Staffordshire Under 17s
Dear Team Managers Coaches and Teachers,
This will be the second season the U17 has been formed without the benefit of Staffordshire running a U16 team. Leicester Tigers have operated the programme and in January 2023 the players returned to Staffordshire in 2 pre-season training evenings and were provisional assessed by the U17/U18 delivery team. The total number of players already initially assessed by March is expected to be circa 25.
We are holding an assessment evening at Burton RFC on Monday 13th March 2023. However, because we already have players assessed, we are only wanting to add about another 15-20 players all must be U17 players in the Season 2022-2023.
The objective is to find late developers and new players to the game not already highlighted to the county. Therefore, please only put forward outstanding players of physical and technical ability.
If we get an excess of nominations from one source, we will need to review the list before the assessment event as a paperwork review and invite accordingly. We are only allowed by the RFU calendar one assessment event for all players.
The assessment event will consist of a combination of forward and back drills plus a short full contact game, split into 4 quarters to allow changes. From the assessment event we intend to select a squad of 40-45 players to take through to the Squad Development evening in early May, we may then reduce the numbers based on a further assessment to end up with the U17 initial Squad.
Following the assessment events there will be 2 training session and 3 games up to the 21st May, with a training session on the Monday of each game week. For each game we will only select 23 players out of the total squad and apply the half game rule so all players in the U17 initial squad will get game time so they can be fully assessed.
Prior to the final 2 games of the U17 season 26th and 28th May, we will formally reduce the number of players in the squad circa 30-32 players to form the core squad which we will fully test at U17 and carry through players to U18.
I attach the plan for the U17 with dates and games for the period, locations and timings will be confirmed.
Please email to me the proposed players for trial and the completed attached registration form.
Kind regards
Stephen Eastwood