Oakham rugby club hosted the 6th annual Southfield Tag Rugby competition at the showground on Saturday 8th October. This is the fourth year Oakham RFC has hosted this tournament, by providing the playing facilities, referees and refreshments for the players. In previous years the tournament has been designed for primary school pupils from years 4 & 5. However this year the schools decided that a competition for years 3 & 4 was required. Seven Rutland schools participated providing 8 teams for a round robin format tournament. Langham school came out winners with an unbeaten record and were presented with the Oakham Tyre Cup, and individual medals by Jen Hazell, head teacher at Southfiels Primary School.

Oakham Rugby Club held a tag rugby referees course at the ground on Saturday 15th October 2005. The course, which was presented by Jerry Brookes, ORFC's mini rugby co-ordinator was attended by 13 students from Rutland's 3 Community Colleges and 3 Rutland Primary School staff. A class room session to cover theory and the laws was followed by a practical session when all attendees had the opportunity to try out their new found skills by refereeing volunteer teams from Langham Primary school. The course was provided free of charge to the attendees. Courtesy of the Rutland Schools Sports Co-ordinator Partnership, each attendee recieved a 'referees' pack comprising of a polo shirt with both SSCo and ORFC embroidered logos, referees notepad (kindly produced and sponsored by the Quoin Print Company, Oakham), a whistle and a certificate of attendance. This is the second year Oakham Rugby Club has run this type of course, and it is hoped those attending this year will go on to referee in a number of the primary school tag rugby tournaments run by Chris Thomas, SSCo programme manager, throughout the year.

14.11.05
An official link between the Vale of Catmose College and ORFC was launched today at VCC. Attended by Jenna Studley the RFU Rugby Development Officer for Leicestershire & Rutland, the link is aimed at encouraging and promoting rugby within the college, by forming the 'VCC Rugby Club'. ORFC qualified coaches will provide structured coaching sessions for all age groups, and allow the use of the club's floodlit training facilities during the winter months. An end of season presentation evening will also be provided at the clubhouse.
In return the students will commit to attending training on a regular basis, sign a player agreement which will, amongst other things, cover behaviour and dress code.
Players will have another incentive to attend regular training sessions, as ex Leiceter Tigers, England and British Lion's captain, Martin Johnson has offered to come to VCC to conduct a training session in support of the initiative. This is to be arranged in the new year.
ORFC Chairman Steve Knight commented ' It has long been a wish of ORFC to strengthen our links with local schools and with VCC in particular and we hope that both parties will benefit as well as the students involved. I can only join with my fellow committee members in wishing the project every success.'

Oakham Rugby Club hosted the Rutland Schools tag rugby tournament at the showground on Wednesday 30th November 2005. The event was organised by Chris Thomas, Partnership Manager of the Rutland SSCo Partnership, in conjunction with ORFC. Teams made up of boys and girls from ten Rutland primary schools competed in the main tournament, whilst a series of year 7 girls matches was played between Vale of Catmose College and Uppingham Community College.
The primary school tournament consisted of two groups in which each team played each other in a round robin format. The winners of each group then went on to play in the final. From group “A” North Luffenham St. Marys emerged on top and they met Brooke Hill in the final, who were the winners of group”B”
In a closely fought final Brooke Hill emerged as champions by winning 3 tries to 2.
The matches were refereed by year 10 & 11 students from Vale of Catmose College, Uppingham Community College and Casterton College, all of whom had attended the Tag Rugby Referees course run last month by Oakham Rugby Club as detailed above.
Rugby Club Chairman Steve Knight thanked everyone who was involved in the organisation and all the competitors, teachers and parents for attending, prior to the trophy being presented by the Lady Mayoress Carol Beech, to the winning captain.

The picture shows L-R Steve Knight - ORFC Chairman, The Winning Captain, Chris Thomas – Tournament Organiser, Carol Beech – Lady Mayoress.

The first fixture for the VCC players since the ORFC/VCC Academy link was formed, was hosted under floodlights at the showground on Monday 6th February.
During the first half of this eagerly anticipated match, the VCC academy players demonstrated superb skill and fitness, which is clearly due to the hard work the players have put in at training. VCC quickly stormed into an impressive lead with UCC being stretched, struggling to cope with VCC's aggressive play and teamwork. In the second half however UCC pushed VCC right back and dominated play, with UCC's back line producing some good handling and continuity. VCC however did not drop their resolve and defended well to hold on for a 25-15 victory in a very entertaining game watched by a healthy and vocal crowd. Both sets of players enjoyed refreshments in the club afterwards in what was a thoroughly successful and social occasion. Well played everyone!

