Here you will find information concerning the different age grades here at Biggar Rugby Club. Just click on the appropriate sub-link on the left hand side of the page to be redirected.
Biggar Development Team Newsletter May/June 2010
Welcome to another newsletter by the Biggar DO team. As the final run-in to summer has begun, let us tell you about what we have been up to and what we have scheduled ahead.
Primary Schools – We have already started our 4-week Rugrats New Image block in the Lanark cluster, delivering Touch Rugby sessions to ages P1-P4 throughout all of the Primary Schools in this area. We are reviewing the possibility of running a P3/4 festival at the end of May as well as further work in the Carluke area for the same age group.
As time is limited leading into the summer holidays, we are scheduling refresher sessions at each school in the Biggar area for P5-P7’s in June. This will lead to a Touch Rugby Festival shortly before the schools break up as well as another festival to be held in the Carnwath area. A few schools have been receiving occasional Touch rugby sessions at their local After School Clubs when available, but these are tending to dwindle as the schools have other committments that take over for the last few weeks of term.
All at Lanark, Biggar and Carluke area Primaries will be receiving information promoting the Biggar RFC’s annual Summer Rugby Camps which will be run this year twice over in the Summer Holidays.
Secondary Schools – As previously mentioned, we have been very busy with the amount of high school sessions being held - but as exams have now begun and don’t finish until the end of May- it’s almost at an end as most exams are held in Games’ halls. The news at Lanark Grammar is that unfortunately our work of over eight weeks with all S1 and S2 pupils has come to a slightly premature end. We were looking now at the conclusion of these 8 weeks to take sessions up to the Racecourse and potentially hold fixtures with Carluke High, but due to the understandable sensitivity over buses and transport issues within Lanark Grammar we are now on ‘hold’ to see if this remains a possibility. Our sessions were positively received and quite a few of the students revealed a lot of talent. We will also look to hold a Girls Day at the racecourse after exam time when staff can be available to support. This will run in June before Lanimars Day.
Carluke High are still receiving weekly after school training sessions and it is hoped we can get some curriculum time with these pupils in the next school year.
Finally to Biggar High School where the good news here is the S1/2 team competed in the newly established Lanarkshire Schools Cup. They accounted for St Ambrose and then Strathaven in the earlier rounds and now after a resounding victory over Cathkin in the semi final are due to play Coatbridge in the final on Tuesday 11th May , 7pm @ Dalziel Rugby Club.
All at Lanark, Biggar and Carluke High Schools are receiving information promoting the Biggar RFC’s annual Summer Rugby Camps.
Club – As we draw nearer to end of the season, tournaments for 10 or 7-a-side teams have begun for all age’s.
Minis –Tournaments were held at both Stirling County and Currie, and whilst we were slightly disappointing at Stirling, the general improvement in performance at Currie has left our boys and girls more eager than ever to improve yet again for this week’s tournament at Boroughmuir on Sunday 9th May. Midis – S1 and S2’s both hosted Gala at the beginning of the month but both saw defeat to a strong S1 Gala and S2 Gala side. The S2’s have though taken part in a competitive Uddingston tournament but just missed out on a trophy with their only defeat to the hosts. Under 15’s lost to an impressive North Berwick side in their final game of the season but still managed to take 3rd place! Both 15’s and 16’s also traveled to Gala in their first 7’s tournament but neither could make through the group stages. Upcoming is the Daziel 15-a-side tournament on the 9th of May, which see all S1 to Under16’s attending.
Due to teams disbanding for the summer, we would like to take this opportunity to make you aware of the Biggar RFC Rugby Camps that are taking place at the beginning and end of the summer holidays;
P5-P6 28th and 29th of June and 4th and 5th August
P7-S1 30th June and 1st of July and 9th and 10th of August
P1-P4 2nd July and13th August
S2-U15 5th and 6th of June and 11th and 12th August
These were superbly successful last year, and are very reasonably priced at £10 per day per child.
Hypers – Regular Monday night 7pm starts for those concerned, having already run numerous sessions since the start of the year. Regular updates and planners are on Biggar RFC’s Hypers Academy website at www.hypers.350.com. A friendly reminder that all coach’s and/or parents are welcome to attend and observe.
