THE TEAMS

Trojans currently field four Senior teams and an occasional vets team.

The first three sides will play in leagues this coming season. This provides competition at most levels within the club. This has been identified as the best way forward for the club to aid the progression of players through the sides.

The Club has a Senior Coach looking after the needs of all sections and individual needs of players as the need arises. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams all have  Management and coaching teams for the specific needs of the side. 

The 1st XV currently play in  London Division 4 SW having having spent just one season in Hampshire Division 1. The 1st XV squad consists of 25 players with the opportunity for others to join. The 2nd XV compete in the Hampshire 2nd XV Senior Merit League and the 3rd XV in the Hampshire 2nd XV Senior Merit League Division 1.

Training is held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.30 p.m, with selection taking place on Tuesday. Selection is very open with each team offering players for promotion.

For more information e-mail the head coach Pete Surtees

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LADIES

Ladies' rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK. It is a game for ladies aged 17 or over and is played to the standard Rugby Union code. There is a place for ladies of all shapes and sizes on a rugby pitch, so if you see yourself as the kind of person who likes to get covered in mud on a Sunday afternoon and then socialize afterwards, then this is the game for you.

Trojans have had an active Ladies' section since the 1997 and currently have a squad of about 25 players. The 2001/2 season was a successful one as we finished as Champions of the South East League 3 West. We became champions of that league in the 2003/2004 season and played in National Challenge 1 South West for two seasons. Promotion was achieved in the 2006/2007 season to Championship South 1 (the new name equivalent to Premiership 2 - i.e. Level 2 Nationally).

Training is currently held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Matches are played on Sunday afternoons at 2.30 p.m. (2 p.m. between October and March).

The Club is keen to provide rugby for girls at Under 17 and Under 14 levels and for the moment the girls will be training with the ladies on a Wednesday.

What kit do I need ? Initially for training normal sports kit is fine. Once you’ve got the taste for the game however you will need studded boots (the studs must be Rugby safety studs) a Rugby shirt, Rugby shorts and socks, and any protective kit you feel you may need (headguard, shin guards, shoulder pads, etc). A shirt in Club colours will be provided on match days, shorts and socks in club colours are available at the club. All other kit should be available at any good high street sports shop. Cheap, ’boil in the bag’, mouth guards are available in sports shops, however a proper moulded guard from your dentist should only cost about £15.

Changing and showering facilities are provided.

For further information, e-mail the Captain

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COLTS

Whilst a lot of excellent work is done at all levels of mini and junior rugby, with RFU qualified coaches for all teams, there is a tendency for a drop off of players at the older age groups and the feed to the senior sides is not as good as it might be. Hence the Colts concentrate on the 17/18 age groups to provide a seamless transition between the Junior and Senior teams and is much part of the overall Rugby Section structure which is illustrated below.

The Colts have their own organisation which sits between the Main Committee and the Youth Committee with representation on each.

The players in the Colts have the best possible rugby education that the Club can offer. To complement this they have the best coaching, equipment, kit and an education in rugby/sport.

Training takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, at the Club from 7.00pm.

For further information, e-mail the Colts Coach  or the Colts Manager

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MINIS and JUNIORS

Mini rugby started at the Trojans Rugby Club in the mid seventies and, as well as being the oldest youth rugby  section in the County, is accepted as being amongst the biggest and best organised in the County.

Youth rugby covers all ages from under 7 to under 16 and has over 50 adults as coaches, managers, committee members, kit organisers and so on. Most coaches have R.F.U. qualifications and all are encouraged to progress up the coaching or refereeing ladders.

The following paragraphs give a comprehensive review of the workings of the Youth Section of the Club.

Further details can be obtained by e-mailing the Chairman of the Youth Section - Laura Self

What we aim to do and how we aim to do it. We have teams at every age group from under 7s to under 16. We aim to make sure that everyone who joins is able to achieve their personal best as part of a winning squad of players. At every age group and team we have at least one, normally two, qualified Rugby Football Union coaches. We have a referees’ training program and three years ago, made a training video for the R.F.U. on the art of mini rugby refereeing. Regular weekend – and for juniors and above - midweek coaching sessions are held at Trojans with both individual and squad training.

If you’ve never seen it before, this is not the game of rugby you will have seen or played as an adult. It is a ladder of new experience from under 7 to under 16 years during which time your son, will progressively learn the many and varied skills and thrills of this wonderful game. At the same time they will compete at home and away, even overseas, for Trojans, for Hampshire and possibly for England – there are current Trojans juniors competing for England! The program is designed by the R.F.U. and current England and British Lions International Players learnt their rugby this way

Its never too late to start, but starting in the under 7’s (you can start at 5 years old) and learning handling, running and on-side skills is the ideal. There is no physical contact until u/9 when tackling is introduced followed by scrums, line-outs and much more as they move up the years.

Girls

Girls can play Mini rugby with the boys up to age of 11. After that there are separate squads at  under 14 and under 17.

Age groups and squads

These are set by the age of your child on 1^st September. There may be over 20 players in each age group and every player will get a chance to take part in matches throughout the season, as long as they turn up regularly and their coaches decide it is safe for them to do so. For tournaments and cup matches the best players are chosen. Each squad has its own coaches and a manager who is always the first person to turn to for advice and help.

When ?

The season is from September to April with a break at Christmas. Mini. Midi and Junior Rugby is always on Sunday mornings. We start at 10 am prompt (be ready to start) and normally finish at mid-day. Some squads, normally juniors, practice in addition on a weekday evening under floodlights.

