North Midlands Youth Rugby.

Rugby in the North Midlands is for those aged Under 7 to Under 18 inclusive, is managed by the 7-18 Youth Sub-Committee of the North Midlands Rugby Development Partnership.

This is a partnership between the all Clubs, Schools, Colleges, Local Authorities and Universities in the North Midlands together with Worcester Warriors’ Academy. The partnership’s aim is to encourage greater participation in Rugby Union and to ensure that every player, coach and official has the chance to develop their latent skills to the fullest.

The five Rugby Development Groups of Birmingham, Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire are delegated the responsibility to ensure that the development of the game is appropriate to meet local needs in their county.
These Rugby Development Groups (RDGs) work with the clubs, schools, colleges and local authorities in their County to provide local coaching, officiating and playing development programme's. Development Groups are run by them for players aged U13 to U15 and representative opportunities for U16s and U18s.

Those players with potential are nominated by the coaches of the County Rugby Development Groups to the NM EPDG run in conjunction with the Worcester Warriors Academy (see North Midlands Youth Player Pathway).

Similarly coaches, administrators and officials with potential are nominated to the North Mids Coaching Committee for personal development and participation in North Midlands representative squads, at Midlands level and at National level.

The North Midlands Clubs’ Youth Forum run annual knockout Cup and Plate Competitions for club sides at Under 14, 15, 16 & 17. It also runs five very successful Under 17 Leagues the winners of which qualify for the RFU National Clubs Under 17 Competition.

The Forum also runs Mini/Midi festivals at Under 10, 11 and 12 open to all clubs in North Midlands.

Whilst all development of players, coaches and officials and representative rugby is integrated through the Rugby Development Partnerships. They recognise the specific needs of schools by supporting the four North Midlands County Schools Unions in their efforts to encourage rugby in schools and with their County Schools Cup Competitions.