Theses sessions will be winding down for the season soon, and we can all confidently say that all members are better players for their efforts.
YOURS IN RUGBY,
ANTS, HANI & ANDY
Biggar Development Team Newsletter April 2010
Welcome to another newsletter by the Biggar DO team. With much work being done all over the South Lanarkshire area, we have been achieving many objectives over our primary, secondary and club sectors.
Primary Schools - Over the last month we have completed our 1st Carluke Primary School cluster since the DO team started and have since built many connections in this area. Many thanks go out to the Biggar 1st XV, Colts and Lanark RFC players/coaches that turned up to help at the Tag Festival at Carluke High School Astroturf on the 16th March. The festival was positively received from all schools involved and the Active School coordinators in the area and all 250+ P5-7 boys and girls loved taking part in Carlukes first ever Tag Rugby Festival. This was a massively successful day, especially when you consider that Rugby Union is a new sport to the vast majority of the children. The customary 'Try Rugby Day' the following Sunday with Lanark RFC at Crawforddyke Park after the festival was not as well attended as anticipated so we will look to run this again after the Easter break. We also have been holding sessions with various schools with 'After School' Clubs, Leadhills and Walston to name a few, but as the holidays run now for 2 weeks we will look to begin a new 'Rugrats' programme in the Lanark cluster week beginning 26th April for P1-4's with a festival scheduled mid-May.
Secondary Schools - As previously mentioned, we have had a busy month in all three secondary schools, Biggar High, Lanark Grammar and Carluke High. We start with Biggar High where congratulations must go to the Under-15 team. After a long unbeaten impressive run in the Brewin Dolphin Schools Bowl competition, Biggar were finally eliminated by a very strong Earlston High outfit. The semi-final dump out has boosted positive spirits to work hard on next year's team to do better. Also the Biggar High S1/2 combined team is looking forward to their next fixture at the end of this month (opponents-TBC) in the local Lanarkshire Schools Cup after two very impressive victories in the opening two rounds.
To Lanark Grammar now, where we are continuing many curriculum sessions with all of the S1/S2 boys and girls classes. We have received a warm reception in an all new impressive high school. We hope that in the coming weeks we will be able to set up an S1/2 team that will enter in the Lanarkshire Schools Cup and compete in fixtures on their own.
We have also set up a promising S1/2 team at Carluke High which won their first ever game against Calderglen High School in the same competition only to be put out in the 2nd round. Much anticipation about the team at the school has prompted regular afterschool sessions to improve the team-this will re-commence after the Easter holidays.
Club - As the season end is on the horizon and festivals are ever nearing, all P1 to P7 Mini teams are running well attended training sessions every Sunday to help the young ones prepare for games ahead. The Midi section is still on a steady high coming into spring but with 1 or 2 games left to play, post season tours and dinners are already fully planned. Coaching Updates have been run successfully at both our club and Lanark RFC.
Finally, an Under 20 team is on course to establish a strong youth to senior conversion for next season with fixtures hopefully against Hamilton and Daziel later this month - with also a strong 7's team to compete in the Lanarkshire Under 20 7's in May.
Ants will be running a foundation coaching course @ the club on Saturday May 15th; this course is needed for anyone wanting to do their Level One, so if interested please let one of our team know.
Hypers - We are back to regular Monday night 7pm starts for those concerned, having already run numerous sessions since the start of the year. Regular updates and planners are on Biggar RFC's Hypers Academy website at www.hypers.350.com . A friendly reminder that all coach's and/or parents are welcome to attend and observe.
Upcoming clinics in April/May are -
MONDAY 12th APRIL @7PM - Scrum Clinic
MONDAY 19th APRIL @7PM - Goal Kicking
MONDAY 26th APRIL @7PM - Collision Area
MONDAY 3rd MAY @7PM - Tackle Technique
MONDAY 10TH MAY @ 7PM - Place Kicking
YOURS IN RUGBY,
ANTS, HANI & ANDI
Biggar Development Team Newsletter MARCH 2010
Welcome to the latest newsletter by the Biggar DO team. Ironically having completed the shortest month of the year, we have probably had our busiest and most important one.
