LEICESTERSHIRE SCHOOLS RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION (LSRFU)

Introduction to Leicestershire Schools Rugby

LSRFU runs competitions at Under 13 (school year 8) through to Under 16 (school year 11) and Under 18 (post-16) levels. For the past two seasons, the U13 and U14 competitions have been organised as a series of mini-tournaments, followed by knock-out stages at three different levels, and this format will continue into 2008/9. One of the reasons for adopting this format was to reduce mismatches, and this is also the motivation behind the experimental law of restarting after a score with a tapped free kick by the non-scorers, which, following consultation, we expect to continue in 2008/9.

Schools Competitions Report as at 8th November 2008

We have now completed the mini-tournaments for U13 and U14. The purpose of the MTs is to place teams into the appropriate knockout stage at three different levels, Cup, Plate and Bowl. We have a meeting in the near future to place teams, make the draw and look at finals arrangements for next term. At each age-group there are 8 teams at each of the three levels plus 3 or 4 reserves. Some idea of current rugby strengths can be gained by listing the schools which are likely to be in the Cup at both age groups : Hastings ( Hinckley ), Thomas Estley (Broughton Astley ), Lancaster ( Leicester ), Ratcliffe College, De Lisle ( Loughborough ). Oakham School have not taken part this year, and the other "usual suspects", Loughborough Grammar and Leicester Grammar, each won one out of their two tournaments.

We are perservering at U13 and U14 with replacing the drop-kick after a score with a tapped free kick, with schools being strongly advised to coach rucking and ball retention to counter the blanket defence. There is some improvement in this respect, but in too many cases, they still give the ball to the biggest lad who then goes in upright and loses the ball. I am still firmly convinced that the drop-kick restart is not appropriate at this level, but I now think we should look at the possibility of stipulating that so many defenders must be behind their 22 at the restart.

The U15, U16 and U18 competitions are now being organised in a similar way, with 3 teams in each group, to determine progress to either the Cup or Plate knockout. The Competition Managers, led by Paul Taylor who is a rugby man, have taken on the organisation of this phase. Several successful tournaments have been held, but a couple have been less successful because of schools failing to notify difficulties in time for adjustments to be made. At these age groups, some teams are seeded straight to the Cup knockout : one or two at U15 and U16 ; at U18, 4 teams are seeded, and this group comprises last season's U16 Cup finalists and U18 Cup semi-finalists.

2008/2009 Season Competitions

This season's mini-tournaments, involving 34 schools at Under 14 level and 30 schools at Under 13 level,  will be held mainly on Tuesdays in September and October ( before half-term), with one "double" tournament on a Thursday just after half-term, at schools and clubs around Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Each team's set of mini-tournament results determines the level at which they enter the knock-out stage( Cup, Plate or Bowl, with a small number of "reserve" teams ).

A version of the above format will also, with the help of the Competition Managers, be used in the U15,16 and 18 competitions this season, with teams progressing to knock-out stages at two different levels, Cup and Plate.

2007/2008 SEASON - COMPETITIONS

Competition winners were as follows:

Under 13 Cup - De Lisle RC Sports College, Loughborough 

Under 13 Plate - Market Bosworth High School

Under 13 Bowl - South Wigston High School

Under 14 Cup - Loughborough Grammar School

Under 14 Plate - St Martins RC High School, Stoke Golding

Under 14 Bowl - Ivanhoe Community College, Ashby de la Zouch

Under 15 Cup - John Cleveland College, Hinckley.

Under 15 Plate - St Paul's RC High School, Leicester

Under 16 Cup - Loughborough Grammar School

Under 16 Plate - Rawlins Community College, Quorn

Under 18 Cup - John Cleveland College, Hinckley

Under 18 Plate - Bosworth College, Desford

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