Lots of under-age activity ongoing at Navan RFC

Just when they were getting back to action on the pitch, players across all the grades at Navan RFC had to comply with last week's Covid-19 regulations that temporarily halted all activities.

Navan RFC has some 800 members and most of those are under-age players who compete in the mini games and youth leagues and there is also an all-inclusive team, the Blue Dragons.

The Blue Dragons is an all-inclusive team for young players with special needs and intellectual disabilities.

The players for the Blue Dragons train on on the first pitch every Sunday morning for an hour from 10am and everyone is welcome to join the fun.

The minis train every Saturday between 9.30am and 10.30am for the u-6, u-7, u-8 and u-9 while the u-10, u-11 and u-12 teams have an hour from 11am.

Learning to play rugby at a young age allows children to learn the laws of rugby gradually with no contact for the first two seasons at u-6 and u-7 grades.

"At Navan RFC we make sure that all the players are involved equally in all activities taking place both at training and during games," commented club official and Youth Co-ordinator Cyril Escobar.

"That ensures a fair and equal opportunity for all children to develop at their own pace while the fun element of playing the game of rugby is always at the forefront of everything we do in minis rugby.

"Navan RFC Youth rugby teams range from u-13s to u-18s and they normally train twice a week, but only once a week during Covid-19 restrictions.

"Our youth teams are usually involved in North East rugby action as well as at Leinster level with their season starting in August to finish the following May.

"Navan's Club Community Regional Officer (CCRO) Evan Dixon travels the North East to promote rugby in schools and communities to reach out to as many young people as possible.

"If schools wish to organise an introduction to rugby they should contact Navan RFC and we will put them in contact with the CCRO," he added.

GIRLS

There are more than 100 girls participating in coaching and games at the Balreask Old club as the sport increases in popularity.

Structured teams start at u-10 and work up through u-12, u-14, u-16 and u-18 with adult teams also in the women's leagues.

"Leinster competitions start from u-14 up with the younger teams taking part in informal blitz competitions," explained the club's girls co-ordinator John Molloy.

"Unfortunately, Covid has wreaked havoc on this season's competitions, but our u-16s had a successful trip away to Dundalk before restrictions tightened.

"The emphasis is very much on fun and participation with each girl treated equally and with rugby there is a variety of roles on a team.

"Each player can use their own individual and diverse talents to the benefit of the entire team and each girl is valued.

"Most normal seasons we would have a bus for the girls to the Women’s home internationalss and those players are quite accessible and very generous with their time at the end of games.

"Over the last few seasons the Navan girls have built a formidable reputation and generally compete well in the upper divisions with some nice silverware to show for their efforts.

“All our teams are still training once a week, the minis (u-10 and u-12) train on Saturday mornings, u-14s and u-16s each Wednesday evening at 7.30pm and the u-18 girls on a Thursday, 7.30pm," he added.

COVID 19

As with the rest of the country, Navan RFC has had to adapt its rugby life to comply with the many and ever-changing restrictions.

“At Navan RFC we are taking and applying the IRFU and HSE recommendations very seriously and rigorously,” stated a club official.

To ensure full compliance with Covid-19 regulations Navan RFC has appointed Alan Kennedy to the role of covid officer to implement all the IRFU and HSE recommendations.

All the mini and youth teams currently train in pods of 15 maximum with no contact allowed as per the level three sport restrictions.

All players, parents and coaches attending any training session or match are tracked and complete the compulsory return to rugby health questionnaire before each training session or match to confirm they are not a risk to other participants.

2020 / 2021 SEASON

For the 2020/2021 season, Navan RFC will cater for boys and girls from u-6 up to u-18, children born between 2003 and 2015.

To prepare for the new season there will be teen tag rugby sessions for member and non-member teenagers to give rugby a go and have fun with their friends.

Any child born between 2003 - 2008 is welcome to join even if they have no previous rugby experience.

Further details about Navan RFC

website: www.navanrfc.ie

For information about the girls teams contact

Ollie at (087) 7665657 or John at (086) 8217149.