Primary Schools - Last time we were talking about our up and coming new area of Carluke; bringing 8 new primaries for the team to take on. Just like we have done previously in the Biggar and Lanark area we have started a five week block of tag rugby for the P5-7's at the following schools - Carluke, Braidwood, Crawforddyke, High Mill, Forth, Law, Kirkton and St Athanasius. We have sessions in all the schools running through to mid March, and so far we have had a great reception from all involved at each school and a positive response seems to be more and more anticipated for our latest Tag Rugby Festival to be held at Carluke High School's Astroturf pitch on the 16th of March.(11am).
At the completion of our Carluke area work, we are hoping to re-visit the Lanark area and finally back to the Biggar area leading into our Summer Camps.
Secondary Schools - As previously mentioned, work had been slow all over due to weather, exams and new schools being built. But, we have established a strong S1 and S2 after school club group at Carluke High of 19 or so boys, both new and experienced. As for Lanark Grammar, their new high school is finally complete and we are scheduled to start curriculum sessions for both the S1 and S2 years, the week commencing the 8th of March (a mix-up in the school PE department halted our work for 2 weeks earlier). As for Biggar High, our Under 15 team is still in the Brewin Dolphin Bowl competition with a quarterfinal fixture due to be played this week, after three call offs due to the adverse weather we have been getting.
Club - As the snow has started to thaw, we have resumed regular Mini and Midi training sessions. The Mini's have played a few scheduled fixtures in Jedburgh with a packed March to look forward to fixture wise; so training sessions every Sunday are ongoing to help the young ones prepare for games ahead. The Midi section is steadily and surely maintaining positive sessions and games with the Under15's recently back from, Ant's previous club, Beverley (in Yorkshire). Also, the Under 16's are making headway with a recent win over Livingston taking their unbeaten run to 3 in a row. (Must be the Coach!)
Also Ants will be holding another of his popular coaching updates THIS Wednesday at 6pm at the club; this one will be on defense including tackle technique, all coach's are encouraged to attend and reminded to bring kit.
Hypers - We are back to regular Monday night 7pm starts for those concerned, having already run 6 sessions since the start of the year. Regular updates and planners are on Biggar RFC's Hypers Academy website at www.hypers.350.com . A friendly reminder that all coach's and/or parents are welcome to attend and observe.
Upcoming clinics in March are -
MONDAY 1ST MARCH @7PM - Kicking Clinic (AP)
MONDAY 8TH MARCH @7PM - Speed Agility Quickness drills (AP)
MONDAY 15TH MARCH @7PM - Lineout/Lifting Clinic (AP with FH,KA & SC)
MONDAY 22ND MARCH @7PM - Role of 1st Receiver (AP)
MONDAY 29TH MARCH @ 7PM - Player Profile Updates
YOURS IN RUGBY
ANTS, HANI and ANDI
BIGGAR RFC DEVELOPMENT TEAM -NEWSLETTER JAN '10
Welcome to the first newsletter of 2010! As we're surely all aware, the weather has caused some inconvenience for rugby all over. But let us tell you what we have achieved at the end of '09 and have upcoming in 2010.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS - On our last newsletter we had just commenced a 6 week programme in the Lanark Grammar school cluster in the P5-P7 age groups. Well we successfully completed that block and held a very well attended Tag Festival at Lanark Racecourse on the 2nd of December - with over 250 boys and girls kitted out for a very eventful day. The following Sunday after the festival we held a 'Give It A Try' day at Kildare Park, Lanark, as a follow up session which saw 13 boys and 2 girls new to Lanark RFC Junior section.
After successful festivals in both Biggar and Lanark areas in '09, we are now heading to the Carluke cluster (a new area set for us on this year's target.) At the end of January we will be providing 4 to 6 weeks of Tag Rugby sessions with a Festival at the end of the block. On completion of this, we will then be heading back to Lanark for sessions for the younger children and a festival aimed for March, and then ultimately back to the Biggar area with more sessions leading into the return of the summer camps at the end of our season.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS - We have successfully completed eight week blocks for S1 and S2 pupils at Biggar High School. The S1 and S2 teams are now growing strong; and we hope to be attending some festivals as soon as conditions are playable.
