Rugby for boys and girls aged 5 to 12

Welcome

Thank you to everyone who made 2009/10 a great season for the club. We had a very good time at the Oxfordshire festival reaching the county semi-finals in two age groups and winning the bowl competition in another. We look forward to another geat year starting on 5th September 2010 and hope to see as many as possible then.

Introduction

At Wheatley Minis, the emphasis is on every child enjoying themselves and developing their skills at the game of rugby – as an individual and as part of a team. We meet at Holton Playing Fields, opposite Wheatley Park School, at 10.30 each Sunday morning from the start of September to the end of April, except when we have away matches (see the fixture list here).

New players are very welcome. Don't be shy - come up and give it a try, you get three free taster sessions before you have to join the club. The rules are suited to the age of the child (age groups based on the player's age on the 1st of September):

Tag Rugby - Under 7 and Under 8

Under 7s and Under 8s play tag rugby – a non contact game with the emphasis on running and evasion skills. Each player wears two plastic straps hanging by velcro from a belt. Players are tagged by taking off their tags and they must immediately stop and pass to one of their teammates. This form of rugby introduces them to game basics such as passing backwards, running and dodging with the ball and keeping onside. It also introduces them to quick decision making, team play and respect for the officials.

Contact Rugby - Under 9, 10, 11 and 12

At the Under 9 age group, tackling is introduced, then other aspects of the full game are introduced progressively from Under 10 to Under 12. The first step is learning safe and confident tackling, followed by rucks and mauls. Scrums and line outs start as uncontested and then become competitive at Under 10. Players learn how to play strong, fair rugby, how to protect the ball in a tackle, and how to win by working as a team.