VCC Squad: C.Baker, C.Carr, R.Chisolm, D.Evison, C.Goodacre, J.Harris, W.Keheller, S.Lambert,
B.Lemon, L.McCourt, W.Mousley, E.Price, J.Slack, A.Smith, B. Turnbull (c), A.Whitehouse

Oakham Rugby Club hosted a Rutland Schools tag rugby tournament at the showground on Thursday 2nd March 2006. The event was organised by Chris Thomas, Partnership Manager of the Rutland SSCo Partnership, in conjunction with ORFC. Teams made up of boys and girls from fifteen primary schools from in and around Rutland competed in the main tournament, whilst a series of years 7/8 and 9/10 girls matches was played between the three Rutland Colleges.
The primary school tournament consisted of four groups of four teams, with Cottesmore St.Nicholas making up the numbers with 2 teams, in which each team played each other in a round robin format. The winners of each group then went on to play in the semi finals, with the winners meeting in the final. The semi-finalists were Brooke Hill who played Windmill House, and Bringhurst who palyed Langham. In a closely fought final Bringhurst emerged as champions by winning 9 tries to 7. As neither team is eligible to represent Rutland in this years youth games, a play off will be held between Brooke Hill and Langham to decide who goes to Loughborough in the summer.
In the secondary school tournament, girls teams from the Casterton Community College, Uppingham Community College and Vale of Catmose College, played in a round robin format in each age group. In the year 9/10 league, Casterton came out on top just beating Vale of Catmose College into second palce by 1 point.
In the year 7/8 league Vale of Catmose College had entered 2 teams due to the amount of interest, and it was VCC's first team who finished top of the league, with Casterton coming a close second. Vale of Catmose will now go to Loughborough in the summer to represent Rutland in the youth games.
The whole tournament was officiated and refereed by the 10 & 11 students from the Rutland Colleges under the guidance of Chris Thomas, the referees having gone through the tag rugby referees programme run by Oakham Rugby Club. This type of tournament would not be possible without the help of the junior referees and officials, and a big thank you goes to them all.

The picture shows the succesful VCC girls year 7/8 tag team with Martin Johnson.

Martin Johnson Day – Thursday 9th March ‘06
The current ORFC/VCC rugby academy players were rewarded for their attendance recently when the academy was visited by ex British Lions, England and Leicester Tigers captain Martin Johnson. During his 3 hour visit, which was attended by club president George Morley, Johno put the players through their paces with a one and a half hour coaching session, followed by a question an answer session.
Newsflashes reporting a lunar eclipse in Oakham were quickly dispelled as Martin Johnson strode onto the VCC campus last Thursday. Leaving students (and staff alike!) quivering in fear as he approached the sports centre to support the latest of the ORFC/VCC Rugby Academy incentives. The Academy was set up in association with Oakham RFC in November 2005 with the aim of increasing performance and participation levels of rugby at VCC whilst simultaneously offering the opportunity for those interested to continue their rugby development at the club. Students have benefited enormously from the initiation of the ‘official’ school – club link where they receive rewards for attending training each Monday from 3.20 – 5.00. Threats from the horse’s mouth of a ‘beasting’ nearly materialised as the ex-Tigers captain instructed a 4-mile warm up run but his initial threats were soon replaced by a positive and helpful persona that the students clearly responded to. Following a thorough warm-up Johno focussed on basics rugby skills and was clearly impressed with what academy coaches Chris Burton, Steve Smith, Kevin Smith, Jan McCourt, Patrick Kelleher and Jeff Turnbull have helped to install in the players. Passing and ball handling drills soon progressed into productive games of touch where ecstatic students played alongside the big man. In the VCC conservatory afterwards, Johnson patiently answered inquisitive questions from our students and signed everything placed in front of him. The ORFC/VCC Rugby Academy has flourished this year and events like this have helped raise the profile. Generous sponsorship from local businesses Northfield Farm and Quoin Print have assisted in making this first season a success. It is anticipated that the Academy will continue to grow and play a huge part in community rugby for years to come.

Two Legends of Rugby!

Johno Holding Court

Coaches and PE Staff

Telling it how it is!

Johno spreads his legs and shows his class!