Ongoing now is the fantastic news that the school's Under 15's have successfully progressed to the Quarter Finals of the Brewin Dolphin Bowl competition. Opponents will be the winners of the yet to be played tie of Morrisons Academy and Buckhaven High School, and with the weather as it is, we all await eagerly the outcome and progression of this Under 15s side.
On a disappointing note, our combined Biggar High and Lanark Grammar Under 18's team has been withdrawn from their Cup campaign despite beating Moffat High School 44-0 in the second round. All the boys involved were extremely disappointed with what we will put down to as a school's 'staff decision'.
As we have reported back in previous newsletters, we haven't been able to carry out curriculum sessions at Lanark Grammar (except for extra-curriculum and lunchtime classes) up until now. We have now been assured curriculum dates and times set to commence in the all new facilities at Lanark Grammar on the 23rd of February. We are expecting a well anticipated response if last years sessions are anything to go by!
In our new area of Carluke, at Carluke High we are starting with extra-curriculum sessions at the end of this month and hoping to get some curriculum time in as soon as its possible.
CLUB - As we have mentioned before, snow has put a halt on rugby all over the country, especially for the younger ones, but not all hope is lost. There are regular mini training sessions being held at the new Leisure centre at Biggar High School every Sunday at 11am until midway through March.
It's a challenge for us all in these conditions to keep morale and attendance up for all teams and if any coach's need any assistance we are here to help (apart from shovelling snow though!!).
Hypers will commence a little later than originally planned, due to the weather, on February 1st at 7pm. A reminder to all coach's and parents that they are welcome to come and observe each session/clinic if they so wish.
The next coaching update will be held at the beginning of March, details will be provided on the club website nearer to the date.
Cheers,
Yours in rugby, and stay classy Biggar
Ants, Hani and Andi….
BIGGAR RFC DEVELOPMENT TEAM -NEWSLETTER NOV '09
Welcome to the 3rd Biggar Rugby Club Newsletter of 2009/10 season. As you probably know we have been extremely busy as we head into Christmas time, and the 'not so nice' weather.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS:- We have now commenced a six week programme in the Lanark Grammar school cluster (13 primary schools!) in the P5-P7 age groups, having completed the Biggar area. At the conclusion of this work we will be targeting yet another festival, this time on Lanark's racecourse astro-turf ground for P6 and 7 pupils on Wednesday December 2nd. We are also doing sessions at present for the younger kids at Auchengray and Walston Primary schools as well as after school clubs in Robert Owen and Tinto schools - a busy time indeed!
It is obvious to see the benefit of this work at the club, but please may we ask coach's to make sure they look after ALL new kids and get them registered as soon as possible.
Ants is also looking into the possibility of working in Primary schools in the Broughton and West Linton areas as previously this has not been possible as they fall technically into the 'Borders' area.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS:- The first curriculum phase now completed at Biggar High has seen a dramatic increase in the school's participation at rugby. Not just with boys (and girls) joining the club, but also in festivals and national cup action for the school itself.
The Under 15 side has progressed into the 3rd round of the Brewin Dolphin Schools cup courtesy of a resounding 42-5 victory over Newton Stewart at our own Showfield's ground. They are now due to play their next fixture, again at Biggar RFC on Monday 16th November, updates will be on the Biggar website in due course.
Due to this success, numbers are well up at Lunchtime and after school sessions been held by our team, with the Under 18s attending also; who in conjunction with Lanark Grammar will be playing their long awaited first round tie next Wednesday at the club.(Awaiting confirmation from visiting school).
Lunchtime clubs have now started at Lanark Grammar with curriculum sessions due to start in February. Both schools are also to attend both S1 and S2 festivals this month at the Hamilton Sports Ground's indoor complex. Biggar High will be staging its own 'inter-house' festival at the club on November 27th.
Andrew continues to run an after school club for all girls every Monday at the High School.
CLUB:- Biggar RFC can be extremely proud of the effort of all of it's 8 boys who attended the Glasgow Pathway camp for under 14s, not one looked out of place, and it is hoped the club will have a decent representation when the lucky boys who make it through to the next phase are announced.
