Essex County Rugby Football Union - mini's rugby festival

For details please contact our Mini Midi Chairman: -  Andy Thorne

Mini ~Midi Festival 2005 took place over two Sundays.

U7's U8's and U9's to take place at Eton Manor  6th March 2005 - Click here for details of the winners

U10's, U11's,  U12's to take place Westcliff 13th March 2005 - Click here for details of the winners

News:

Entries are now being accepted for the Essex County RFU Mini Midi Festival 2006.
Please contact Andy Thorne as above for details and entry forms.

Sunday 19th March 2006 - Mini Midi Festival for U7, U8, and U9  @ Upminster

Sunday 26th March 2006 - Mini Midi Festival for U10, U11 and U12 @ Braintree

If your club would like to be considered for the 2007 Mini Midi Festival then please contact Andy Thorne

The RFU state that there are NO circumstances within the Continuum age grades where players may play up.  U12s may play up into U13s but this takes them out of the Continuum and into Youth Rugby.  Mini players can play down one age grade only, and then only under certain circumstances.  Taking U10s as an example:  “Two U10s may play down into the U9s only if they cannot make a team of U10s, and NOT because it is convenient to do so, or the coach is short of U9s.  If there are more than 2 x U10 players (but still not enough to make a side) then they have to take turns of playing down into the U9s, but no more than 2 x U10 players can play at a time and an U10 sub may only replace an U10 player. 

I have also questioned the possible validity of insurance when playing mixed age grade matches.  Any breaches of the regulations may affect the insurance cover of all involved in the game concerned ie both teams, the coaches of both teams, the referee, the venue, the venue club committee and even the CB executive!  If games are played outside of the regulations, coaches, referees, committees and executive all could become liable for civil court action brought about after an injury.  It is in the interests of all concerned to ensure players are put in the correct age grades and for coaches and referees to confirm this to each other before play commences.