Trojans produces all its own kit, (apart from boots), which can be purchased in the clubhouse after Sunday training/matches. Club kit cannot be purchased anywhere else, but prices are reasonable and competitive.

Every player will need a pair of football boots – you will have to change the studs to R.F.U. approved studs (we sell them – you do not have to change them back for football) – rugby boots are not necessary and are very expensive. Club socks, shorts and shirts should be worn, but team shirts are provided by the club at each match.

This is a major priority, and all the coaching is designed to achieve maximum safety as well as skill. Rugby though is a contact sport and injuries, normally only bruises and such-like, do happen. If you see a player injured, please leave the team coach to deal with it and he will summon the right help.

Every player is advised to wear a gum-shield. We cannot in law insist on this, but we might decide, if a player has not got one, that they are not safe to play for other reasons ! If in doubt consult with your own dentist who can make one for you or they can be purchased at a local sports shop. At the beginning of each season we try to arrange a mass fitting of individually made gum-shields which are about half the price your dentist will charge.

R.F.U. and I.R.B. approved head-guards are becoming popular as well as approved shoulder-pads worn under the shirt. Trojans does not have a policy on their use, leaving it to the individual player and their parents to decide.

Insurance – every player who pays their registration fee and is registered therefore with the club and the R.F.U., is insured by Trojans with the standard R.F.U. approved insurance. A copy is available in the clubhouse. But if in doubt you are advised to consult your own insurance broker.

The only fee payable is the annual membership fee. When a player first comes, he can have 3 free sessions to see if he likes the game. But then the full fee is payable prior to taking part in a match. This entitles him to use of the club facilities, registers him with the R.F.U., provides the insurance cover, provides the pitches, training equipment and match shirts (provided at each game) and provides the coaching. The fee for a mini, midi or junior player also gives associate membership of the club to parents/guardians of players whenever they attend the club on rugby business.

We play to win matches and make friends! Rugby has a long and proud tradition of great competition, combined with great sportsmanship and friendship.

As spectators encourage your team to play well, never promote aggression, acknowledge good play whichever team does it, celebrate success, but accept defeat graciously. Do not get involved with any badly behaved parents of opposition teams, leave this to the coaches, ignore all comments and make friends with the silent and well behaved majority.

As players, you are representing Trojans as well as yourselves on and off the field. At home we are the hosts, away we are the guests. If you perform to the best of your ability for yourself and your team you will succeed. When you win, celebrate, but recognize and applaud the opposition as true competitors and friends off the field. If you lose, make sure you come back stronger next time, but always congratulate the opposition on their success.

Minis and Midis always play matches as a group against one or two clubs. The length of matches and their number is defined by the R.F.U. (see your manager for details). We travel across Hampshire, to Dorset, to West Sussex, to south west London to Berkshire and all points in between, and they come to us. Parents/guardians take their own players and maps are supplied by managers. We enter the Hampshire Cup competition at the end of each season as well as having our own Tournament at the beginning of the season.

In Juniors each team travels on its own and goes even further afield. The Hampshire Cup competition runs throughout the season and other tournaments are also entered including 7&10-a-side at the end of the season. Tours are also arranged both in this country and abroad.

You will receive a fixture card when you pay the registration fee.

Rugby is a disciplined game and referees and coaches will always penalise dangerous play and behaviour. Trojans Rugby operates within the Hampshire R.F.U. Code of Conduct as well as its own internal disciplinary code. For details please speak with your coach. As a member of the club you accept the codes of conduct and discipline.

The clubhouse is open from 10 am every day we are at home and tea, coffee, soft drinks, sweets, bacon sandwiches etc are on sale in the large clubroom. The bar opens at mid-day and it is a good time to talk to the coach (he speaks even better with a drink!) to check out progress and plans for the future.

After matches all players get a snack meal.

The changing rooms and showers are at the back of the clubhouse. Minis & Midis traditionally arrive in playing kit and go home to shower but Juniors are expected to be smartly dressed for matches and change and shower on site.

Kit sales take place most week-ends from mid-day in the large clubroom.

The clubhouse and bars are also open every evening during the week and available for hire – meals can be served – see the catering manager for details.

Playing rugby will make friends for life and it is important to take time out to achieve this. The Rugby Club organizes several events each year – why not make up a group and take part ? In addition there is a Dads & Lads Supper each year when prizes are awarded and the young players get to learn more about the social arts and graces of Rugby ! Tours can be great fun as well.

There is a Youth Rugby Committee that has a Mini/Midi section and a Junior Section. This committee, elected each year by the membership, is responsible for the day to day running and planning of the Youth Section and is accountable to you as parents and players as well as the main Rugby Committee of the Club. You are very welcome to attend any of these meetings and even volunteer to take part.

As a private club we have constant demands on our limited resources for the maintenance of our clubhouse and the 18 acres of grounds. If you are aware of any potential sponsorship and/or advertising opportunities please speak to David Greenhalgh, the Club Chairman.

This is our club – we make it work. The first answer to ‘why don’t they……?’ is probably because no-one has volunteered to do it. We need volunteers constantly as coaches (you will be trained), managers, referees, linesmen, first-aiders, people for kit sales, raffle sales, tidying-up, kit washers, setting out the corner flags etc etc. At tournaments we need pitch marshals, scorers, tent erectors, raffle and program sellers, car park attendants, etc etc.

This is our club – we make it work. The other answer to ‘why don’t they……?’ is probably because we may not be able to afford it. We get no subsidy, we raise every penny we spend.

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E-Mail  web@trojansrugby.co.uk or phone the Club on 023 8061 2400 (Bar) 023 8061 3068 (Admin)      

This page last updated:  14 February, 2008