Photo credit: RFU/Rugby Matters Pictured left to right; Chloe Rix; Maggie Alphonsi; Lucy West

The competition phase of the Rugby Football Union for Women’s (RFUW) divisional programme for 2011-12 came to a successful conclusion with a festival of matches, training and coaching for Under 15s and under 18s at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire over the weekend of March 31 and April 1.

The under 15s from London & South East, Midlands, North and South West played three 40-minute matches each, while the U18s completed their season’s series with the North defeating London 22-14 and the South West as 49-5 winners over the Midlands.

There were also coaching clinics split into forwards and backs, attended by international players Danielle Waterman, La Toya Mason and Isabelle Noel Smith as well as a number of RFUW divisional coaches who gave the London & South East girls a different perspective to build their personal development.

Each of the four divisions selected a player of the festival.

Izzy Collis (Sussex and South Sussex Barbarians) and Scarlett Millen (Kent and Folkestone) were the London & South East winners in the U15s and 18s respectively, for their overall contribution across the weekend.

The next step for all the players in the RFUW divisional programme this season is the chance to be selected for national talent development groups.

Around 30 players each will go to an Under 15s camp at Wellington College, and three camps for the U18s, while others may be involved in summer training camps.

Development of players is the principal aim in the RFUW divisional programme, which runs at three age levels – seniors, U18s and U15s – and forms an integral part of the RFUW Player Pathway helping talented girls move from club rugby to representing their county, their division and their country.

All the girls may hope to follow the example of Maggie Alphonsi, the England Women’s international flanker who is the London & South East talent development officer.

Alphonsi, who recently helped England Women win the Six Nations Grand Slam, was on hand at Hartpury to run her experienced eye over all four divisions’ budding stars.

“Overall the divisional programme has been a great success and I am pleased by the number of good players we have had come through the pathway,” said Alphonsi.

“With this being the last set of fixtures for both U18 and U15 age groups all divisions were looking to end on a high and demonstrate their skills.”

Photo credit: RFU/Rugby Matters Pictured left to right; Bozenna Jackson; Maggie Alphonsi

London & South East Under 18s:

Bozenna Jackson, Southwold and Eastern Counties

Madeleine Lockwood, Rochford Hundred and Essex

Yasmin Pemberton, Rochford Hundred and Essex

Catherine Pugh, Rochford Hundred and Essex

Vicky Childs, Ellingham & Ringwood and Hampshire

Zoe Barber, Solent Sirens and Hampshire

Fran Hall, Solent Sirens and Hampshire

Zoe Joslin, Solent Sirens and Hampshire

Courtney Arberry, Welwyn and Hertfordshire

Oren Bindell, Welwyn and Hertfordshire

Lotte Clapp, Welwyn and Hertfordshire

Scarlett Cooper-Wall, Welwyn and Hertfordshire

Sydney Gregson, Welwyn and Hertfordshire

Shira Kilgallon, Welwyn and Hertfordshire

Olivia Stembridge, Welwyn and Hertfordshire

Scarlett Millen, Folkestone and Kent

Samantha Parker, Folkestone and Kent

Hannah Phillip, Beckenham and Kent

Flo Williams, Aylesford and Kent

Serena Carter, London Irish and Surrey

Lydia Davey, London Irish and Surrey

Gemma Joblanska, London Irish and Surrey

Siobhan Longdon-Hughes, London Irish and Surrey

Amber Luke, London Irish and Surrey

Rebecca Pritchard, London Irish and Surrey

Rochelle Smith, London Irish and Surrey

Emma Swords, London Irish and Surrey

Gabie Archer, Worthing and Sussex.

 

London & South East Under 15s:

 

Chloe Rix, Lakenham Hewett and Eastern Counties

Lucy West, Colchester and Eastern Counties

Georgia Bradley, Rochford Hundred and Essex

Emily Ferguson, Rochford Hundred and Essex

Faye Smale, Rochford Hundred and Essex

Megan Okey, Thurrock and Essex

Hannah West, Solent Sirens and Hampshire

Alex Clay, Solent Sirens and Hampshire

Harriet Austin, Hertford and Hertfordshire

Hayley Everett, Old Albanians and Hertfordshire

Ellena Perry, Welwyn and Hertfordshire

Zoe Harrison, Welwyn and Hertfordshire

Rosie Kay, Hertford and Hertfordshire

Katy Walker, Hertford and Hertfordshire

Ella Levey, Aylesford and Kent

Georgina Neary, Aylesford and Kent

Laura Tolley, Aylesford and Kent

Tazmin Bricknell, Medway and Kent

Aegean Leech, Aylesford and Kent

Daisy Lengthorn, Aylesford and Kent

Elizabeth Nicholl, Aylesford and Kent

Boo Wadhams, Medway and Kent

Sarah Bern, London Irish and Surrey

Jessica Boyd, London Irish and Surrey

Hannah Trenholm, London Irish and Surrey

Eleanor Boatman, London Irish and Surrey

Charley Brunton, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex

Jessica Breach, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex

Hermione Caddick, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex

Izzy Collis, South Sussex Barbarians and Sussex.

 

U18s

Sunday April 1 at Hartpury College:

London & South East 14 (tries: Zoe Barber, Courtney Arberry; cons: Flo Williams 2) North 22

South West 49 Midlands 5.

U15s  

March 31/April 1 at Hartpury College:

Midlands 19 North 15

London & South East 24 South West 15

North 17 London & South East 10

South West 17 Midlands 24

Midlands 0 London & South East 29

South West 5 North 36

(All matches 20 minutes each way)