The Programme will be delivered throughout February and March, the proposed dates and venues are as follow:

4th February 2008 – Tottonians RFC
18th February 2008 – Andover RFC
3rd March 2008 – Aldershot & Fleet RFC
17th March 2008 – Havant RFC
31st March 2008 – Vectis RFC
14th April 2008 – FINAL, HMS Temeraire
Keep checking back to further updates.

The project is a player and coach education initiative aimed at raising the profile and standards of playing and coaching in this specialised area. The project is aimed specifically at players in the Under 13/Under 14 age groups (boys) and Under 14 Girls. However coaches from all age groups are encouraged to attend.

We will be running 5 Prop Idol road shows across the county where players and coaches will benefit from the expert knowledge of our guest coaches, last season Toby Booth (Forwards Coach of London Irish) and Graham Smith (Forwards Coach for England Women) both gave expert coaching and it is hoped that we will be able to recreate similar quality coaching with guest coaches.

The road show will consist of a Front Row Clinic, Parents workshop and a heat of the Prop Idol competition. The Front Row clinic will be delivered by our guest coaches, following RFU guidelines and utilising the revamped Front Row in Union coaching resource. The parental workshop is designed to show how we coach, referee and play in the scrum in a safe and controlled manner. Please encourage as many parents to attend as possible. They will also be able to encourage and support their children in the most exciting part of the evening, the Prop Idol competition.

Please note that players do not have to be existing ‘Front Rowers’ just be keen to have a go. You never know, your current centre maybe the ‘Next Big Thing.’

The Prop Idol competition, which will lead to a County Final in the New Year, will test the technical ability and physical attributes of the players, don’t worry they wont have to sing!

Cheers,.,.

If you would like further details please feel free to contact myself.

Concepts of what we are trying to introduce were laid out to other clubs within Hampshire and Berkshire.

We were given a practical session on “Game Sense Scrummaging”, and will be looking to hold a local practical session at the club just before the start of the season.

Please contact either Steve or myself for further information.

Dazzler

The reason for this is if recent stat’s/surveys are correct, in approx 10 years time we as a sport will not have a scrum that we currently know and understand it and will more than likely have the ‘league’ style scrum.

As you are all aware, and no doubt follow best practices and coach all skills and positions to all players. One of the redical thoughts that I would like you to consider, and this will probally be easier to apply from this coming season u9’s (though may give food for thought for the older mini/midi age groups), front row core skills are coached to all players, and during games all players are actively encouraged (but not forced) to play in the front row at some time during all the training games/friendly fixtures.

During the summer there will be a few ’smart rugby’ and ‘contact’ sessions held, that will complement the development of all players to understand/play as a front row player.

Please can you feed back you initial thoughts on what I am suggesting, I am looking to hold a meeting in the next week or so with yourselfs as minis lead coaches, to discuss the finer points, can you advise if you cannot make a certain dates/day?

We have the unique oppotunity to be a driving force in the futhure player development within the front row area and I hope the you will all actively support my efforts/thoughts in this develpoment area.

Dazzler