U17’s North Midlands Match Report
A hot, sunny day at Stafford Rugby Club with North Midlands Under 17 facing their final game in the CB programme against Staffordshire.
The home team got off to the best start scoring three tries and converting two of them before North Midlands were able to score through Archie Fearnall.
At half time the score was 26 – 5.
North Midlands got off to a better start in the second half with tries from Ben Brooks and Damian Duncan, with Damian converting his own try, Staffs hit back bringing the score to 31 – 17. Ben Brooks scored again and Euan McLoughlin scored late on with Archie Fearnall converting the try.
Staffordshire were not finished fighting back and at the end of full time the score was 41 – 29 to Staffs.
The North Mids lads fought hard and played well but the Staffs side were too strong on this occasion.
Photo attached with squad coaches Peter Williams and Matt Terry.
North Midlands Under 17’s v Warwickshire Under 17’s
A week after their draw against Cheshire the North Midlands Under 17’s were hoping for a better result against Warwickshire at Stourbridge RFC.
A bright but blustery Sunday afternoon saw a much changed North Midlands squad open the scoring through hooker Lachlan McLellan followed by a conversion from Jensen Letties.
Warwickshire fought back and levelled the score to 7 – 7. Just before half time Finley O’Callaghan went over to take the half time score to 12 – 7.
Both teams had been fairly evenly matched throughout a close fought first half but North Midlands increased the intensity and began to pull away through the second half.
Declan Whelan was first to score with his try converted by Archie Fearnall. Will Wort scored next, continuing his good work from last week and again Archie Fearnall converted.
Daniel White was next to score and scored twice with Warwickshire scoring their sole try of the second half either side of Will’s tries.
North Midlands pressed on. Oliver Green scored next and the remaining scores of the second half were a showcase from some of the Shropshire players in the squad with Oliver’s try being converted by Archie Fearnall and Jacob Parry racing in for the final try which was converted by Archie
A fantastic performance from all 23 North Midlands players gave us a 50 – 12 final scoreline.
Next Sunday’s game, the last of the season, is against Staffordshire at Stafford RFC with a 10.45am kick off.
Photo of the squad plus three of the 5 coaching team.
Coaches photographed are Jon Arch (Lead Coach) and assistant coaches Ben Capaldi and George Littlechild.
Match report for U17’s V Cheshire
Definitely a game of two halves.
North Midlands Under 17’s started their campaign of the 2025/2026 season with a game against Cheshire at Kidderminster Carolians RFC on Sunday 10th May. Cheshire are always tough opposition and this game did not disappoint in that regard.
Cheshire started the game the best scoring very quickly. They went on to extend their lead to 26 – 0 by the end of the first half. North Midlands did not buckle and started the second half determined.
First to score for North Mids was Jenson Letties. His try was converted Captain Milo Thomas. Will Wort scored the second try which was unconverted. Tight Head Seb Shipway sored the third try taking the score to 17 – 26.
North Midlands now had wind in their sales and it was Joe Rodenhurst who powered over fr his first try and North Midlnads 4th try. The try was converted by Jenson Letties.
There was still fight in Cheshire and they scored but were unable to convert the try leaving the score at 24 – 31. Joe Rodenhurst scored his second try of the afternoon and Jenson Letties converted to make the score 31 – 31 with just seconds to go.
A fantastic game and a score that reflected the effort put in by both squads.
Here’s your U17’s squad to face Cheshire on Sunday 10th May @ Kidderminster RFC with a 3:00pm Kick off.
The North Midlands Under 17 Assessment Evening is on Wednesday 22nd April 2026. It is at Stourbridge RFC on the all weather pitch with the first game kicking off at 6.00pm.
Please note that the assessment evening is not a by invitation event and nor is it an open event. The 4 DU’s that make up the NM will have spent the last 3/4 weeks selecting and training a squad to take part in the Assessment Evening.
After the Assessment Evening there will be two training sessions. One on Sunday 26th April at Kidderminster RFC starting at 2.00pm and the second on Friday 1st May also at Kidderminster RFC but starting at 7.00pm.
The NM Under 17’s will then play 3 games, as follows:
Sunday 10th May at Kidderminster against Cheshire with a 3.00pm kick off.
Sunday 17th May at Stourbridge against Warwickshire kicking off at 3.00pm.
Sunday 24th May against Staffordshire at Stafford with a kick off at 10.30am.
NM Under 17 Dates 2025/2026
Wednesday 22nd April 2026 – Assessment Evening at Stourbridge RFC 6.00pm start.
