News Archive

The U17s Trials were held at the University of Nottingham on Sunday afternoon and some 51 players were put through their paces by the NLD Coaching Team assisted by Dave Andrews, Head of Game Development.

After the session’s conclusion, the Coaching & Management Team met with the difficult task of selecting those players who will go through to the next stage.

Following this announcement, dates will be posted giving the dates for the forthcoming training and selection sessions together with the dates for two warm up games for the Squad. Following those games, further reduction in squad numbers will probably take place in preparation for the coming campaign, which will commence in October this year.

Those players selected to progress are as follows:

GEORGE BACON 

ROBERT CARMICHAEL

JAMES CLARKE-KELLAWAY 

SAM CLEGG 

HARRY CLOUGH 

JOSH CORMACK 

CHARLIE DAVIES 

THOMAS DAVIES

GEORGE DOUGHTY 

DANIEL FLINT 

IWAN HUTCHINGS

GEORGE HOTCHEN 

WILLIAM KIBBLE 

EUAN OWEN 

BEN POYSER 

BENJAMIN ROSS 

ZAK SKAYMAN 

DANIEL STOKES 

CHARLIE TALLIS

CHARLIE TASKER 

TOBY TEASDALE 

CHRISTIAN ULEBEGOR 

JONNIE WALSGROVE 

RYAN WEBB 

DAN WHERRITT 

TOM WIGGLESWORTH 

ADAM WILKINSON

This group of players will be supplemented by selected players identified from the current NLD U16s Squad together with those existing players who represented NLD as U17s in the Midlands campaign this season as part of the U18s Squad.

Training and match dates will be posted here as soon as they are available.

Lee Slack

Following the receipt of tenders for the NLD Senior and Challenge Shield Finals days the competitions committee have accepted the following bids.

The NLD Senior Finals Day will be held at Derby RFC on Sat 25^th April.

The NLD Challenge Shield Finals Day will be held at Chesterfield Panthers RUFC on Sat 14^th March.

Schedules will be advised as soon as they are known.

Thanks to all the clubs who tendered for these events.

Played on Sunday 19th January at Walsall RFC

Our first proper fixture of the season proved to be a real test of the squads defences skills and Staff back line were well drilled and put on show some sharp handling skills. With a lovely flowing move Staffs moved the ball quickly down their backs creating and overlap to score on the corner, but conversion missed.  NLD responded well and the pressure resulted in Staffs giving away a penalty which led to an NLD line out on the Staffs 22, This was turned into a well driven maul, which resulted in the Staffs No 6 collapsing illegally just short of the try line, the Ref gave a penalty try and yellow card, though our hooker claimed he scored anyway.  With their heads up the forwards started making gains from around the ruck area and linked well with the backs resulting in well worked try, but conversion missed.  With half-time beckoning NLD conceded a penalty in their own 22 and Staffs forwards sucked in our pack and scored round the fringes of the ruck, conversion made.

Half time 12-12

The second half became very cat and mouse and had one of the longest scrums ever seen at this level with 6/7 resets and over 3 minutes taken before the ball was finally back in play.  Staffs continued to play some great rugby in with their back line and after a run of four penalties in our 22 the Ref went to his pocket, Playing the next 7 minutes one down NLD defence was outstanding holding of attack after attack from Staffs. As our player returned from the next play NLD turned the ball over and our No 7 broke through the Staffs line, linking well with our No 2.  From the resulting penalty for killing the ball in the tackle, NLD kicked for the corner and tried once more to set up a driving maul, but an accidental offside resulted in a Staffs scrum.  NLD took the resulting scrum against the head and breaking from No 8 almost scored, from the resulting ruck our No 4 powered over, but conversion missed.  With time running out yet another scrum resulted in a penalty to NLD and clear thinking by our 10 saw him tap it to himself and then kick to touch bringing the final whistle.

Full-time 12-17

Next fixture is away against Eastern Counties on the 2nd February

The following players have been nominated to attend the NLD U17s Trials at the University of Nottingham:

JOSHUA ASHE

GEORGE BACON

ELIOT BRATTON

LLOYD BUCK

JACK BURKILL

ROBERT CARMICHAEL

RUARI CATANI-BROWN

SAM CLEGG

HARRY CLOUGH

JOSEPH CONNOLLY

JOSH CORMACK

CHARLIE DAVIES

THOMAS DAVIES

DANIEL FLINT

SAM HALLAM

TOM HELLIWELL

IWAN HUTCHINGS

GEORGE HOTCHEN

MUNASHE KARENGA

WILLIAM KIBBLE

EWAN LEA

WILLIAM MARSDEN

BEN POYSER

BENJAMIN ROSS

ZACK SKAYMAN

CHARLIE SMYTH

DAVID SPENCER

ELLIOTT SQUIRE

DANIEL STOKES

OLIVER SUMMERLAND

CHARLIE TALLIS

TOBY TEASDALE

DYLAN TERRY

ZAK TOPLEY

CHRISTIAN ULEBEGOR

JOSHUA WADE

JONNIE WALSGROVE

KAIN WATTS

RYAN WEBB

DAN WHERRITT

TOM WIGGLESWORTH

ADAM WILKINSON

RHYS WILLIAMS

The Trials will take place on SUNDAY 26 JANUARY from 14:00 – 16:00 at:

University of Nottingham

David Ross Sports Village

University Park

Nottingham

NG7 2RD

Car Parking is available on Beeston Lane Wings with no restriction as parking is free at weekends.

