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Dazzler's Dispatches

Dazzler's Dispatches

Ian Smith10 Feb 2021 - 13:41
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An update from our Chairman of Junior Rugby

Season 2020/21 has possibly been the toughest any of us have ever endured. We were all shocked and saddened by the loss of Andrew Arnell in January. Andrew will be greatly missed by everyone associated with Hartlepool Rovers and our thoughts are with Andrews family at this time.

Andrew had coached his junior team from under 7s tag through to under 16. It is a testament to Andrews forward thinking that he was involved with setting up a coming together of two clubs to ensure the players are able to get a game of rugby. A couple of years ago Andrew teamed up with Horden to form a combined team. Both clubs were struggling for a full 15 so rather than let the players miss out on game opportunities and perhaps drift away from the game, both clubs worked together for the good of the players. In that time the players have come together as a group and become a very competitive side. These new ways of working are something that we will no doubt become standard practice in the future.

I started to get involved with the junior section 10 years ago, at the same time Andrew was starting his team at tag rugby. It would give me the greatest pleasure, satisfaction, and pride to see some of Andrews players transition to senior rugby. I am sure Andrew would be very proud of the players too. And that is one of our main aims over the coming season; to ensure our current junior players have a seamless transition to senior rugby. We are already discussing this with our Director of Rugby to formulate a plan to ensure that we do not lose any of our players and they all go on to represent Rovers for many years to come.

There has been very little in terms of rugby to report back on so far this season. But we did manage to get one junior game played when our under 18 girls visited Horden & Peterlee for a Friday night match. The game was played following all RFU protocols for COVID and the girls managed a full 60 minutes of rugby, albeit following the law adaptations. Since then we have been plunged back into national lockdown which has seen an end to all rugby activity.

I would like to thank all of our players, parents, and supporters. Although a very difficult season with all of the Covid restrictions and new adaptations, your support has been outstanding. The players did take part in a sponsored run with the aim of running a collective 140 miles to mark our 140th year. They smashed that target and also managed to raise over £6k for our Youth Section. Players that took part in that event should by now have received their initialled tracksuit top, if you haven’t please contact your team coach. The money raised will be getting reinvested back into our juniors and James Turner, under 7 coach and assistant head of section, is already drawing up options in terms of where to use the money next.

The number of players we have is growing steadily. We are still not where we would like to be and we do need a few more players at each age group so please keep encouraging friends and family to come along and give rugby a try. Also any parents or spectators who watch each week from the touchline; if you want to get involved and help in any way please let your team coach know. This could be admin work, organising kits, or something as simple as putting cones out and filling water bottles up….it all helps to the running of successful teams.

None of us know when we will be back playing the game we all love but be sure we will still be here waiting for our players to arrive on Sunday mornings.

Thank you for all of your support. Stay safe and we will look forward to welcoming you all back as soon as we are allowed.

Darren Smith
Chairman of Junior Rugby

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