GRFU Issue 1 2018

Guest Writer - Roger Jackson
of The Local Answer
“Start Them Young!”
“Start them young” was always the cry, when clubhouse chatter turned to
ways of introducing the next generation of players to the great game that is
rugby.
Those words are certainly being heeded by clubs around the county.
The key to a successful club is having a thriving Mini and Youth section,
says Junior Chairman Andrew Bayliss of Stow on the Wold.
Minis and Youth rugby has taken on a lifeform all of its own over the past
few years and is continuing to grow at a staggering rate.
And for so many reasons, the ongoing success of M&Y across the county
is one of the key fundamentals to sustaining rugby at adult level in its present
form.
The obvious one of course is the players it brings through to the senior
game – some of them top, top players, such as former Gloucester hero
Peter Buxton, who came through the ranks at Cheltenham and Elliott
Stooke, who is now at Bath and Gloucester’s Ollie Thorley. Stooke and
Thorley both played their rugby at Stow when they were much younger.
They are three headline names but,
below that level, there is a whole host of
players who have learned their trade within
M & Y and are these days performing to a very good standard.
A quick look at the Old Patesians side, playing in South West Premier,
shows that the likes of current first-teamers George Angell, Josh Stevens,
James Aherne and Duncan Spurrier, all came through the club’s youth setup.
And talk to articulate back row Angell and he will say what a positive
impact M & Y rugby has had on his career, even though the numbers today
are far removed from when he was coming through the ranks.
Angell joined the Pats at the age of 12 or 13 after starting with the minis
at Cheltenham and recalls how they had to mix age groups in order to field
teams.
That was some 15 years ago, but these days the Pats have some 600 +
youngsters playing rugby, including tag players.
That’s a startling number for a community club and it’s a similar tale at a
lot of clubs across the county.
Talk to Paul Morris, Director of Rugby at Cinderford, or Russell Hillier,
who is president at Stroud and they will tell the same story. Both are true
rugby men, of course and involved with two clubs with a very proud history.
But it’s not just the men’s game that is benefitting from the ongoing
popularity of youth rugby, it’s the women’s game that is reaping the rewards
as well.
The women’s game has gone from strength to strength over the past few
years and, just like junior rugby, is growing at a remarkable rate.
And it’s not difficult to work out why, because more and more girls are
being given the opportunity to play rugby at a young age.
Gone are the days when rugby was for boys only and the benefits to the
game as a whole are obvious.
Over at Stow there is a concerted effort to introduce more girls into
the game with their ever-impressive Junior Chairman, Andrew Bayliss,
determined to make the sport fun for every youngster who turns up at
Oddington Road.
And more girls playing, results in more youngsters playing which, in turn,
provides other spin-offs.
Talk to Cheltenham stalwart, John Woodward, who was heavily involved
with the club’s Colts back in the day and he’ll tell you that there are
considerable financial benefits to having a thriving junior section.
Those can range from annual subscriptions, to parents buying drinks in the
clubhouse and bacon butties for their kids.
And what should never be underestimated is the power of a packed
clubhouse on a Sunday morning, smiling faces and a genuine feelgood factor.
A lot of hard work – all voluntary – goes in to making that happen and
happily, at junior level, there appears to be no shortage of volunteers.
M & Y is continuing to thrive at clubs all over Gloucestershire and while
that is the case, rugby in this part of the world will surely continue to
prosper.
ROGER JACKSON is the Sports Editor for the Local
Answer – you can see his sports columns at
www.thelocalanswer.co.uk
Peter Buxton, second from right, came through the junior ranks at
Cheltenham. He is pictured from left to right, with Dave Fisher, Leroy
Hughes and Adrian Taylor, after the club’s under-17s had beaten Stroud
in the County Cup final in 1995.
Gloucestershire Rugby News Issue 1 – November 2018 – 35