Junior Summer Rugby

I note that this is an agenda item for the Youth & Junior Council meeting on Monday 16th March over at Shaw Cross and was just wondering what other's views are on the subject.

We at NW Counties 13-15's have tested the water via our own forum and have received an almost overwhelming response of a desire to at least consider it. Obviously life is not quite as simple as just changing dates and there is still some investigative work to be done to check out the feasibility but, from a personal perspective, I know I would much rather watch games during a comparatively warm and dry Summer rather than be left constantly frustrated as game after game is postponed during the Winter months.

Figures from other Leagues seem to indicate a greater take-up too which has to be good news for the Amateur game.

So what do you think? Pros & cons?

Absolute must to consider - but I would have preferred to start off with thde 8-12s league first (where we need the growth to start from), followed (if successful) by the 13-15s.

Areas such as Hull have already tested the water with considerable success at the younger age-groups and others including some 8-12's (to the best of my knowledge) this summer are doing so too.

At each age break there are different issues and what affects the 8-12's may not be the same factiors affecting us, but, being a pro-active league who prides themselves on the fact that they listen to their players, coaches and clubs, we were happy to participate in an information gathering trial to check out the feasibility for our particular age brackets.

Time will tell if it works or not but we at least need to investigate it as an option.

The Nwc 8-12,s next season will be running from September to November.
With a winter break December to February.
Starting back March to June.
Leaving July and August for Summer Holidays and Festivals.

This seems to cover all our clubs needs.

summer rugby is a big step forward for any league .
the benefits for players are very advantagous in that all players do advance thier skills and in warmer conditions.

This works very well in hull as a past member of hull and district i was very active in implementation of summmer rugby.
8s 11s.
please consider the all aspects of summer rugby ,

increased player base .

skill levels improve [warmer conditions].

no frozen pitches.

increased spectator support.

increase in coach base .

The increase of junior officials. [refs] .

The list can be endless it is up to you and your league.

Think of the welfare of the children and listen to what they would like, i am sure that the child does prefare summer to winter.

would you let your child play out in the snow and frost in shorts and t shirt.

I have no problems with summer rugby in general, and think that kids who play football in the winter might well like to play rugby in the summer.

but lines like "would you let your child play out in the snow in shorts and t shirts" bother me a bit..

We always did, it was called character building, and I was never ill as a child.

I think we are becoming soft as a nation.

No not at all we are not getting soft, and i thnk there are other ways to build character.

does not just playing rugby build character .

ok,

going on that assumpton then, what if the country started playing football in the summer for the same reason? I wonder if Summer rugby would seem such a good idea to many then?

why not those who do want summer rugby would stay, there is a player base for both and if this was to happen then people would have maybe to work harder.

keeping a good player base is always hard in any sport we need to make the game appealing to all .

The sport can survive along side football it already does in winter
i am not saying there would be some pitfalls.

rugby union works along side us ,the benifits of two super league clubs does help in my opinion children do look up to role models.

development at the pro clubs and working in the community goes along way to promote the game.