The Kent Youth Committee promotes the efficient and effective development of youth rugby through the organisation of appropriate, formally approved and organised county events from U12 to U18 age levels. They liaise with clubs and disseminate relevant RFU information and guidance to key personnel in club youth sections.
Next season’s competition will look different from our traditional format. I have spoken to a number of coaches and managers over the last season and we have devised a competition that provides competitive rugby but which better reflects the aims of the RFU and developing the young players and retaining them in adult rugby.
Entries will be online as in previous years but the structure will be different for under 12 to under 14 players the season will be split into two stages pre and post Christmas.
Teams will be allocated a pool of four or five teams dependent on entry numbers. These will be designed to place similar strength squads together and there will be an initial consultation before finalising the pools.
Matches will be played on the allocated County competition dates as full length fixtures arranged on a blind draw Home or Away basis. Only one fixture will be played against each team in the pool and at the end of each stage the top two teams in each pool will move up a pool and the bottom two would move down.
This format should give the teams competitive matches they need whilst also providing free weekends train or arranging friendlies.
For U15s to Colts a similar structure will be in place except these matches will be administered through GMS and results and tables will be published on the England rugby website.
We also intend to use electronic match cards for these games which reduces the amount of admin from competition managers but also requires players to be affiliated.
At the end of the season, the top two teams in League One will play in the trophy final at the County showcase event as well as receive winners and runners up trophies.
Leagues will be merit based and it is envisaged there will be 3 or 4 leagues depending on entry numbers rated strong, average, and developing.
These games will be played on the County dates in the Age Grade calendar. Further details will be sent out in due course.
