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U20 World Cup Semifinals
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Camquin View Drop Down
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Joined: 01 Jun 2007
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Points: 12002 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Camquin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jul 2023 at 15:29
Chris - You are Southwark Rugby, I assume you still have the youth sides.
How many youngsters turn up?
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Halliford View Drop Down
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Points: 4309 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halliford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jul 2023 at 17:23
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Originally posted by rugbychris rugbychris wrote:

It's almost impossible to believe isn't it? Take a look at Google Earth and search around Central London and move South as far as Clapham Common, Brixton Hill and Deptford. You will see a few parks which with the exception of Burgess Park (Where we are) aren't able to fit a rugby pitch on. You will also struggle to find any 3G which has a rugby impact layer.

Rugby (Touch rugby withstanding) just isn't a game you go down to the park with 4 or 5 friends to play. It needs proper supervision and a suitable environment to play in. Football, basketball and table tennis can be played indoors in sports halls or in much smaller spaces. They are more accessible and therefore always going to be easier sports to facilitate in Urban areas.

Interestingly it's not just rugby clubs that are underrepresented in London I know of very few community sports clubs (where juniors progress to seniors) anywhere in Southwark until you hit leafy Dulwich.

The whole idea of creating a smaller sized game like rugby V's to help with participation is deeply flawed as the schools have no areas to play contact rugby. 

Back of fag packet thinking. £1500 coaching costs per school which gives over 25 sessions.  Targeting year 7 & 8 pupils.  518 state funded secondary schools exist in London. So, £777,000 per year to have c25,000 11-13 year olds learning and playing rugby in London alone. 

It seems like a huge amount of money until you compare it to the amount spent on the professional game. In 2020 the RFU spent £66.4m on the professional side of rugby. 

You would also need to factor in transport costs to get participants to suitable pitches.

5 or 6 years of investment and it would transform rugby. 

I won't hold my breath Big smile
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rugbychris View Drop Down
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Points: 205 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rugbychris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jul 2023 at 11:49
Yes, that's correct. Southwark Rugby. We have been building the youth section up over the past 3 years. It's a bit of a slog as it simply isn't an area that has a rugby tradition. For the first time ever this coming season we will have teams at most age groups. On most Sunday's we have c140 kids turn up.
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FHLH View Drop Down
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Points: 5572 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FHLH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jul 2023 at 15:08
Millwall and Hackney have vibrant clubs servicing central and east London. Both run minis, ladies and senior. Impressive set ups.
"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."
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Paul10 View Drop Down
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Points: 914 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Paul10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jul 2023 at 16:46
Originally posted by FHLH FHLH wrote:

Millwall and Hackney have vibrant clubs servicing central and east London. Both run minis, ladies and senior. Impressive set ups.

Very pleased for Millwall. I played there in 2001 and it was awful then.
At least playing scrum half behind our pack was no fun..

We trained on some sort of horse paddock on the Isle of dogs.
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