Sunday 26th April 2026 – Development
Sunday 3rd May 2026 – Development
Sunday 10th May – Game 1 – Cheshire
Sunday 17th May – Game 2 – Warwickshire
Sunday 24th May – Game 3 – Staffordshire
| North Midlands U17 Group Assessment Arrangements 2026. | ||
| Required outcome: | The North Midlands wishes to select a squad of approximately 36 players to attend a minimum of two development sessions in preparation for matches being played under the North Midlands banner.All players seen at the assessments will be graded so that if not initially selected in the squad they may be called upon in the event of injury or non-availability. These gradings will not be released outside of the group of slectors.(36 normally = 2 teams + whole spare front row.) | |
| Players not able to attend the initial assessment for bonafide reasons: | The Coaches and Management reserve the right to consider, subsequently, players who, being known to meet the playing standards expected, are demonstrably unable to attend the initial assessment session. ‘Academy’ players fully involved in the Academy Elite Squads will not be eligible for the North Midlands ‘aspirational’ pathway. Other ‘Academy’ players, i.e. those on what is sometimes referred to as the ‘amber/green’ lists, must play for their Counties to be considered by North Midlands. | |
| County Squads: | ||
| Squad size: | County (District) Squads may consist of a maximum of 22 players to include sufficient ‘spare’ front row to complete a game / cover non-appearance. Should a County (District) wish to ask others to attend in case of last minute drop-outs they should make it clear to such players that they WILL NOT be asked to play unless they are in the final ‘22’. The age group eligible is that based upon those players under 18 years of age on 1stSeptember 2025. Players must be born ON OR AFTER 1st September 2008. | |
| Paperwork: | Squad ListsIT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE ASSESSMENT THE DISTRICTS EMAIL ME (rae2412@aol.com) A COMPLETED TYPED COPY OF THE TEAM LIST FORM GIVING THE SHIRT NUMBER/BEST POSITION OF EACH PLAYER. NB: IT IS IMPERITIVE TO AVOID CONFUSION THAT, WHATEVER POSITION A PLAYER TAKES UP, HE WEARS THE SHIRT NUMBER GIVEN ON THE SQUAD SHEET. THIS IS BECAUSE, TO AVOID ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH GDPR, THE PLAYERS WILL BE REFERRED TO BY THEIR SHIRT NUMBER RATHER THAN THEIR NAME – THEY MUST KEEP THE SAME NUMBER THROUGHOUT.A copy of the form is attached – it MUST be TYPED. (This is to allow me to complete the assessment paperwork before the event saving much time and trouble on the day.) (Please don’t send me handwritten lists and please DO GET THE CORRECT SPELLING of a lad’s name!)Please provide a telephone number and email address for each player. | |
| Playing kit: | Players should wear numbered shirts and MUST keep the same number throughout the trial. Hence Districts are asked to ensure that they have a set of 22 shirts numbered 1 to 22. (Confusion over player identity is a constant problem – please do your very best to ensure that each player has an identifiable shirt and KEEPS THE SAME ONE whatever position they play) | |
| Assessment arrangements: | ||
| Venue: | Stourbridge RFC | |
| Date: | Wednesday 22nd April 2026 | |
| Timing: | First session to commence at 6.00pm: Birmingham v Worcestershire (35 min one way) Second session to commence at 6.45pm: Shropshire v Herefordshire (35 min one way) Third session at 7.30pm: Birmingham v Herefordshire. (35 min one way) Final session at 8.15pm: Worcestershire v Shropshire. (35 min one way). It is anticipated that play will conclude by 9.00pm approx. | |
| Assessment rules: Selection: | Substitutions: There are to be no substitutions, nor positional changes, during a game, except for injury or when a player is yellow or red carded..Squad participation: Every member of a squad is to play a minimum of one complete ‘game’; either the first or the second. i.e. the half game rule applies.Kicks for goal: There are to be no conversions nor penalty kicks for goal.Penalty kicks for touch: may only be made from a team’s own ‘22’.Matches will start with a scrum in a position on the pitch where the Chair of Selectors decides with the put in by the side who did not choose ends. County squads are asked to nominate one of their members of staff to be able to attend the selection meeting and to undertake to inform players of selection where necessary AND TO UNDERTAKE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO ALL THE PLAYERS TO HAVE REPRESENTED THE COUNTY AT THE ASSESSMENT SESSION. The N Mids coaches/assessors will not provide further feedback at this stage of the process so it is up to the County/District to do that following the meeting. | |
| Contacts: | Chairman of Selectors: Steve Rintoul Manager Administrator: Rae Evans13 Coracle Close Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 4SQ mb 07809 171726 Email: rae2412@aol.com | Coaches: Lead Coach, Jon Arch Assistant Coaches: | ||
| Selectors: | The selectors for the squad will consist of: | |||
| Steve Rintoul: | Chairman of Selectors | |||
| The Coaches | Others as co-opted | |||