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Shockingly, the University has been without a weekly college rugby competition for several years now. Rugby sevens was only introduced as a one-day tournament last year. This has not been enough to quench the thirst of those either not good enough for University standard rugby or those without substantial time to spend training and playing.
The winners of last year's one-day tournament were James, and their rugby secretary, Mig Holloway, says that "many people were surprised that there was no college rugby already established": a fact that has annoyed many a decent youth team rugby player who has fallen foul to the weekly combinations of Gallery and Efes, to the detriment of their rugby.
Many people were surprised that there was no college rugby already established.
The preparation for a potential college tournament is very much under way for James, who could "easily field a 22 man team". James are attempting to organise friendlies against both college and non-college teams. Part of this friendly programme was a tri-tournament involving James, Derwent and Alcuin.
If every college was at the same stage of development as James, then a college competition would have no problems in starting. However, colleges such as Goodricke are only beginning their development. An average training session with Goodricke is attended by no more than 10 players, all of ranging abilities and backgrounds.
This was a stage Alcuin were at no so long ago, and captain Dan Hunt said: "Training started with a core of eight players, and had to be adapted to allow for the different abilities". Their participation in the tri-tournament proves their ability to put out a side, but could the likes of Goodricke field a side, given their current stage of development?
Goodricke coach and University first team player Mike Callis seems to think so. According to Callis, Goodricke could "compete numerically" and could "produce a decent one-off squad". However, building a squad capable of competing obviously takes time.
The University rugby team are playing a key role in getting the competition to become reality, with the likes of Callis coaching training sessions and refereeing matches to get the egg shaped ball rolling.
The aim of college rugby, according to Callis, is to "develop and bring talent through to the University teams", as well as giving "as many people as possible a chance to play competitive rugby". University rugby President Chris Carrington is working closely with AU president Jo Carter in order to give the competition the best possible chance. One stumbling block appears to be insurance, but Carrington and Carter are working to iron out any problems.
So there is clearly a lot of hope for a regular college competition. Teams are at differing stages of development, but it is hoped that by the end of this year, a seven way league could be played as competitively as football. Perhaps in a few years, rugby could have both a permanent and growing position on the college sport agenda.
One can only hope that all the colleges do develop and any insurance problems are dealt with in due course to ensure that the idea of college rugby is converted, and not kicked into touch.
The reason their has never been a college league before is the university wouldn't pay the insurance, the only reason there is even a possibility of it is because the rugby club has been trying to sort out their insurance to cover it. Hopefully there will be a 10's tournament as well as a 7's one this term.
At the moment there is scheduled to be a 10s tournament but not in addition to the 7s, just replacing it as one of the college one day tournaments.
It looks like it's getting there slowly but surely.
Rugby 10's tournament is taking place on Saturday Week 10, its basically in replacement to the 7s tournament of last year that simply saw the fittest and fastest teams do well as opposed to the more tactically sound colleges.
Having 10 man teams should hopefully provide more scope for interesting matches, and overall a much greater day's rugby.
James College won the 7s tournament last year as they were by far the most tactically sound and played the best rugby, by far. 7s rugby is about creating space for quick players, which we did far better than anyone else, resulting in winning the final thity-odd five!
To be fair, we (Goodricke) had a thread bare squad who were frankly shattered by the final! You had some genuine pace and we struggled with that, will be interesting to see how things change when it becomes 10s.
Your squad was hardly thread bare! u made around 5 subs at h-t. We started with a squad of 8, and that went down to 7 as one of our players was concussed in the second match. Being shattered can't be an excuse as we had the smallest squad. Be a man and admit you were beaten by a better team! This year our squad is bigger and better, I can't see the final result changing in the slightest.
Wow #4 loves saying 'by far'. I think you're more up for this rugby than anyone...by far.
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