RUGBY FOR ALL AT CASTLE PARK

The Playing Steering Group charged with setting out a proposed structure for all rugby at Castle Park has now issued its proposals which are set out below. The members of the Steering Group were Paul Morris, John Lowe, Neil Fisher, Lynn Howells, Steve Salvin and James Criddle.

DONCASTER RUGBY STRUCTURE

Doncaster Mini Rugby (Under 7s to Under 12s)

1. play in accordance with the RFU Continuum – every player gets a game on match days other than Cup games where the team is chosen by the Manager and/or Coach

1. each age group to have an appropriate management/coaching structure with at least one coach qualified to RFU Level 1

Doncaster Junior Rugby (Under 13s to Under 16s)

a. made up of players who move up from the Doncaster Mini section (or join the Club) and who will play in accordance with the RFU Laws. Every player gets a game on match days other than Cup games where the team is chosen by the Manager and/or Coach. Where there are sufficient numbers, two teams may be run at an age level

b. each age group to have an appropriate management/coaching structure with one coach [ideally] qualified to RFU Level 2

c. potential elite players from Doncaster Under 13s to Under 16s plus other clubs and schools in the area will be invited to join the Knights Academy Trainee Scheme for once a week training/coaching (conditioning and skills) whilst continuing to train and play with their own Doncaster/other club/school age group team. The Knights Academy Training Scheme will come under the direct management of the Academy Manager. This is NOT a playing structure but is a Development pathway

Doncaster Youth Rugby (Under 17s)

1. made up of players who move up from the Doncaster Junior section (or join the Club) and who will play in accordance with the RFU Laws. Every player gets a game on match days other than Cup games where the team is chosen by the Manager and/or Coach. Where there are sufficient numbers, two teams may be run and entered in the Yorkshire Under 17s league.

1. The Under 17s will have an appropriate management/coaching structure with one coach [ideally] qualified to RFU Level 2

Doncaster Colts Rugby (Under 18s and 19s)

1. made up of players who move up from the Doncaster Youth section (or join the Club) and who will play in accordance with the RFU Laws. Every player gets a game on match days other than Cup games where the team is chosen by the Academy Manager and/or the Team Manager or Coach.

1. Where there are sufficient numbers, two teams may be run and entered in the Yorkshire Colts league. Where the numbers are not sufficient, the Academy Manager will discuss with the Phoenix Playing Manager the possibility of suitable players, who do not get regular games for the Colts, playing within the Phoenix structure.

1. No member of the Doncaster Phoenix management or coaching structure will approach any Doncaster Knights Youth player directly although they will be encouraged to form links with the appropriate age group level management and coaches

1. The Colts will come under the Academy Manager but [ideally] will also have a separate management/coaching structure with one coach [ideally] qualified to RFU Level 2

Doncaster Knights Junior Academy (Under 17s to Under 19s)

a. potential elite players from Doncaster Under 17s and Colts plus other clubs, universities/schools in the area and from abroad will be invited to join the Knights Junior Academy for twice a week training/coaching (conditioning and skills) and twice per month Saturday games against other sides Junior Academies whilst continuing to train and play with their own Doncaster/other club/school age group team, when available (or Doncaster team if from abroad).

Doncaster Knights Senior Academy (Age Under 20 to 21+)

a. potential elite players from Doncaster Junior Academy plus other clubs, universities/schools in the area and from abroad will be invited to join the Knights Senior Academy for twice a week training/coaching (conditioning and skills) and for fixtures within the Doncaster Knight’s ”A” XV structure

Doncaster Phoenix Amateur Club

a. a separately constituted amateur club that currently plays in Yorkshire Three League but with ambitions to go higher. Doncaster Knights are committed to help them achieve this aim. They currently run two fifteens each Saturday selected on merit and have intentions of running three or four.

b. The Phoenix management will set up a coaching structure with one coach [ideally] qualified to RFU Level 2

c. Once too old for Colts, players who have come up through the Doncaster Mini/Junior/Youth structure (other than those selected for the Knights Junior Academy), will be invited to join Phoenix. All such players will be accommodated under the Phoenix playing structure. Other players will be encouraged to return to their original club

d. Players who improve within the Phoenix structure may be invited to join the Doncaster Knights Senior Academy or to play for the Knights “A” XV (in both cases such approaches will be made to the Phoenix Playing Manager by the Knights Academy Manager)

Doncaster “A” XV

1. team will be selected from Doncaster Knights First Team squad, Doncaster Knights Senior Academy squad and promising Doncaster Phoenix players who play twice monthly fixtures against Premiership and National One “A” teams.

Doncaster Knights Squad

a. full time professional squad who play in National Division One and which is sourced from either the Doncaster Knights Senior Academy or from other clubs, home and abroad

The above structure has been discussed with the Doncaster Phoenix Committee and representatives of the Colts and Under 17s management/coaching staff. Some concerns have been raised by the Under 17s management/coaching staff and these will be addressed. The Steering Group are still working on establishing links with Doncaster College and Hull University so that players can continue playing at Castle Park whilst continuing their post school education.

Anyone wishing to comment on the above should do so in the Fanzone Section of our website in the Colts/Academy sub-section where a “topic” has already been set up.

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