How Far Could Rugby Take You?
September 4th, 2006
The flags, shown in alphabetical order, are of British Columbia, and Washington State, both on the Pacific Coast of North America - and that is the clue to the answer for Under 17s in Cambridgshire, Norfolk and Suffolk - 7,000 miles!
If you need an incentive to get into the county or regional team then how about being part of the first ever girls’ rugby tour of the USA and Canada?
Today it has been announced that the RFUW have given permission for the official East Region girls’ U18 squad to take 30 girls on tour to North America in July 2008. It will be the U18 squad because, as you will remember, age bands change next season. This means that it will effectively be very similar to the U17 squad that is selected this season.
Ideas in the ambitious plan includes possible participation in a USA West Coast championship (to be held in Washington State) or a similar inter-state tournament to be followed by games with at least one Canadian provincial team. The tour will take place in July 2008 as this best co-incides with both the US and Canadian seasons.
Involvement in the Eastern Counties programe will form the first stage of the selection process, as with “closed” regional trials in January, if you are not in a county squad its unlikely you’ll make the regional squad.
Why North America? Because girls’ rugby is a a BIG thing over there. A quarter of all American rugby players are women, and the attitude to the female game in the USA in particular seems to be hugely positive. East Region can expect a warm welcome, with plenty of top quality rugby in two different countries.
Clearly there will be a lot to do before then. Such tours are not “free” and there is a great deal of planning to do. But with the better part of two years to plan and fund raise for the trip it should be a event that you will remember forever.
And the first step to getting on that plane is only two weeks away…
As for the U14s, the problem we face is that there is not the range of opposition available for the younger age group. This tour is also a huge step into the unknown, so we need to get it right. And if we do and all goes well then we can expect future tours to follow - in both direction. So the intention is that you will get a chance - next time!