Ants held a very beneficial and enjoyable coaching update for over 20 coaches a few weeks back and the next one will be on Wednesday November 11th at 6pm at the Club and will be on Tackle Technique and Defensive Drills and all Coaches (and Parents) are welcome; please remember to bring your kit also.
HYPERS:- The 2nd 'High Performance Academy' is well under way and the players are enjoying their training with Ants and other key 1st team members. With the first two months under our belt, sessions have been both well attended and beneficial for all involved. All Biggar club coach's are reminded they are welcome to observe any clinic they wish.
Upcoming Clinics this month include:-
- MONDAY 2ND NOV ROLE OF 1ST RECEIVER (with Ants and Aaron Reid).
- MONDAY 9TH NOV HOOKER'S/THROWING CLINIC (with Mikey Rutherford)
- MONDAY 16TH NOV KICKING CLINIC (with Ants)
- MONDAY 23RD NOV SCRUM CLINIC (with Scott Cameron and Kevin Anderson)
- MONDAY 30TH NOV COUNTER ATTACKING (with Ants and Chris McKeand)
NEXT UPDATE FROM US WILL BE IN JANUARY, REMEMBER WE ARE HERE TO HELP,AND A MERRY XMAS FROM,
ANTS,HANI and ANDREW.
BIGGAR RFC DEVELOPMENT TEAM -NEWSLETTER OCT '09
Welcome to the 2nd Biggar Rugby Club Newsletter of 2009/10 season. We have a busy schedule ahead of us, not to mention having had an eventful last month.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS:- We have successfully delivered TAG Rugby sessions for P5 to P7's in all of the Biggar area primary schools. Auchengray and Walston had trouble fitting us into there curriculum but all has been resolved and we hope to be in there by the end of the month. Having targeted 11 schools, all but one turned up to our Tag Rugby Festival on Wednesday the 30th of Sept. We had an excess of over 250 boys and girls enjoying a massively successful event. Thanks to Dave Adams, Fraley Hopa, Danny Mcginn, Dawn Currell, and Simeon James for assisting on the day.
Already Biggar RFC primary aged teams are benefiting from new members joining. In October as well as doing some P1 to P4 sessions in the above schools, we will also be commencing P5-P7 work in the Lanark schools' area. This we are hoping will culminate in another festival in the Lanark area in the beginning of December.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS:- You may remember that we are coming to the end of a six week block of rugby sessions for both the S1 and S2 classses at Biggar High School. Staff at the school have requested to continue the S1 sessions into well after the October break, culminating in a S1 'inter house' festival at our club on November 27th.
Last month we reported that we were in the process of starting a Biggar HS Under 15's team to compete in the Scottish High Schools 'Brewin Dolphin'Cup as well as a conjoined Biggar High and Lanark Grammar Under 18's team. Well, we can proudly announce that our U15's team beat a confident Annan High team, 45-0 in the first round at Biggar RFC. Our U18's are still in development with Lanark Grammar and have their first game of the cup scheduled for the October break. We hope to bring more on this to you soon.
Upcoming plans are to start lunchtime clubs at Lanark Grammar as soon as possible after the October break with some curriculum work hopefully commencing there in January, as well as approaching Carluke High School about the possibility of doing work there as well!
GIRLS We have established an after school extra curriculum sessions for Biggar High students on Mondays. Iona Haile has been not just a help here, but a marvelous driving force at the school to establish this.
CLUB:- There has been noticeable additions to various Mini squads at the club, and all teams (mini and midi) seem to be responding well to the help they are now receiving from numerous 1st XV squad members.
Coming up this month are the Glasgow North Under 14 pathway camps which Ants and Hani will both be coaching on. Biggar RFC have put no fewer than 8 boys into this, our highest ever representation, so well done and good luck to all involved.
Congratulations go out to the P5 AND P6 sides on winning their respective tournaments at the Linlithgow festival. Also congrats to David McArthur, Richard Peacock, Josh Harvey, Chris Mulligan, Angus Thomson and Paul Davidson who have all reached the next level in their respective age grades in the SRU pathway system.
