue: Dunedin Hospital, Reading
Day: Mondays
Cost: £40 for a half hour session
Tel: 01189 639890
For more information please click Here
RFU Tackles Abuse of Players and Match Officials
The Rugby Football Union has announced that it is taking further steps to tackle the abuse of players and match officials.
The RFU Management Board has introduced and approved an instruction for referees to enforce strictly the rules concerning verbal abuse of players and match officials and the use of obscene and offensive language at all levels of the game from Level 12 through to the Guinness Premiership.
Verbal abuse of opponents carries a recommended disciplinary sanction ranging from a low end of two weeks' suspension to a maximum of 24 weeks.
Verbal abuse of match officials carries a recommended disciplinary sanction ranging from a low end of six weeks' suspension to a maximum of 24 months.
Referees must also always report any unacceptable abuse or offensive language by coaches, spectators or others from the touchline.
Chief Executive of the RFU, Francis Baron OBE, said "The Management Board has taken this decision and introduced these steps for all levels of the game from Level 12 through to the Guinness Premiership because itis important that the ethos and culture of the game is maintained.
IRB Clamps Down on Player Indiscipline
The International Rugby Board today announced that starting from this Saturday's Test match between Wales and Australia in Cardiff match officials will enforce a zero tolerance policy when it comes to players disputing decisions on the field and indiscriminate use of the boot.
"The growing trend of players to continually question and dispute decisions, taken by referees and touch judges was discussed at a meeting between the IRB, its elite referee panel and Tier 1 Union referee managers in London on Tuesday, October 31," said IRB Referees Manager Paddy O'Brien.
"At the meeting the decision was taken to implement a zero tolerance policy to curtail this growing trend. Referees will penalise teams through means such as free kicks, penalties and even yellow cards. This includes players attempting to influence decision making and appeals to touch judges."
"The message has to be clear. Back-chat and arguing with a match official will not be tolerated, nor will any attempt to slow down the match through questioning the referee."
"For example when a referee awards a free kick or penalty against a team it must immediately retreat 10 metres."
"As is customary captains may request the referee to explain certain decisions but not every one. Common sense should prevail and the referee will make explanation, if deemed fit, at the first opportunity when play has stopped, such as a kick to touch or during an injury stoppage."
"Referees have also been instructed to take a harsh view of the use of foul language and the sledging of players from the opposition. Again the referee will penalise teams if such standards of behaviour are evident."
"In addition to the back-chat issue, the area of indiscriminate trampling was discussed at the meeting and referees have been informed to take strong action against the inappropriate use of feet on bodies."
"The Game has a proud history of fair play and respect and the IRB is determined that such characteristics are maintained. This policy is being communicated to all IRB member unions," added O'Brien.
for more information please contact:
Greg Thomas
IRB Head of Communications
Email: greg.thomas@irb.com
Redingensians RFC Launch Academy
Redingensians RFC has launched an Academy to build on its strong position in Youth Rugby, for more information please Click Here
Reading Girls Rugby Club
Reading Girls Rugby Club have a league to compete in for the very first time, Click Here for more in formation.
If you have any Rugby news that you would like to share please contact:
Kate Robinson/Jane Forbes
Tel: 0118 3766135
Email: berkshiresport@reading.gov.uk
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