getting in to county ;)

[DuncTheDoodle]

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.

I once, at under 16, having not shaved for weeks on end (I was one of those weird kids who got a beard when they were like 8) and also having floppy-ish hair and quite short, turned up at an away team's ground looking like some sort of hairy wilderbeast. Early in the first half, the ball got ut to my wing and I stepped inside one man, broke through, but got caught by the fullback. However, as he was bringing me to ground, I threw a pass out of the back of my hand that went a good 10 metres sideways and straight into our 10's hands, who scored under the posts. Said outside half (Who was an average height, had a buzzcut and no facial hair) went on to score 4 tries and kick all 6 conversions, including one from the touchline and I didn't touch the ball again. But when asked for their man-of-the-match at the end of the game, their team unanimously said "The hairy dude", because they'd forgotten anything about the rest of the team. So there's a lesson in that.

Actually, there's probably not.

 

[lucky number 7]

I once, at under 16, having not shaved for weeks on end (I was one of those weird kids who got a beard when they were like 8) and also having floppy-ish hair and quite short, turned up at an away team's ground looking like some sort of hairy wilderbeast. Early in the first half, the ball got ut to my wing and I stepped inside one man, broke through, but got caught by the fullback. However, as he was bringing me to ground, I threw a pass out of the back of my hand that went a good 10 metres sideways and straight into our 10's hands, who scored under the posts. Said outside half (Who was an average height, had a buzzcut and no facial hair) went on to score 4 tries and kick all 6 conversions, including one from the touchline and I didn't touch the ball again. But when asked for their man-of-the-match at the end of the game, their team unanimously said "The hairy dude", because they'd forgotten anything about the rest of the team. So there's a lesson in that.

Actually, there's probably not.

Hahahah Quality , I regularly got far more votes for motm when I wore a scrumhat as opposed to the days I did not. Any soft of thing that distinguishes someone , people watching the game will always set them aside from the other players it's class.

 

[Olliekooga]

When I was playing county level a lot of guys were from state schools and I dont think the private vs State argument really reared its head. What we did have a lot of was guys from strong clubs.
Your size may be an issue in that a bigger guy who can do what you can may get the nod based on size.
I think a lot depends on what the county already has and the coaches style. A coach who wnats a really mobile pack will be mor interested than a coach who wants to base the game around a monster set piece for example. If they have 7 other monsters it might not be an issue. If they are looking for a lineout jumping back row to go up at 4 then it might be more of an issue.

 

[Howzy]

i am a brilliant lifter i just cant jump cos of my height ;P

 

[lucky number 7]

i am a brilliant lifter i just cant jump cos of my height ;P

I was what , 5'8 0r 5'9 playing flanker and always went up as first lineout jumper , the quality of your lifters and how good you are in the air at handling and agility is just as important as height mate

 

[04perryo]

yeah im 5'10 atm and im first jumper as well height isn't the most important thing and besides being a jumper is way more fun then being a lifter

 

[Peat]

While the quality of your jump is as important as your height, if you haven't jumped at all you're probably not going to become a brilliant jumper overnight. I mean, try it and see, but...

An idea that might be a good idea is to convert to hooker. If you can continue to have an openside's effect on the game while in the front row, people sit up and take notice, particularly if your set piece basics are good. It's also a traditional position for midgets in the pack - see this young man http://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandUnder18/HarryThacker.aspx - Brian Moore was never very big and made a similar switch as well. I don't know the competition around you, but might be worth a look.

 

[Howzy]

While the quality of your jump is as important as your height, if you haven't jumped at all you're probably not going to become a brilliant jumper overnight. I mean, try it and see, but...

i have had a go at jumping but because of my high the coaches just say ur too small but tbh the other players think i am a suitable back jumper because i have briliant balance an i go up and stay straight while the back jumper whop replaced me cant keep straight he flops all over.

 

[JJWisener]

You must be a unit if you're 5'5 and 12 stone! There is no limit education-wise on getting into county, but I have to say that the private route is easier as most rugby teachers are associated with your county already! Go for it bro!

