Here’s the U18’s line up to face Warwickshire RFU in the 3rd Super Sunday fixture to be held at Warwick school with a 1:30pm kick off.
Squad Selection for 2nd Super Sunday fixture against NLD @ Leicester Forest RFC K/O 1:00pm
Sunday 23rd November 2025 – Super Sunday 1
North Midlands Under 18’s v Staffordshire Under 18’s
A very cold Sunday afternoon at Stourbridge RFC was enlivened by the first Under 18 game for North Midlands and Staffordshire.
The first half saw the score swing between both sides but with Staffordshire scoring first. North Midlands struck back through a try from Gabriel Cheshire and then extend that lead to 10 points to 5 by way of a Callum Houlston try. A try from Rocky Kabulevu pushed the lead to 15 – 5 but Staffordshire struck back and by half time it was all square at 15 – 15.
Having made the required changes for the half game rule at half time North Midlands got off to a great start with a try from Corey Gammond. Tries continued to come from North Midlands without any response from Staffordshire with scores from Christian Matthews, Will Sutherland, Archie McDonald and Ben Welch. Eight different try scorers showed the strength that North Midlands had throughout the squad and their ability to make the ball work for them across the field. Final score North Midlands 40 Staffordshire 15.
Super Sunday 2 is on December 7th at Leicester Forest RFC where North Midlands will play NLD, Notts, Lincs and Derbyshire. Kick off at 1.00pm.
North Midlands U18 Group (Boys U17 & U18) Assessment Arrangements 2025
North Midlands Under 18’s – Dates 2025
SS1 23 November at Stourbridge
NLD v East Mids 13.00
Warks v Leics 14.20
North Midlands v Staffs. 15.40
SS2 7 December at Leicester Forest
NLD v North Midlands 13.00
East Mids v Warks 14.20
Leics v Staffs 15.40
SS3 21 December at Warwick School
Staffs v NLD 12.30
Warks v North Midlands 14.10
East Midlands v Leics 15.30
Assessment Evening – Wednesday 22nd October at Stourbridge RFC at 6.00pm
Training 1 – Sunday 26th October at Kidderminster RFC RFC at 2.00pm
Training 3 – Wednesday 29th October at Dudley Kingswinford RFC starting at 6.30pm
Training 4 – Sunday 2nd November at Kidderminster RF starting at 2.00pm
Pre match training – Monday 17th November at Dudley Kingswinford RFC starting at 6.30pm
Super Sunday 1 – Sunday 23rd November at Stourbridge RFC
Pre match training 2 – Monday 1st December at Dudley Kingswinford RFC starting at 6.30pm
Super Sunday 2 – Sunday 7th December at Leicester Forest RFC
Pre match training – Monday 15th December at Dudley Kingswinford RFC starting at 6.30pm.
Super Sunday 3 – Sunday 21st December at Warwick School.
Required outcome:
The North Midlands wishes to select a squad of approximately 38 players to attend sessions in preparation for matches leading to potential selection for the Midlands Divisional Squad.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.(38 normally = 2 teams + whole spare front row + lock or back row + 2 half backs + 2 spare backs.)
Players not able to attend the initial assessment for bonafide reasons:
The Coaches and Management reserve the right to consider, at subsequent assessment sessions, 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. Any other ‘Academy’ players, ie those on what is sometimes referred to as the ‘amber’ list, must normally play for their Counties to be considered by North Midlands. (At some stage, normally at the start of September, a document will be published setting out the eligibility of various players at the Midlands Academies. We will attempt to make this available to the Counties as soon as we can. Given that the first assessment is not until late October it is expected that Counties will contact such players and include them in their squads.)
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 1st September 2025’. Players must be born ON OR AFTER 1st September 2007. PLEASE NOTE: Players may be U18 or U17 and should qualify only on ability. Please be aware of ACE clashes, such lads must commit to our programme to be eligible.
Paperwork:
Squad Lists – IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE ASSESSMENT THE DISTRICT EMAIL is (mdtsampson@outlook.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 into. (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 listsand please DO GET THE CORRECT SPELLING of a lad’s name!)
Playing kit:
Players should wear numbered shirts and MUST keep the same number throughout the trial. Hence Counties 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 discussions and decisions will be based upon shirt number, names will not be involved at this stage.
| Assessment arrangements: | ||
| Venue: | Stourbridge RFC | |
| Date: | Wednesday 22nd October 2025 | |
| Timing: | To commence at 6.00pm: Herefordshire v Worcestershire (35 min one way) To commence at 6.45 pm: Shropshire v Birmingham (35 min one way) To commence at 7.35pm: Birmingham v Herefordshire (35 mins one way) Final session at 8.20pm: Worcestershire v Shropshire. (35 min one way). It is anticipated that play will conclude by 9.00pm approx. | |
| Assessment rules: | Substitutions: There are to be no substitutions, nor positional changes, during a game except for injury.Squad participation: Every member of a squad is to play a minimum of one complete ‘game’; either the first or the second.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 on the centre line 15 metres in with the put in by the side who did not choose ends. | |
| Selection: | 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. | |
| Role | Contact | Home Tel | Mobile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman of Selectors & Team Manager | Mike Sampson | 07881 307791 | mdtsampson@outlook.com | |
| Team Manager & Administrator | Rae Evans | 07809 171726 | rae2412@aol.com | |
| Lead Coach | ||||
| Assistant Coach | ||||
| Assistant Coach | 07500 220048 | |||
| Assistant Coach |