NBHS Rugby teams update
All rugby teams will be posted on whiteboard outside the rugby pavilion on Monday along with training times and allocated training fields. These are the teams for the season, we know our young men are looking forward to the season ahead. If they do not happen to be in a team with all their friends, they will have some new ones by the end of this rugby season.
Note: The F and E grade teams are selected to be as even as possible. This is a principle we believe in at NBHS and one we know helps the most talented players learn to give more and it helps ALL players to have the best rugby experience they can keep them enjoying and playing the game for longer.
We have increased our playing numbers again this season which is great for all teams. With injury and illness through the season, these playing numbers will serve our teams well.
A huge THANK YOU to all the people who have volunteered to help coach a team this year. Rugby is an important part of NZ society and our national identity. The amazing support of volunteer parents and teachers ensures that rugby at NBHS has and will continue to hold a similarly privileged position. Nearly 80% of our team coaches are volunteer parents. Busy people who are sacrificing a lot to support our young men. Please support them in any way you can. Please thank them for what they are doing and please role model the best supporter sideline behaviours and respect for referees no matter how challenging the circumstances can sometimes be.
If you are able to help with a training a week or in a team support role e.g Organising a team Facebook page and taking a lead with team comms so the coaches can focus on coaching, then please do reach out to me directly. We will welcome your support and input. It’s all about helping our young men have the best rugby experience and a great time with their teammates.
NBHS Under 14 Squad.
All players who were under 14 years of age on 1st Jan this year are welcome to attend rugby skills sessions that will run every Wednesday morning from 7.30 am sharp, boots on ready to go for an hour. These sessions are over and above their F and E grade afternoon training. I will run these sessions alongside 1st XV players. We will also bring in specialist coaches from time to time and all sessions will focus on a fundamental skill and helping the boys understand and improve these skills.
The first session will be this Wednesday 5th May, 7.30 am sharp.
An Under 14 NBHS rugby team will be selected to play midweek junior interschool games throughout the season e.g vs Tauranga Boys’, Gisborne Boys’, and Palmerston North Boys’ High School.
At this Monday’s assembly, any boys who want to trial for the Under 14 team will be asked to stay behind and register. We’ll use Wednesday morning to organise teams then play a trial game on Wednesday after school. This will enable us to select an initial team to play Tauranga Boys. This will not be the U 14 team for the season. All players will have an opportunity to push for selection in this team throughout the year through consistent performance and attitude in their F, E, and D grade teams as well as the Wednesday skill sessions.
If you or your son has any queries about rugby, or you want to discuss anything to do with rugby at NBHS then please do contact me directly via email or mobile 027 2772096. Also please do encourage your son to pop up to the pavilion and discuss any queries in person too. Face-to-face communication is a dying art, let’s do what we can to keep it alive.
Here’s to a safe and enjoyable 2021 rugby season. Lastly, if you or your son knows of anyone who may be interested in playing this year or decides in the next few weeks that they are keen to jump on the NBHS Rugby Fun Bus we will always make room for them.
Thanks again to our amazing parents for committing to coach and support our young men this season.
Brendon Ratcliffe
NBHS Director of Rugby
027 2772096