(I'm going into U17 but playing U18 next year, I'm 6'3 and 16st 3 so people don't dare to lift me in my age group!)

 

[Howzy]

You must be a unit if you're 5'5 and 12 stone! There is no limit education-wise on getting into county, but I have to say that the private route is easier as most rugby teachers are associated with your county already! Go for it bro!

(I'm going into U17 but playing U18 next year, I'm 6'3 and 16st 3 so people don't dare to lift me in my age group!)​

well people say i am i have just started at the gym i can bench press 80 kgs (the bar already weighs 20kgs) and have done swimming for a number of years so have a decent fraim. i once complanined about how i do nothing during set pieces and our prop in front of me turned around and said " of course you do u knocked a lad off his feet" i just thort well hes rite i would of had video evidence of this but our photographer wasnt ther becos she normally films and takes pictures was gutted haha. aaaaah our county has just confirmed a under 17s league this year anyways with the exception of the major clubs for example middlesborough because they are best up hear. with a squad of 26 thers only 2 players who dont play for county or an academy with players playing for england under 18s and saints by god there good we played them at a 10s tournament and they wer all physically fit and all had professional gear and tapings.

 

[TrueSlawter]

well people say i am i have just started at the gym i can bench press 80 kgs (the bar already weighs 20kgs) and have done swimming for a number of years so have a decent fraim. i once complanined about how i do nothing during set pieces and our prop in front of me turned around and said " of course you do u knocked a lad off his feet" i just thort well hes rite i would of had video evidence of this but our photographer wasnt ther becos she normally films and takes pictures was gutted haha. aaaaah our county has just confirmed a under 17s league this year anyways with the exception of the major clubs for example middlesborough because they are best up hear. with a squad of 26 thers only 2 players who dont play for county or an academy with players playing for england under 18s and saints by god there good we played them at a 10s tournament and they wer all physically fit and all had professional gear and tapings.

After reading that I'll settle with playing for Seaton carew good luck with playing for county etc but was looking at playing for borough (as live there for uni) but will be willing to travel up the road a bit to actually get some game time xD (though I wont be playing u17s more 1sts/2nds)

 

[Howzy]

After reading that I'll settle with playing for Seaton carew good luck with playing for county etc but was looking at playing for borough (as live there for uni) but will be willing to travel up the road a bit to actually get some game time xD (though I wont be playing u17s more 1sts/2nds)

we once played seaton carew a couple years bck in the under 12 age group. they were aweful. haha i would chance going to middlesborough becos their 1st/2nd teams aint as good as there now under 18s age group as i think middlesborough neva lost a game last season. where as their 1st/2nds did. i was talking to a lad on their team and he said they have regular talent scouts come down to watch them train play etc.. obvisouly they have already acheived the status as a high ranking club but tbh their under 16s team (last season) wernt all "perfect" they missed tackles and didnt show much effort in scrums so they cant be "the best" haha.

 

[TrueSlawter]

Hah I know seaton aint the best but its all about having fun tbh either way will decide next september when im back in the area.

 

[Howzy]

when you do come back up. werabouts u staying.

 

[04perryo]

**** me had a chance to show what i could do at a AASE trial today but my friend broke my nose a few days ago and couldn't tale part... GOD DAMIIT

Still waiting for podcast 5

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

Everytime I see this thread I suddenly think of the first line of Whichita Lineman "I am a lineman for the county".

Carry on.

 

[killer08]

I dont know about the rest of the country but Bedfordshire and East Midlands its about who you know

 

[04perryo]

Pretty much the same for worcestershire we've had some awful players in the county before just because they have a good relationship with the coaches

 

[TrueSlawter]

when you do come back up. werabouts u staying.

Sorry missed this xD Im moving into a place just off Albert park (Park Road North) , around 5 min walk tops to the uni. It's around a 10-15 min walk tops from the rugby club afaik.

 

[Howzy]

Everytime I see this thread I suddenly think of the first line of Whichita Lineman "I am a lineman for the county".

Carry on.

as in the song? ;P