Thursday 29 September 2011

Matrix Teams

Reminder of the Matrix Teams for Neath, Bonymaen and Loughor...

Games are:
Dunvant (A) 18th Sept / S.Gower (H) 25th Sept / Neath (TBC) 2nd Oct.
Bonymaen (A) 9th Oct / Loughor (H) 16th Oct.

v Dunvant
v S.Gower
v Neath
v Bonymaen
v Loughor
Back 5
Rhod
Rhod
James
Rhod
Rhod
Back 5
James
Brad
Brad
James
James
Back 5
Brad
Jack
Jack
Ben
Brad
Back 5
Jack
Ben
Ben
Tom
Jack
Back 5
Ben
Tom
Tom
Lloyd
Tom
Back Row
Lloyd
Lloyd
Cam
Cam
Lloyd
Back Row
Cam
Cian
Cian
Cian
Cam
Back Row
Cian
K Morr
K Morr
K Morr
K Morr
Front row
Will
Will
Jamie
Will
Will
Front row
Jamie
K Morg
K Morg
Jamie
Jamie
Front row
K Morg
Aled
Aled
Aled
K Morg
Front row
Aled
Alex
Alex
Alex
Alex
Half Back
Rhys C
Rhys C
Max
Rhys C
Rhys C
Half Back
Max
Nathan
Nathan
Max
Max
Half Back
Nathan
Zach
Zach
Zach
Nathan
Half Back
Zach
TG
TG
TG
TG
2nd row
Sam
Sam
Ryan
Sam
Sam
2nd row
Ryan
Oli
Oli
Ryan
Ryan
2nd row
Oli
Rhys D
Rhys D
Rhys D
Oli
2nd row
Rhys D
Harry
Harry
Harry
Harry

Tuesday 27 September 2011

CRUSADERS' TOUR 2012





West Coast International Rugby Festival 2011/2012


  
May Day Bank Holiday 
Arrive 4th May | Depart 7th May 2012
Tournament Day’s 5th May | 6th May 2012
Age Groups Male | U7 through to U16



Plans are taking shape for our proposed rugby tour this year.

In 2012 the West Coast International Mini and Junior Rugby Festival will take place in one of the UK’s leading Holiday destination’s in North Devon. The Festival of Rugby is an exciting event that has stirred enormous interest in rugby clubs not just in the UK but through Ireland, Northern Ireland and other International destinations. With a first class host club in Barnstaple Rugby Club you are sure to enjoy your time on and off the field. Group matches will be played on the Saturday with Cup, Challenge Cup and Bowl matches on the Sunday.

Teams will be based in a number of holiday villages with John Fowler Holidays accommodation in Ilfracombe as our preferred option. There is plenty of entertainment in the Holiday Village including an indoor pool. Various accommodation sizes will be available varying from 2 berth all the way up to 12 berth including chalets, apartments and caravans. Exact details of accommodation depends on our final numbers and proximity to each other.

We have secured an early booking discount of £89 per person. This includes three night’s accommodation at the holiday park, entry to the rugby festival, entertainment pass & return coach shuttles to and from the rugby festival from the holiday village on the Saturday and Sunday. Ilfracombe is about 4 hours journey and we are proposing to hire a coach to transport us there and back. A proper rugby tour! The coach will cost approx. £30 per head return. Families are welcome to attend but unfortunately there are no discounts available for family groups.

We need firm numbers by October 5th to obtain the discount. Can you also please let us know who you want to share accommodation with?

Please contact Kay with these details by Wed 5th October if you would like to attend.

07949 998772

Thanks
Dan

Sunday 25 September 2011

Game v Neath Away - Sun 2nd October

Below map for directions to the Neath game for the match on Sunday 2nd October
Please arrive by 10.30am
Team is as per the Matrix selection further down the blog. Teamer invites will be sent out later in the week

View Rugby Pitches in a larger map

Friday 23 September 2011

TEAMER REPLIES

Please can everyone make sure they reply to their Teamer text or email as soon as they know they can make the game on the Sunday. This will help us to organise replacements to the squad we will be taking earlier rather than asking people to come last minute.
If you do not reply to the Teamer invite it will be assumed that you can NOT make the game and a replacement player may be notified to take the place. Thank you

Wednesday 21 September 2011

South Gower HOME Sunday 25th Sept - 10.30am

We have a home game this coming Sunday against our good friends from South Gower.
We will be playing in Bishopston, this year as last year we will be on the top pitch the other side of the school. Teamer invites have been sent out based on the Matrix selection for the game further down the page.
See you all there, and see you all in the club afterwards!

Monday 19 September 2011

Dunvant and South Gower matches

Well done all the boys against Dunvant on the weekend. There is a very brief match report online. Click the Match Report tab above to have a read.
Training again 4.30pm on Friday at Underhill as we prepare to take on our good friends, classmates and rivals from South Gower at 'home' in Bishopston. The Matrix teams are all below and the players involved will also receive a Teamer invite.

As it is a home game for us against South Gower it would be really great to see some of the boys and parents back at the club afterwards. It is something that the club is extremely keen to encourage. They have a new kitchen, and although it hasn't got a Michelin Star yet, it will provide some nice food for the boys and let them be together for a short while after the game. Hope to see you there

Wednesday 14 September 2011

BRING YOUR BALLS!

Can all the boys please bring their training ball with them on Friday night
Thanks

Monday 12 September 2011

THE MATRIX EXPLAINED...

