The new format will keep you updated on developments within the Essex RFUW and the RFUW in general.

We now have a new management and coaching team for the coming season.   Firstly we would like to thank all those people who gave up their time last season to ensure that Essex were able to compete against other counties.  Secondly we would like to introduce the people who will try to ensure that things run smoothly this coming season.

County Chair Mrs Chris Emerson

Programme Manager Mrs Heather Allison

Team Manager Phil Robson

Coaching Liason Officer Mr Chris Emerson

Equipment & Kit manager Simon Hughes

Treasurer Sue McCready

Coaching Staff U14’s Ian McCready / Alan Derby

U17’s Gavin Scott / Simon Jones

Seniors Dean White / Wendy le Grave

The people who have volunteered to take up varying positions do so with a love of the game, and more importantly a desire to develop and enhance the game within the county.  At the forefront of this is the development of all those girls who take part in the sport, whether this is at school, club or county level.

The primary purpose is to promote the sport and to provide the requisite expertise in the form of both coaching and management staff to ensure that any person, regardless of age or ability is given every opportunity to develop their skill within the game, and to provide an opportunity for those taking part to progress along the RFUW pathway to the next level of their playing career.  There are still positions that need filling within the management team, so if you feel that you can help, please contact either Heather or Phil.

MrsChrisE@blueyonder.com

hallison@btinternet.com

07783 402214 01375 640441

pjmrobson@btinternet .com

Thanks to all of you who attended the first Essex training session in May. Gavin, Simon and Ian were all impressed with the numbers and the level of skill shown by those who participated and it proved to be a good training session for us to introduce ourselves, and for you to get to know each other, plus hopefully you all enjoyed it.  To enable us to play matches on our allocated Essex days rather than just training we plan to hold county selection for the U14's and the U17's over the next two training sessions. These will follow the format below

6:30pm meeting for girls registration/shirt & number allocation

7pm General handling drills & tackling drills

U14 - Ian/Alan to assess

U17 - Mr Chris & Phil to assess

6:30pm meeting for girls registration/shirt & number allocation

7pm

U17 Forwards - lineout & scrummaging

U17 Backs - Attacking & Defensive drills/moves

U17 - 3 x 10 min games

U14 All - Game play situations + Game

By splitting the selection over two sessions we can hopefully accommodate anyone's holiday/injuries and give close assessment in game play situations and of individual skills.  It would also be useful if you could think about your desired position so we can have this information on the day.

U14 - Ian/Alan assess

U17 – Mr Chris & Phil to assess

Please ensure that you turn up on time and with all your kit to enable the training and assessments to commence promptly.

These sessions are open to everyone, regardless of whether you are a club member or just play for fun at school

Congratulations must go to the U17 Squad, who emerged as National 7’s Champions at Harpenden. The Girls led by Kat Emerson came up against strong opposition, but held their nerve and played extremely well to crown what has been a very good season all round.

Good luck to every one taking part in their club festival on the 22^nd Oct 06

Remember this is Your Newsletter so please let us have your comments and contributions

At present we are running a programme in conjunction with Thurrock Schools to encourage girls to take up the game. If this proves successful it is hoped that we can offer the coaching team to other schools. We have had some very positive reaction from those schools taking part.

St Cleres School in Stanford Le Hope and in particular Mr Yeoman have been at the forefront of this initiative and the following girls from the school have all taken part in competitive games at festivals for Basildon Rugby Club

Cusova Feroma

Amy Clayton

Alice Steward

Amy Hubbard

Leanne Nancolus

Jemma Sommers

Jade Sheehan

Frankie Aldwinkle

On the 8^th July ,Holy Cross School in

Ockenden, is holding a school fete.

Following on from the Schools initiative, we have been invited to take along girls from school, club and county level to put on a short demonstration of the beautiful game and to help run a tag game for any youngsters who wish to have a go.

Any girls who would be willing to give up some of their spare time to take part should contact either Heather or Phil.

Come along to the fun day 22^nd July 06 at Dilkes Park, South Ockendon.

See the "Essex " Girls give a demonstration, and play Tag rugby.

All ages welcome.

Meet Essex and England U19 player Holly Le Grave

19th June 6.30pm

17thJuly 6.30pm

Aug TBC

19th June

17th July

17th Sept 06

1^st Oct 06

15th Oct 06

12th Nov 06

3rd Dec 06

17^th Dec 06

20th Oct 06 (Wales)

Feb 07 (Ireland)