Match Preview

The Under 12s play their first round of the Middlesex League this Remembrance Sunday. Mini Quins entertain three clubs at Lockside, familiar friends from London Scottish, our near-neighbours from Rosslyn Park and new opponents, Regents Park Royals. For the first time, we are entering the sphere of streamed competition so we find ourselves pitched against B & C squads

The Middlesex U12 festivals help young players develop their rugby and bridge the divide between mini and youth rugby. The festival format meets the RFU age grade rugby requirements and provides a better rugby experience for teams and players as well as helping facilitate a the transition of players to the Youth Leagues at U13 with players experience longer matches and the type of discipline that they will need as they move to the youth age grade rugby structures. Since the format was introduced, U12s playing for Middlesex clubs have progressed to youth level with greater strength and skill, with many winning their respective leagues.

The U12 festival format is unique with three weekend qualifying rounds played through the season ahead of a finals day in March at Wasps FC ground at Twyford Avenue. Each round comprises two games of 30 minutes played as a three-way fixture. The results of these games are compiled and points awarded. This means that Quins will not play Scottish this Sunday. There are eleven sides in Quins' League, so finishing first, fifth or ninth after the first three weekends will ensure Quins another home round in February before progressing to Finals Day.

This creates a structure, which, when the rounds are completed, forms the finals day play. The U12 festival is designed to ensure that teams playing against each other are equally balanced to ensure appropriate competition for teams of all abilities. The format is modelled on the system used by World Rugby (IRB) for international 7s and means that the teams are more closely matched and the rugby more fulfilling for all involved.

The final positions of clubs helps to establish the league entries for clubs choosing to enter the Herts/Middx League structures at U13.

Middlesex Rugby, in conjunction with London Irish Academy, uses the U12 Championship to spot players to be invited to the Developing Player Programme. Last year this resulted in 60 players being invited to the trials held at the end of the season for the Team Middlesex U13 county squad.

It promises to be an interesting morning and will give us a good measure of just how well our boys are progressing.
See you on Sunday