Evesham overcame the biggest challenge of their season so far on Saturday, with a 9-3 win against Oadby Wyggestonians nudging them through to the Midlands semi-finals of the RFU Junior Vase.

A fine turnout of spectators meant the atmosphere was lively from the start, as was the rugby.

We saw no hesitation from the closely matched teams in exchanging first blows, but it was the visitors who claimed the majority of early possession and applied pressure on Evesham's defense.

Some sturdy tackles from the likes of Luke Matthews and Craig Brotherton dampened Oadby's onslaught, giving the hosts precious time to get back on the offense.

NORTH Midlands Under-19 hooker Dan Kirby has been selected to play for England Colleges in their opening international of the season against the Boys Clubs of Wales at Porthcawl RFC on Sunday February 14 (2pm).

Kirby, a student at Telford Colleges, plays his club rugby for Bridgnorth and was part of the North Midlands Under-19 squad that retained the Sable's Head Trophy with home and away wins over Warwickshire in October.

He is now a member of the North Midlands squad for the National Under-20 Championship.

Kirby is the only Midlands-based player in the England Colleges senior squad but there are four in the England Colleges A squad who will also play the Boys Clubs of Wales at a venue to be decided on March 7.

North Midlands Under-20s launched their National Under-20 Championship campaign with a crushing 81-5 win over an outgunned Staffordshire at Longton's Trentham Lakes ground in Stoke this afternoon.

North Midlands ran in 12 tries in superb exhibition of attacking rugby with Moseley winger Dan Barrett leading the way with a first half hat-trick.

Barrett's wing-mate Matt Farrington of Bridgnorth also ran in two tries - one in each half - and replacement wingers Adam Faulkner of Newport and Nick Adams of Worcester also got in the scoresheet to complete the rout.

The win puts North Midlands in a strong position to progress to next month's Midlands final as winners of Midlands Group B. Their second and final group match is against Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire at Moseley's Billesley Common ground on March 1 (7.30pm).

WE ARE LOOKING TO SUPPORT & DEVELOP THE YOUNG LEADERS IN YOUR CLUB!!

Through vRugby we are looking to identify, support and develop the young leaders of our game.

vRugby offers the young leaders RFU Stash, a contribution towards out of pocket expenses and access to training courses including online learning modules, safeguarding, Entry Level Referee Award, Tag Coaching and Rugby Ready Practical. Once identified the RFU will support the club to develop the young leaders and find pathways into other rugby volunteering opportunities.

Across the West Midlands many great young leaders have been identified and run bite sized projects such as:

Telford RFC – Young leaders ran a Car Wash to raise funds to buy a ramp for the club to ensure better wheelchair access.

Rugby Union's core values have helped to persuade Hagley Catholic High School from Worcestershire to take up the sport again after an absence of more than ten years.

Hagley were once a strong rugby-playing school under Mark Wilson, former Stourbridge centre and ex-Birmingham & Solihull backs coach, but interest dwindled after he moved to another school.

But Hagley are now running three teams again at Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 levels, encouraged by head of PE Gareth Barrett.

"He liked the fact that in rugby there is respect have respect for the referee and for their opponents and he thought that it was something that was important for children to learn when they play sport," said John Griffiths, a sixth former who helps to coach Hagley's teams.

"Mr Barrett has been very supportive of us in re-introducing rugby to the school after a long absence."

England Women's assistant coach Graham Smith will be running a session on front row play as part of the North Midlands RFU's Coach Education programme later this month.

Smith, a former Moseley and Scotland A prop, will be joined by Matt Ferguson, coach of Ludlow and a member of the England Women's coaching panel, at Birmingham & Solihull's training ground at Portway on Monday February 22 (7-9pm).

The Front Row in Union session is aimed at coaches working the 15-a-side game who wish to increase their knowledge of effective scrummaging.

The cost of the session, which includes a DVD, is £15 with cheques made payable to RFDL. Places can be booked by contacting Amanda Austen-Jones at: aausten-jones@warkscol.ac.uk or at Warwickshire College, Henley in Arden Centre, Stratford Road, Henley in Arden, Warwickshire B95 6AB.

The closing date for applications is February 15.

North Midlands Under-20s have included seven members of the Worcester Warriors Academy in their squad for their opening match in this season's National Under-20 Championship against Staffordshire at Longton's Trentham Lakes ground in Stoke on Sunday February 7 (2pm).

Full-back Jack Pons, centre Nat McDonald, hooker Will Radburn, prop Tom Williams, former England Under-18 lock James Freeman and his second row partner Joe Garner have been named in the starting XV with scrum-half Louis Silver among the replacements.

The replacements also include Newport winger Adam Faulkner who is a current England Deaf rugby international.

North Midlands prepared for the tournament with home and away wins over Warwickshire and a defeat by Yorkshire at Under-19 level before Christmas followed by a 22-17 win over Cheshire at Sandbach in December at Under-20 level.

01/02/10 Bournville to be honoured at Twickenham Centenary showpiece
29/01/10 Evesham at home in RFU Junior Vase
28/01/10 Kvesic in England Under-18 squad