HYPERS:- The 2nd 'High Performance Academy' is well under way and the players have begun their training with Ants and other key 1st team members. Our first month is mainly theory based, but this month is where the work really begins, as we have practical sessions booked in the following areas -;
- MONDAY 19th OCT BACK ROW CLINIC (with Ants and Jason Kelly)
- MONDAY 26th OCT SCRUM HALF CLINIC (with Ants and Sam Muir)
- MONDAY 2nd NOV ROLE OF 1ST RECEIVER (with Ants and Aaron Reid).
NEXT UPDATE FROM US WILL BE IN NOVEMBER, REMEMBER WE ARE HERE TO HELP,
YOURS IN RUGBY,
ANTS,HANI and ANDREW.
BIGGAR RFC DEVELOPMENT TEAM NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2009
Welcome to the first Biggar RFC Newsletter of 2009/10 season. We hope to bring you monthly updates from Biggar RFC's Development Team, of work being done in your local area including our Club.
Primary Schools:- We have successfully been delivering TAG Rugby sessions for P5 to P7's in the majority of the Biggar cluster primary schools. Having targeted 11 schools so far, we are forecasting a healthy turnout exceeding well over 200 boys and girls to our Tag Rugby Festival on Wednesday the 30th of this month.(12pm to 2pm, all help appreciated)
Secondary Schools:- After a bit of a late start due to the new building of Biggar High School, we are currently taking all of S1 and S2's in a six week curriculum block of Rugby. We are also in the process of starting an Under 15's team to compete in the Brewin Dolphin National Schools Cup as well as a mixed Biggar High and Lanark Grammar Under 18's team. An after school girls 'team' has also been initiated.
Club:- There has been a few losses, swaps and new additions to Biggar RFC's Mini and Midi coaching staff. We now have a number of First XV players who are regularly assisting coaches from all age groups on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings as well as the development team whenever time permits.
Under 16s -Hani Darwish, Scott Watson, Fraley Hopa and James Green.
Under 15S -Sam Muir and Lewis Mclachlan
Under 14s -Jason Kelly
Under 13s -Scott Cameron and Simeon James
Primary Teams - Chris Mckeand, Hugh Green, Andrew Muir
Girls - Andrew Muir and Kevin Anderson
Hypers:- The new 'High Performance Academy' has begun with a total of 35 inductees-including 5 girls, and a total of 8 more inductees than last year. We will be focusing on key positional areas for all positions over the coming 09/10 season, with First XV players helping out in their specific fields on a regular basis.
COACHING UPDATES The next coaching update Ants will hold is on WEDNESDAY 7TH OCTOBER 6.00PM and will be on the OFFLOAD and BALL PRESENTATION; it will include both a theory and a practical and will be finished before team sessions start at 7pm.
On a final note, we are here to help wherever possible, so please don't hesitate to approach one of our team with any query you may have. - Talk again in October!!!!
ANTS, HANI and ANDREW
Youth and Development
Hypers
Congratulations on all of the following players who have been inducted into the Hyper's Academy for the 2009/10 season.
'HYPERS' (Academy) INDUCTEES 2009-10:
SENIORS
Andrew Goodall back row
COLTS
David McArthur scrum half
Chris Mulligan back row
Angus Thomson back row
Calvin Henderson front row
Josh Harvey 2nd row
Richard Peacock utility back
Andrew Muir no.8
UNDER 16s
Craig MacDonald scrum half
Graham Jamieson fullback
Cammy Donald forward
Andy Fleming stand off
Jack Noble winger
Jamie Orr utility
UNDER 15s
Peter Miller back row
Paul Davidson prop
Jamie Starrs 2nd row
Tom Stott back row
Mark Bertram centre
Danny Beagan centre
Hamish Wallace scrum half
Gavin Parker stand off
UNDER 14s
Ryan Anderson back row/centre
Daniel Blackman back row
Adam Stott scrum half
Aird Jardine stand off
Jack Warnock centre/fullback
Reece Cullen winger
Danny McAllister centre/back row
GIRLS
Megan Gray 2nd row
Iona Haile back row
Jennifer Bertram front row/back row
Kirsty Cross front row
Laura Brewster centre