Prop Idol 2008

This seasons ‘Prop Idol’ heats have been proposed, and it was agreed that there would be FIVE heats based at the rugby clubs named below, with a County Final held at HMS Temeraire.

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

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.’