Just to clarify the thinking behind the new Matrix to everyone...
You will see that your son will have been allocated a "position". That is to help balance the team for each match. Though it is more likely that they will be playing in that position on the day, they will be moved around to 
develop their skills in other positions as well as to accommodate injuries during the game.

For instance, though there are only three "back row" players for each game, we think that at least two of the "front row" and all of the "second row" can play in the "back row" in any specific game. 

We will stick to a rotation policy on the field as well. Depending on the final number for the day, it is likely that your son will have around 70% of the playing time on the pitch. Noting that wingers have the least amount of activity during a game (fewer passes, tackles, rucks etc), there are approximately 2 backs and 3 forwards replacements for each game.

At the end of the first cycle of games, we will review the matrix allocation, adjusting where necessary.

It is essential that players: 
1. Don't become a one position player.
2. Experience a range of positions over the season.
3. Get as much game time as possible.
4. Want to learn new skills based on WHAT THEY HAVE DISCOVERED FROM PLAYING, not just because we have told them that it is the right skill.

Sunday 11 September 2011

MATRIX TEAMS

Dan's patented Matrix has outputted the following teams for the first five teams of the season. The combination of complex equations, years of rugby experience and drawing of straws has resulted in selections that should see equal game time for everyone.
Ongoing analysis by our team of experts will make any alterations needed to the matrix before releasing teams for the next round of fixtures...

Games are:
Dunvant (A) 18th Sept / S.Gower (H) 25th Sept / Neath (TBC) 2nd Oct.
Bonymaen (A) 9th Oct / Loughor (H) 16th Oct.

v Dunvant v S.Gower v Neath v Bonymaen v Loughor
Back 5 Rhod Rhod James Rhod Rhod
Back 5 James Brad Brad James James
Back 5 Brad Jack Jack Ben Brad
Back 5 Jack Ben Ben Tom Jack
Back 5 Ben Tom Tom Lloyd Tom
Back Row Lloyd Lloyd Cam Cam Lloyd
Back Row Cam Cian Cian Cian Cam
Back Row Cian K Morr K Morr K Morr K Morr
Front row Will Will Jamie Will Will
Front row Jamie K Morg K Morg Jamie Jamie
Front row K Morg Aled Aled Aled K Morg
Front row Aled Alex Alex Alex Alex
Half Back Rhys C Rhys C Max Rhys C Rhys C
Half Back Max Nathan Nathan Max Max
Half Back Nathan Zach Zach Zach Nathan
Half Back Zach TG TG TG TG
2nd row Sam Sam Ryan Sam Sam
2nd row Ryan Oli Oli Ryan Ryan
2nd row Oli Rhys D Rhys D Rhys D Oli
2nd row Rhys D Harry Harry Harry Harry

Saturday 10 September 2011

PONTARDAWE GAME

It was great to see so many of the Crusaders make the journey up-river to Pontardawe on Friday night. A fantastic turn-out, some exciting rugby on the big pitch and overall a really positive evening topped off with the customary warm welcome and sausage and chips in the clubhouse.

Keep an eye out on the blog for teams for the next five weeks which will be posted as soon as I can figure out a way of putting them up without grinding the internet to a halt.

Thursday 8 September 2011

THE MATRIX UNCOVERED

No longer just an urban myth, new evidence has come to light revealing the existence of Dan's patented u12 Rugby Matrix. This anonymously emailed picture shows Dan hard at work on the super computer needed to run such a complex system, keenly aided by the Carol Vorderman of Mumbles, Kay Midha.

The teams for the next 5 weeks have all been worked out and will be posted on the blog after the game on Friday night

PONTARDAWE - Post match food at the club

Pontardawe are kindly putting on food for all the boys at the rugby club after the game.
All are wlecome back there to enjoy their usual hospitality.

Wednesday 7 September 2011

FRIDAY 5.30pm v PONTARDAWE

Whole squad to play a training game against Pontardawe on Friday night. This will provide all the boys with a good opportunity to get used to the 15 a side full pitch set up after the long lazy summer of perpetual sunshine.
MEET AT 5.30pm Teamer invites will be sent out PLEASE REPLY TO TEAMER!!

We will be playing on the senior pitch, which is at the end of the industrial estate, by Wall Colmony.
NOT AT THE LEISURE CENTRE - see the map below...


View Rugby Pitches in a larger map

Tuesday 6 September 2011

International Tickets - 6 Nations

Anyone interested in tickets for next year's six nations can buy them through the club. But time is running out. All you need to do is go to the ground floor bar in the club house, and write your name on the list pinned up on the column facing the bar (or ask Skinny where the list is). If tickets are over subscribed, there will be a lottery, however at the moment there are not many names down (France and Italy are the home matches) and there is a good chance that you will be offered tickets. Please include a contact telephone number, and indicate the team (under 12s) that you are part of.

Lists will only be there until the end of the week (because we then need to apply for our allocation) so if you want tickets go now.

Saturday 3 September 2011

TRAINING SUNDAY - 10.30am

We will be training on Sunday at 10.30am at Underhill - See you all there!

Thursday 1 September 2011

TRAINING FRIDAY 4.30pm

Training Friday 4.30pm in Underhill
Those who haven't handed in registration
PLEASE BRING 2 x PASSPORT PHOTOS
and we can do the registration forms there and then

IF YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED A REGISTRATION CARD
YOU ARE NOT INSURED TO PLAY FOR THE CLUB!

FIRST MATCH NEXT FRIDAY!