Rugby

Many teams are now in the process of holding trials to finalise team selections for 2010. The U15 trial was held yesterday and the squad will be named next week. The 1st XV trial will be held at Clutha on Monday at 5.30pm.
I met with the U14 players earlier this week and gave them an introductory newsletter. Training will continue on Tuesday at 4pm. We have enough for two even teams and they will be split at a later date. We will use the first competition match to play an internal match to finalise the squads. However, we do need an U14 coach, or coaches, urgently. U14s are required to purchase a jersey. This can be brought from Stirling Sports. They are on back order and will be available in April prior to the opening match. We do have some second-hand gear available for purchase, including shorts and sox.

Mr Douglas has been busy organizing Girls’ rugby over the past week. At this stage we are hoping to enter two teams again in the Southland competition, which is played each Monday. Trials will be held at a later date.

The 1st XV have a squad participating in the Highlanders Schools 7s Tournament at Carisbrook on Saturday night. This will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Super 14 match. Action gets underway at 3.45pm, with the final at 6.15pm. We were runners-up last year, so are hoping to go one better in 2010.

The combined U14 squad and U15 team will have a pre-season match on Saturday week (27th) at Clinton against St Peters from Gore. The U14 game will kick-off at 11.30am, with the U15s starting at 1pm. The U14s will be provided with jerseys on the day. Any unavailable players will need to inform their coaches at training next week.

A reminder to all the first meeting of the SOHS Rugby Club for 2010 will be held in the SOHS Library on Tuesday, March 30 at 7.30pm. Parents and spectators are welcome and I hope to see many new faces.
Greg Heller
TIC Rugby