What ever the results with the senior sides, at Port Sunlight one thing that we do have is a thriving, high class youth development policy. Which in the future should bring high dividends for the senior sides.

Every Sunday morning, through rain, snow(?) or shine at 11:00am the Under 16's can be seen training for their next game. This is one area, that although we have lots of youngsters, we actively encourage as a club for more and more members. Here are a few photographs, of some of the training that goes on, in the future we shall publish more photographs of matches, with reports from the juniors themselves.

All the photographs were taken at Leverhulme playing fields on Sunday 13 September 1998.

UNDER 16 GIRLS SECTION (A Girls Activity?????)


The Under 16's Girls team being briefed on an activity

The Under 16 Girls Team, are the team that at Port Sunlight Rugby Football Club, we are most proud of. With none of them ever playing rugby before, they arrived full of enthusiasm and willingness to play! It doesn't matter whatever the bruises, cuts or grazes it just makes them play even more.

When a group of girls arrived nearly 2 seasons ago, we thought as a group of coaches that this would be a passing phase, once they saw a bit of mud, then they would run for the nearest mirror and hairbrush. HOW WRONG WERE WE! They have done the complete opposite, and last season played some startling rugby, which has brought some commendation from some of the clubs most experienced senior rugby players.

The photographs above show the girls playing 'touch' rugby which is not really popular with girls as they have to refrain from tackling!

Many of the girls travel great distances every Sunday morning to train, with some coming from 'other' rugby clubs within the Wirral area.

The girls received some great encouragement, as in their first season of ever playing rugby 3/4 of the team were selected for North West Under 16 Squad.

Helen (above left) is one of our most talented players holding the pad against Alex an Under 12 in a joint exercise between the teams. Jerelle (right photograph) needed a bit more encouragement learning tackling, the coaching being given from Kered who like all the Coaches are England RFU Qualified.

This season the girls are pitched against Club teams from all over the North West, with all the results being sent down to RFU Headquarters in Twickenham.

UNDER 14 BOYS / UNDER 12 BOYS / UNDER 8 MIXED

The Under 14's and 12's this season have moved up one year, after a season of mixed results. Some of the boys are showing early signs of being very good players, and hopefully in 10 years time we shall see them in the clubs 1st XV team.

Brian (above left) running the Under 8's through their paces, keeping their concentration span for more that 2 minutes is always the hardest part! The Under 14's and Under 12's looking at the challenges of the clubs Scrum Machine.