Sunday morning pre-Season Training will start on Sunday 12th June at 10.00am and will continue throughout the Summer with the odd exception to allow for Coaches' holidays! On a more informal basis, and subject to availability, we will also be training at 6.00pm on Wednesdays evenings, starting on Wednesday 6th July. If I have your mobile number you will receive the usual texts as reminders.

As U16s, it is ever more important that Players should be conditioned to play rugby rather than play it to become conditioned! We know that many of you guys are working out already and we applaud you for this and we hope that you will all be able to make the Sunday sessions as a minimum. Adequate fitness training (matches will be 70 minutes next season), including special exercises for the front row and those in the line outs (we have "lifting" next season) are vital! We will operate an "all inclusive" policy for the pre-season training so all existing players and newcomers are welcome. Plus we want to make it "fun" so all fat Dads are welcome to participate too (although not for the more specialist rugby elements).

2. OE U16 2011/12 Fixtures

We've been working on the fixtures for next season and have made good progress;

a. to kick things off, as ever, with a "bonding tour" in September - this may be at Camber Sands camping as before, although we are also looking at a TA "Activity / Assault Course" as an alternative.
b. as U16s, we will train as appropriate with the OE Academy (involving U18s and U17s too) - our first session is scheduled for 25th September.
c. we maintain Super 8 fixtures (Super 8's participants have altered slightly) and we and raise the bar a little with Friendly fixtures.
d. we will enter all Kent competitions, including the 15's and the 7's (dates tbc from Kent) and also the 11's which is expected to be at the start of the season in September.
e. we are keen to determine a date for our end of season tour as soon as possible and to raise funds to support the costs, probably through discos. Our preferred tour venue is Ireland.

3. General Stuff

Registration will be on the opening day of the season - Sunday 4th September, and with one eye on insurance and RFU regulations only those that formally register will qualify for team selection going forward. We are assuming that all existing players will be registering, but if you are not planning to register please tell us!

Next year is a very important year for your studies too, and we believe that an appropriate balance of physical and mental attitude will serve you well, including over the summer period!

Let's 'Ave 'Em! All of 'Em!!!