THE 2012-2013 SEASON

Officially, the new season starts for existing club members on Sunday 2nd September 2012.  Some of the older age-groups will be skills and conditioning training during the summer, so speak to your coach to find out more about what your age-group has planned.

From September, training is every Sunday except when there are Matches from 10.00 a.m. when new players are welcome to come along and play in introductory sessions – just watching is fine too! A great way to find out more and check out the game.

Open day for the 2012-13 season
Our 2012-13 season open-day is on the morning of Sunday 9 September 2012 from 9.45am. It's a great chance for your children to give rugby a try and to join in the fun and games. There'll be a BBQ and the bar will also be open for mum and dad.

We always allow two or three weeks for boys and girls to decide if rugby's for them, so why not come along to the open day to meet the coaching teams and players, join in or just to watch!

What is Mini & Youth Rugby?

Mini Rugby is played from Under 7 to Under 12 (school years 2 to 7). The rules change for each age group so that the complexity of the game matches the development of the players. Under 7s and 8s play 7-a-side tag rugby, older groups play contact rugby (i.e. with tackling) with more players. Boys and girls can play in the same team.

Youth Rugby is played from Under 13 to Under 19 (school year 8 upwards). It is 15-a-side and has a number of rule differences from adult rugby which are made for additional safety. Young men and women play in separate teams.

Mini & Youth Rugby at Hitchin

The Mini and Youth Section was founded in 1988 by some intrepid players and parents, many of whom are still associated with our Club.

We are based at Hitchin RFC, King George V Playing Fields, Old Hale Way, Hitchin. 

The Mini and Youth Section at Hitchin exists to make the game available to youngsters in the area. The aim is to make rugby fun, make the game available to all - regardless of ability - and promote the Rugby Union ethos.

We run sides from U7 to Colts – for boys and girls, young men and women. Many of our players go on to play for the senior Hitchin Club and some have gone on to County and Regional honours.

The Club is among the first in England, and was the first in Hertfordshire, to receive the RFU 'Seal of Approval' for its Community Rugby Active Sports Programme. We are delighted to announce that Our Seal of Approval has just been renewed and the RFU are delighted with our plans to develop rugby in the community. So much so that in March 2012 we were awarded an RFU President's award for the best 'Whole Club Seal of Approval" in the country.

Rugby is not only a great game in itself, it is associated with life skills such as discipline, fair play, restraint and good humour. However, the overriding importance is that our mini and youth members should enjoy the game in a caring and fun environment. We want to remain a highly social club and build on being one of the best and most welcoming clubs in Hertfordshire.

When is training?

On Sunday mornings at 10.30 a.m. - officially begins at the Club on the first Sunday in September. Some of the Youth and older mini age groups have additional sessions during the week.

We encourage parents to support the rugby endeavours of their children. Please try to participate and if your child is in any team from U6 to U12, a parent/carer must attend.

We aim that all of our coaches have at least Level 1 coaching qualifications. All are submitted for CRB clearance (as are all adults that are closely involved with rugby provision at the club). We will have "first line injury assistance" cover for morning home games and training.

What equipment do players need? 

Boots. Football boots are OK, provided they have suitable studs. Combination metal/plastic studs are unsuitable as are metal blade studs. A set of screw-in metal studs are preferred and they can be used for football too – no need to change them over.

Mouth guards – the cheapest ones cost a few founds and are fitted by softening them in boiling water and then moulding them to the teeth. The better ones are fitted by a dentist who will make an impression of the teeth and mould the mouth guard to that. Cost varies with dentists.

Shin pads are advisable at all age groups, as are scrum-hats for youth players.

There is a club kit which is available in the club shop.

How do players join?

We aim to run squads at every age group from U7 to Colts – some 12 groups! Contact points for each age group are listed on the contact page or appropriate age group page on this website. Or just come along on a Sunday morning and you will be made welcome.

Girls can play in all teams up to and including U12. We aim to run girls squads at U14 and U17 level.

How much does it cost?

We have always kept the family membership cost low to encourage as many members as possible. The membership fee is being kept the same for the 2012/13 season at £50 per family, however many number of children in the family. There is normally a 3 week free trial period for new players during September, but only fully registered players may play in matches against other clubs.

The family members covers your children's coaching costs, their match fees, RFU insurance as well a social membership to the club for mum and dad.

Who coaches M&Y?

Each age-group is coached and managed by a team of volunteers. All coaches are at least RFU Level 1 qualified. The is an annual coaching plan for specialist coaching for the coaches, the introduction of Speed, Agility and Quickness equipment and skills, online coaching manuals and more. This will all directly benefit our players and we look forward to every child fulfilling their potential.

All coaches and managers are CRB checked as part of our Safeguarding policy.

What is HRFC's Child Safeguarding Policy?

At Hitchin Rugby Club we believe that taking part in our sport should be a positive and enjoyable part of children's lives.

We want to make sure that children are protected and kept safe from physical, sexual and emotional harm while they are with Club's coaches, helpers and other volunteers. We have a Child Safeguarding Officer and a strictly enforced Child Safeguarding Policy. To download our full Safeguarding Policy please click here

The club has been awarded the Seal of Approval by the RFU for the coaching and welfare of children & young persons, including child protection.

Sponsorship and fundraising
The entire club benefits from generous sponsorship by LV=. In addition to this, the Mini and Youth Section has been the recipient of very generous sponsorship from the Hitchin Youth Trust. We are immensely grateful to both organisations. These monies will help us improve the strengths of our coaching still further and develop our rugby in the community programme.

However, during the course of the season there are a number of fundraising activities that we ask every parent and player to support. From the BBQ at the open day to the infamous Adult Panto in the new year and our glitzy M&Y May Ball - every penny raised goes into the M&Y club funds to help pay for equipment and improve our coaching. So watch out for information and please give generously!

Our link with Saracens as a "Partner Club" has been a great success featuring on pitch tag games, Saracens training, player visits and many, many families watched Premiership rugby at Vicarage Road through our discounted tickets scheme.

We're delighted to confirm that Hitchin RFC Mini and Youth Section will once again be a Partner Club to Saracens RFC for the  2012-2013 season.

Further information

For further information about playing or training, please contact us using our Contact Page or email the membership secretary at:

MandYSecretary@hitchinrugby.com