getting in to county ;)

[Howzy]

hello all i just have a question that i have been wondering for ages.

do you have to go to a private school to get into county?

i have been wondering this myself since i played for the under 14s at my club i am now currently under 16s and the season has just finished so soon will be going into under 17s rugby. i have won many awards over the years at presentations. but still as i look on that question is still on my mind.

i am currently 5 foot 5 and play openside flanker i weight oprox 12 stone and am fairly fit dute to swimming i have done for years. i have been congratulated by my coaches on the things i am good at. but this still doesnt statifie me whether i am good enough to get into county.

i blame myself for not getting into county as a result of my size, but when i questioned my coach about this he said that it doesnt matter what your size is.


is this true?, could anyone answer my question at the top of the thread? and could anyone give me advise on the county matter? all would be much appreiciated

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nah, quite a few from my school played county (Staffordshire), and from the schools of surrounding towns as well. I think there were more state school than private in total.

 

[big ginger 8]

Everyone says size isn't important but to a certain degree their lying. Unless you're an exceptional talent size is unfortunately pretty important especially if you're in the forwards. I'm very sorry to say that if I was a coach at Counties level and heard about your size I'd be heavily inclined not to pick you even without seeing you play again sorry that's just the way it seems to work.

About the school thing don't know how it works in England but it's definitely vital in Ireland that you're in a private school. Very rare for a public school goer to make it.

 

[Conal]

well a club badge or school tie can help though
and so can size i played for north yorks a couple of years ago
the fact i played for harrogate and the fact i was rather chunky helped. to be fair i got in infront of better rugby players due to trial days being big and from a better team went along way sadly
we got shown up in the inter-yorkshire matches

however if you are good enough you will get noticed just make sure your sent to trial days regardless
but as bg8 says you will have to a talented player as county level is bloody physical

 

[Howzy]

well because of swimming i have been quoted as the strongest player on our team by a coach. in a sense i am like sam warburton i can tackle and bring down players twice my size i am also good at counter rucking as i am small enough to get low i recently have shown this as a result of me stealing a ball we won by 3 points in a cup match and we wer right on our line.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

About the school thing don't know how it works in England but it's definitely vital in Ireland that you're in a private school. Very rare for a public school goer to make it.

It's the same (for the most part) for pro-rugby over here as well, but for age-grade counties I don't think so (or at least not in my area!).

 

[Teh Mite]

Playing for a club which is affiliated with the pro-clubs helps: If you're on the radar for a Prem/ND1 sides academy, the county will also take notice.

As stated above, private schooling helps - In some areas though this may just be because the school will actually play rugby instead of only Soccer.

 

[Conal]

It's the same (for the most part) for pro-rugby over here as well, but for age-grade counties I don't think so (or at least not in my area!).

in yorkshire the traditional schools dominate by 6th form at latest

quite a lot of guys e.g. winger andflanker who payed for harrogate club (age grade with me)
winger was offered / advised to go to prince henrys ( leeds Carnegie linked school) and the flanker went
other schools like sedbergh offer scholarships to yorkshire players. with a center from hull being poached in my year.

never besides as we progressed through age group private schools such as St Peters ( york) gain momentum as they poach/train the **** out of local talent and gained more and more Representative players

 

[racingmetrofan]

Well when I was your age the county hooker I knew weighed like 100kg, could bench 120kg, oh press 45kg dumbells and back squat 180kg. And he said that strength levels were pretty similar in the back row. So I think your size is probably the biggest issue.

From what I remember county were notorious for picking on size.

The private school thing is just because they play far more rugby than the average state school.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Well when I was your age the county hooker I knew weighed like 100kg, could bench 120kg, oh press 45kg dumbells and back squat 180kg. And he said that strength levels were pretty similar in the back row. So I think your size is probably the biggest issue.

From what I remember county were notorious for picking on size.

The private school thing is just because they play far more rugby than the average state school.

 

[ORothlain]

in a sense i am like sam warburton i can tackle and bring down players twice my size i am also good at counter rucking as i am small enough to get low...

"It took five giant storks, working overtime, to deliver him to his parents.He cut his teeth on a peavy pole and grew so fast the after one week he had to wear his father's clothes. His lungs were so strong that he could empty a whole pond of frogs with one "holler". - from "Paul Bunyan" [Folklore].

 

[Howzy]

thanks guys i never realised i was going to get this much feedback i am ever so grateful and btw i am from the durham county area so if you know anything about that?

 

[Saintjay]

Played county and I went to a state school. I am not sure if they still run trial games where you will be playing for your position agaisnt some very good players.

I think they have moved away from the days of who your daddy is, and what car do you have.

 

[lucky number 7]

thanks guys i never realised i was going to get this much feedback i am ever so grateful and btw i am from the durham county area so if you know anything about that?

Billy Elliot was set there..

 

[Howzy]

Billy Elliot was set there..

haha you doyle ;P

tbh thers not many flankers at the county trials as the guys ask what position you play, most were wingers or second rows.

 

[04perryo]

I got into county once i was only 5ft 8 at that time and weighed 11 stone. That was last year bulked up a bit since then

 

[Howzy]

any more ideas?

 

[lucky number 7]

Great way to get noticed at trials is wear Boots that stand out or dye your hair something bright...When you do something it will be noticed.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Worked for Joe Marler: He made the Saxons squad a year or two ago despite getting ruined at every scrum and being sent off most matches for fighting. The reason? He had "Sausage" shaved in to his hair, and a colourful mohican.

He's now calmed it down as he's scrummaging well and not getting as many cards

 

[racingmetrofan]

Didnt say I could lol....