Change Central

Changes have seen Mark McKenzie move on to become the Performance Development Manager for the Midlands – his Clackmannanshire Rugby Development Officer role has been filled by Ben Hanvey who has just moved over from Northern Ireland where he worked as part of the Ulster Rugby Development Team.

The Apprentices

Four new SVQ Apprentices are now in post in Central. Jason Morgan and Ashley Ireland are part of the Clackmannanshire Rugby Development Team while Christian Wallace and Emma Stark, both from Grangemouth Rugby Club , will work alongside Graham Lindsay (Falkirk Clubs’ Development Officer). These appointments, along with four Apprentices staying into a second year, will support the Club Development Officers across the areas.

Former SVQ Apprentices David Grainey (Alloa RFC) and Kris Burney (Hillfoots) attended their graduation ceremony recently. Sponsored by Clackmannanshire Council, supported by their rugby clubs and working in tandem with the Clackmannanshire Rugby Development Officer, both have delivered the rugby to hundreds of schoolchildren on a weekly basis over the duration of their two year course. Below Glasgow Captain Alastair Kellock and flanker Stevie Swindall (a former SVQ) presented the graduation scrolls at the ceremony at Cartha Queen’s Park rugby club in Glasgow .

On Top Of The World

Club Development Officers were busy during the first school term delivering coaching sessions and Rugby World Cup festivals at local schools and clubs. Alloa RFC, Hillfoots RFC, Grangemouth RFC, Livingston RFC, Linlithgow RFC, McLaren RFC and Bannockburn RFC hosted festivals for over 1000 children who received a Scotland poster, foam rugby ball and skills card. On duty at the festivals in Clackmannanshire, Scotland Team Mascot Scottie Dog is pictured here with former Clackmannanshire Rugby Development Officer Mark McKenzie and pupils from Muckhart Primary School .

Mascot Fantastic

The Community Mascots places given to all RDMs by the Community Marketing team have been very well received. Central Clubs had mascots present at each of the August Tests and will have a further five mascots at the home Six Nations matches against France and England next year. Pictured here are Alloa RFC player Lewis McIntyre (in front of Dan Parks) and Hillfoots RFC player Duncan Arthur (in front of Dave Callam and Andy Henderson) before the Scotland v South Africa International.

Best of the Fests

The Central Rugby Festival Programme, which consists of monthly P4/5, P6/7 and S1/2 events hosted by all the Central clubs,is underway. It’s hoped the scheduling – September to December and March to May – will reduce the number of fixtures cancelled due to bad weather and that the locality will reduce time and travel expenditure for clubs, coaches and volunteers. Over 300 players have taken part so far with upcoming events on 30 March (P4/5 at Alloa RFC, P6/7 at Bannockburn RFC and S1/2 at Grangemouth RFC); 27 April (P4/5 at Grangemouth RFC, P6/7 at Stirling County RFC and S1/2 at Stirling County 10s tournament); and 25 May (P6/7 at Hillfoots RFC and S1/2 at Falkirk RFC). Whilst the festivals are focused on player development all clubs are free to organise fixtures, competitive or otherwise, to fill the rest of their calendar.

Meanwhile the Midlands S1 and S2 Tournament, hosted by Stirling County in November, had 13 teams taking part. Stirling County beat Howe of Fife in an excellent S2 final while the S1 competition saw Dundee Eagles draw with Howe of Fife but were awarded the trophy as a result of scoring the first try.

Ladies in the Lead

Grangemouth Ladies RFC has had an encouraging start to their Division 2 campaign. They now have six girls attending the U16 training on a Tuesday evening and is currently trying to recruit from the surrounding schools. The club is also delighted to report that Mairi Forsyth has been selected for the Scotland U18 Squad. Congratulations from all the Rugby Development Staff! 

Competition Corner

Central and West Lothian Schools were heavily involved in the early rounds of the Bell Lawrie U15 and U18 School Competitions. A tie that exemplifies the fantastic opportunities of these events is the recent Alva Academy fixture against George Heriot’s School, at Hillfoots RFC. I’m sure the young Alva squad enjoyed the opportunity to test themselves against one of the traditionally strongest school teams in the country even though they lost narrowly. Queen Victoria School , Linlithgow Academy , Wallace HS and Balfron HS will all compete in the quarter-finals of the U18 Plate.

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