It may be useful to use Google Maps and enter David Ross Sports Village as your destination as the postcode refers to pretty much all of the Campus. The WEST ENTRANCE is closer to the Sports Centre.

PLAYERS ARE REMINDED TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE SUITABLE FOOTWEAR FOR 3G/AGP SURFACES.

THE SESSION WILL BE HELD BETWEEN 14:00 – 16:00 HOWEVER PLAYERS SHOULD ARRIVE IN THEIR KIT IN GOOD TIME TO BE REGISTERED SO WE HAVE THE MAXIMUM TIME AVAILABLE TO ASSESS THEM IN PLAYING CONDITIONS.

WARM OUTER CLOTHING AND WATER IS ADVISABLE FOR ANY PERIODS WHERE PLAYERS MIGHT NOT BE INVOLVED ON THE PITCH.

The NLD Coaching & Management Team will register players as they arrive and photograph each individual to help with recognition and selection. All members of the Team carry enhanced CRB accreditation, however, if any parent or player is unhappy about the photography aspect, please advise Squad Manager (Lee Slack) on 07739 295 182.

This form is for all Women and Girls wishing to apply for NLD squads 2020.

Players wishing to apply for the U15/18 squads need to complete and submit this online form by 20.1.20

Trials for Girls U18’s will take place on 26.1.20 @ Newark RFC from 13.30

Trials for Girls U15’s will take place on 2.2.20 @ Newark RFC from 13.30

Players wishing to apply for the Women’s squad need to complete and submit this online form by 12.2.20

Trials for Women’s squad will take place over 2 dates @ Newark RFC:-

Sunday 22.2.20 from 13.30 and Tuesday 25.2.20 from 19.00. Women applicants are requested to indicate their preferred trial date. (players need to attend 1  trial ONLY).

There is a published skills criteria for both W&G’s. Successful players will be working within the expected categories. Please take a look at NLD Skills Criteria 2020 prior to applying. NLD reserve the right to not accept applications/withdraw players from the process if they are working mostly within the Development categories. Any decision to remove a player will be based on competencies and safety. Full feedback for non selection can be obtained from the coaches upon request.

This form needs to be completed in full, (only women need to indicate their preferred trial date. For U15/18 applications please mark n/a).

Contact details for U15/18’s players MUST be those of a relevant adult, (parent or guardian), and NOT the player.

Women’s applicants please use your preferred contact details.

Please take the time to ensure the information given on this form is accurate and up to date. We use the information given as the primary source of contact for all age groups.

Players wishing to apply for Women’s squad positions, (who will be 17 years old at the time of application), must be registered as an adult player on the RFU GMS system at club. Players wishing to apply for U18 and Women’s squads MUST complete separate application forms.

All applicants MUST be registered on RFU GMS.

Full NLD Playing Calendar is available on the NLD website. Please refer to the training and Match dates. Players are expected to be able to attend a minimum 0f 66% of training AND Match dates.

NLD reserve the right to refuse any application.

Please follow the link below for Player Application Form 2020

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0CQ9PM2SQh1VqKuOL6Qf2dePwBOgxrd6KBTj6H3BRTYLwsw/viewform

Monday evening saw the final training session take place for the NLD U18 Squad prior to the last Super Sunday this coming weekend. The players have all worked hard to impress the Coaches and selection for the match day squad was always going to be difficult, which is testament to the level of performance many of the players have demonstrated.

Inevitably, there will be disappointment among those not selected and the NLD Coaching & Management Team were keen to impress on the players how difficult it has been to meet player expectation while accommodating the new structures in terms of game time for all players travelling. In addition, Midlands Selectors had, in a few cases, expressed a wish to see certain players included, with a view to establishing their possible progression into the Midlands Development Day Squad.

As the Manager commented at the end of Monday’s session, every player who participated in the final NLD Squad should feel honoured and proud. Equally as importantly, the Team hoped that everyone involved had enjoyed the experience and would return to their clubs as more complete players, able to contribute over the coming season.

For those players who are unfortunate not to make further progress, there are other challenges, including the NLD U20s Squad, which begins its campaign over the coming weeks.

Restriction in playing time and training has meant that a number of the ‘year young’ (U17s) players may not have enjoyed as much game time as in previous campaigns. Nevertheless, the current cohort of 8 players will provide the experienced nucleus of the Squad for next season’s campaign. Having experienced the programme a year early, these players should be well prepared to make a strong challenge for Midlands selection this time next year.

