rugbyH2.png
Team Talk - Dec 09

Central & West Lothian -

During the first school term there has been a lot of rugby activity in West Lothian . The Deans Primary Cluster enjoyed four weeks of rugby coaching culminating in a tag festival held at Livingston Rugby Club with 160 pupils taking part. This was the second session of rugby for some schools as they had participated in FSA sessions earlier in 2009.

There has been a great response to curriculum delivery in the secondary schools which has resulted in the first ever game between James Young and Whitburn. Outside school time there have been three festivals arranged which have been well attended including a very successful S3/4 7s tournament which was won by James Young.  

The ESSP (Excellence in School Sport Programme) has been running since August. The purpose of the programme is to give talented individuals extra practice and support in a high performance environment. Selected S5 and S6 pupils from across West Lothian have been taking part in twice weekly rugby sessions led by PJ Butler (Linlithgow CDO ) and Craig Bolan (Livingston CDO ) as well as getting specialist support in strength & conditioning, sport psychology and nutrition. The pupils are fortunate enough to have educational support as part of the programme and recently attended an interactive workshop on ‘Confidence in Sport’ delivered by ESSP sport psychologist Katie Sinnott.

In Clackmannanshire the rugby coaches heard recently from Scottish rugby legend Gregor Townsend at a Positive Coaching Workshop in Lornshill Academy .

Throughout his presentation, Scotland ’s attack coach highlighted the importance of a positive mentality towards coaching youngsters’ rugby, urging the coaches in the room to motivate and inspire their players. “I believe a coach’s main goal should be to get the best out of their players,” he said.

Gregor enlightened the coaches from Alloa RFC and Hillfoots RFC on the importance of positive coaching throughout his career. Gregor commented, 'I had coaches who encouraged me to learn and make mistakes, because that’s the only way you will improve.”

The PCS workshop which was delivered by Clackmannanshire Rugby Development Officer, Ben Hanvey also commented, 'The evening was a great success and having Gregor Townsend there to enforce the importance of Positive Coaching Scotland in our sport was very motivational for the coaches in Clackmannanshire.

November saw the first of the competitive Central Festivals, and in true Scottish winter fashion the weather had a big part to play. The festival at Falkirk was the only one to go ahead with Grangemouth looking more like a swimming pool than a rugby pitch! Teams from Falkirk, Paisley , Cumbernauld, Strathendrick and Hillfoots all fielded teams from P4-P7 and all enjoyed the break in bad weather to play some fantastic rugby.

Other news from Falkirk saw five of the secondary schools competing in the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup, with the Bo’ness/Grangemouth combined team reaching the third round and Falkirk High still in the Cup tournament awaiting their next match against Morrison’s Academy. Blair Skipper was appointed as the Grangemouth RFC development officer in November and will focus on increasing the participation and rugby profile at club by working closely with the local primary schools and Grangemouth High.

In Stirling the Bannockburn , McLaren and Stirling clusters have all had successful festivals at the end of their four week block of tasters sessions delivered by the SVQ’s from Bannockburn , McLaren and Strathendrick.

The kids that took part in each of these festivals displayed got the chance to sample six different rugby stations that tested their skills they learned during the taster sessions held within their schools. The Bannockburn and Stirling Cluster Festivals were hosted by Bannockburn RFC. Bannockburn Rugby Club has also been busy supporting sessions at Bannockburn High School . There have been nine players in all from the S1/S2 year coming down to training and have attended the Central Festivals over the last two months.

 
Scotland U20 V France U20

CALDER AIMING TO FOLLOW FAMILY’S FORTUNES

Lewis Calder will captain the Scotland Under-20 team against their French counterparts at Falkirk Stadium on Friday evening (1 February, 2008, kick off 7.30pm) and the openside flanker revealed he is aiming to use the advice given by his father, former Grand Slam winner Jim.

As the son of a player who scored the decisive try in Scotland 's 1984 Grand Slam triumph against France , Calder boasts a top-class rugby pedigree and was appointed captain by coach Colin Robertson for the Under-20’s Six Nations tournament.

And the Newcastle Falcons’ Academy player, 19, admits he will be seeking some tips from his famous Uncle, Finlay, who led the victorious British and Irish Lions in 1989, on how to lead a successful team.

Read more...
 
Seven Up For County

Musselburgh - 0 Stirling County – 30

Stirling County confirmed their pre-eminence in nurturing young talent as they captured the John Lewis Youth League Cup for the seventh time at Murrayfield.

Their pack were just too strong for a brave Musselburgh side, who for the second successive year finished as runners-up.

“We knew they were going to be strong up front so we had to match them if we were to have a chance,” said Stirling coach Bob McGowan.

“We didn’t feel in either of our last two games that we released our backs but I think we showed what we could do in that regard tonight.”

Read more...