The final game of this season’s Midlands campaign will take place on SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 against Warwickshire and the following players have been selected in the match day squad:

Josh ALTON-SMITH

Tom BRIDDON

Josh CLARKE

Oscar CLINK

Liam COOLING

Ben CROWE

Sam HAWKINS

Chris HESLAM

Liam HIND

Josh LIEPER

Max LOVERIDGE

Cameron MACLAUGHLIN

Ben MANDERFIELD

Ollie MASON

Jack MEAD

Jack PATRICK

Eddie PIZZEY

Will SHENNAN

Caius TWEED

James TWEEDIE

Josh WHITE

Ciaran WOLVERSON

VENUE: Loughborough University, LE11 3TL (Use East Gate/Entrance and follow signs for Event Parking)

MEET: 11:30

KICK-OFF: 13:00

As on previous occasions, there will be NO post-match meal although hot food and drinks will be available for purchase. On this basis, there will be NO requirement for white shirts and ties after the game.

Players are reminded that they should bring warm weather outer clothing for periods when they are not on the pitch.

Any player who is unavailable or injured is asked to contact the Squad manager (Lee Slack) as soon as possible.

Lee Slack

The NLD U17 Development Programme will run during February, March and April of 2020 and the nomination process for the Trial is outlined below:

As the NLD U16’s programme is already underway, there will NOT be a separate U16 trial. Players from that squad will be considered for inclusion in final trials following discussion with the U16’s Head Coach.

Trials for the U17 players will take place in the afternoon of Sunday 26^th January.

Venue: Nottingham University, David Ross Sports Village

Time: 14.00-16.00 

To ensure that we receive only your best players, each club and school is allowed to nominate a maximum of three players only for the U17’s Trials. It is important that the players nominated are of a standard, in terms of skills set, physicality, motivation and game management, sufficient to challenge for a Midlands Counties Trial in January 2021.

If any teachers/coaches are uncertain as to what level of performance is expected from players nominated, they should contact the Head Coach, Stuart Morley on 07970 973708 or at [email protected] .

It should be remembered that nominating players who are not ready to play at this elevated level can have an adverse effect on self-esteem and considerable thought should be given as to how this may affect individual players.

If you believe you have more than three players who are genuinely capable of playing at and beyond NLD level it is mandatory for you to contact the Head Coach, Stuart Morley, to discuss possible additional nominations.

Nominations exceeding the limit of three without the approval of the NLD Head Coach will be rejected, as will nominations made by parents on behalf of their own child – nominations will only be accepted by filling in and submitting the form through the link below.

Those responsible for nominating players should also give consideration as to whether any individual concerned will be prepared to commit the necessary time to complete the process. The success of the Midlands Campaign relies upon the quality of players available for selection for the NLD Squad. Recent years have seen a reduction in nominations from some quarters and it is hoped that teachers, in particular, will value the opportunity for their better players to have a chance to represent at this elevated level.

Nominations can be made by filling in this form: https://forms.gle/bZichTpFeMhvUNsh7  

Please note that only Head Coaches & Teachers are eligible to nominate players.

For information, eligible players are those born on or after 1^st September 2002, but not later than 31^st August 2003, i.e. those who are currently playing U17 rugby at school or club.

Any player who has played for NLD U18s this season and is eligible to play again next year (i.e. who is currently U17) does not need to be nominated as he has an automatic invitation in to the provisional U17 Group squad.  Once the programme reaches the trial match stage, the existing squad members will compete on a level footing with the new intake.

The closing date for the nominations is Wednesday 22^nd January 2020. Nominations received after this date will not be processed. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Lee Slack

Sunday 9^th February 2019 – Worksop College

As per the RFU Age Grade Competition Guidelines, the festival will be in a friendly round robin format, medals will be presented to all of the players taking part.

Please click on the following:  NLD U13 Festival Entry Form 2019-20, which you will need to complete in order to enter. Details of where to send the form and how to make payment of the £35 entry fee are included in the form.

The closing dates for entries is  Friday 17th January 2020.

Please note that entries will not be accepted after this date and in the case of withdrawals clubs will not be reimbursed if the closing date has passed. If you are entering multiple teams then the second team will be placed on a waitlist until the closing date. On this date we will then accept as many second team entries as possible on a first come first served basis.

We look forward to welcoming you on the day and if in the meantime we can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact the NLD Office on 07597 670743 or [email protected]

NLD RFU is urgently looking for coaches and managers to help deliver this year’s women and girls’ programme.

If you are interested, please read the job specification in full here

and email [email protected] with the following NLD 2019-20 Volunteer Application Form

Closing date: Saturday 18th January 2020

The draws for the semi-finals of the NLD knockout competitions have been made.

The play-on date for these matches is 25^th January. However, due to some of the quarter finals being deferred this may not be possible in some cases. In this circumstance these matches will be deferred to the next available weekend which will be 8^th February in most cases. As usual, clubs may agree to play earlier (e.g. midweek) by mutual agreement.

Match cards (to be completed by both teams) and regulations are available on the NLD website.

Cup

Shield

Plate

Vase