Xmas Break

There is no match this Sunday, so we are entering the Xmas break. There will be astroturf training on Friday. In between Xmas and the New Year we will have the traditional parents vs lads touch rugby challenge at the beach. You know you'll need the work out.

Unfortunately, numbers were a little low for the Irish tour. It's alot of effort when so many regular lads couldn't make that date, and this year there was a clash with the skiiing trips (and earlier football). We have a couple of options. We could look at pretty much the same weekend for Ireland next season. Or we could try for an October half term trip to Ireland. Please feedback any suggestions. This Easter we'll plan some kind of day event instead.

Bont match 13 DEC

The match at Pontarddulais will be at the comprehensive school fields. SA4 8PD. Meet 9:30.

Friday 27th Nov

Just horrible out, so no training tonight.

2016 Tour

We plan to go on tour to Ireland during the Easter holidays. Leaving by coach on Friday 1st April, taking the Fishguard to Rosslare Ferry. Playing our friends from Gorey RFC on the Saturday, another Wexford side on the Sunday, with a late Ferry on the Sunday and return to Mumbles early hours of Monday. We have rough costs and expect to get it at under 200pp. All the details need to be fleshed out but we do need commitment ASAP. We need to know we have viable numbers, and will be asking for a deposit because dropping out at a later date will raise the average price for everyone else.

Tonmawr Away

MATCH OFF. A combination of quite a few injuries, plus a late kick off, means we had to call this one off. Let's have a good turn out at Dunvant next week.

Season Thanks

Many thanks from myself, Ben and Ian for the kind words and support all last season. Onwards with the next....

For those not at the pizza night, the main news is we are lucky enough to have Bonny Fox and Paul Drewson joining the coaching team. Also we want everyone's views and will be seeking firm commitments soon for a tour to Ireland in the Easter Hols (proposed for April Fools weekend).

U14s Starts Here

Welcome to the U14s season. The ninth year since the team started! We have started light training on Fridays at 5, and will have a pre-season get together next Monday 24th at 7:00 at the club. Pizza's served for the boys. Please reply to the teamer so we know we can go ahead with the event with enough numbers, and also so I know how many pizza's to get from Papa Johns.

Summer Break

We have brought Touch rugby to a close, for a break over the summer. Hopefully the boys that gave it a go got a good taste for it. Remember it is a different sport (the word rugby has been removed from the name!) But one with its own challenges. It is building every year as a sport and is something the boys can play for many years ahead. We will get back to it next season, and hopefully Phil will be able to introduce more skills and moves.

Full training for the new season will resume mid August. Our 'end of season' get together will now have to have more of a 'start of new season' get together, but we will get something organised at the club, to review last season and to talk about rule changes etc. for the year ahead. Enjoy the hols. Mike.

July 10th No Touch Rugby

Touch off today. Mike not available and low numbers. Posting here because teamer seems temperamental today. Too sunny as well. Go to the beach.

May 15 No Touch again

This week we have Ben with a little injury and Mike ill. So no touch again. Will try again next week!

8 May No Touch Rugby

We will give it a miss today again with the heavy rain coming in.

Friday 1st May

No Touch rugby tonight. Ben and Mike are tied up. We will be back in action next Friday.

Season's End

Last match of the season will be AWAY at Tonmawr this Sunday. Early start, meet there at 9:45. We will also have our last proper training as normal at 5:00 on Friday. SA12 9UU.

An End of Season evening at the club will be arranged for some time in May.

Next week we move to Summer Touch. 5:00 on Fridays. The aim of this is just fun and fitness. Parents and Sibs welcome to join in. It will be a fair weather session, and we will keep going as long as there is enthusiasm. Please respond to the teamer invites so we know whether there will be enough each week. The Laws of Touch can be found here:
http://www.internationaltouch.org/what-is-touch/basic-rules-of-touch/

1. Fields or pitches should be 70M long by 50M wide with marked scorelines, sidelines and a half-way line.
2. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of 6 players on the field at any time.
3. Players may interchange from the side of the field as often as they wish.
4. Team Captains toss and the winner starts the game with a tap at the centre of the half-way line.
5. Attacking team has 6 attempts or touches before possession changes unless other rules are infringed.
6. If the ball is dropped or knocked-on a change of possession occurs and the game starts with a rollball.
7. Attacking players may run with the ball or pass the ball sideways or backwards until they are touched.
8. If a player passes the ball forward a penalty occurs for a forward pass.
9. If a player passes the ball after being touched a penalty occurs for a late pass.
10. A tap on the mark is taken by non-offending team for penalties. Defending teams must retire 10M.
11. A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender. It must be minimum force.
12. After a touch the player performs a rollball, stepping over or gently rolling the ball between the feet.
13. Players cannot perform a rollball until a touch has been made or a penalty results.
14. Players must perform the rollball at the mark or a penalty results.
15. The attacking player who gets the ball after the rollball is the half, who can either run or pass.
16. If the half gets touched a change of possession occurs and the game restarts with a rollball at the mark.
17. At the rollball all defenders must retire or move backwards a minimum of 5M.
18. Penalties are awarded against defenders who do not retire 5M for rollballs and 10M for taps.
19. A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the scoreline.
20. The team that scores the most touchdowns in the game is declared the winning team.

Easter Plans

NO rugby on Easter weekend (no training Friday, no match Sunday). Go chasing chocolate eggs instead.

Next week we are squeezing in a light training session on Tuesday morning. Meet 10:30 Underhill Park. Followed by an event we have been looking forward to, we play an Irish side for the very first time, on FRIDAY. Meet 4:15 at Underhill. After the match we will have food at the clubhouse. We finish the weekend with a home game against Skewen, which is always a good fixture.

Oakham Match OFF

Really disappointing, but no match today. Parks called everything off at Underhill.

Don't forget ticket offer for Wales Italy on Saturday 5th September KO 5:00. Really good deal if you let me know ASAP how many tickets you want.

Saturday Oakham Tour Match

NO TRAINING TONIGHT

We have just about pulled together a 15 for tomorrow's match against the tourists from Oakham. It will be a tough match for the boys who can make it, but a good experience against a different team and the tour matches always have a good atmosphere. Meet at 10:15.

After the match we have pasta back at the clubhouse for our boys and the tourists, from about 12.

Wales Italy

The club is organising discounted tickets for the Wales vs Italy World Cup warm up match on Saturday 5th September. A 5:00 Kick Off at the Millenium Stadium. Tickets are £10 for children and £20 for adults. A lot cheaper than usual 6 Nations prices and a chance for a group from Mumbles RFC to sit together.

If you want tickets can you please reply YES to the teamer (so other players can see who is keen to go) then text Mike with the details of how many adult and child tickets you would like (07846 334 962).

P.S. Don't forget about the SATURDAY match coming up this week. With all the injuries and the football clash we are really struggling for a team. But it does look like Rangers will NOT have a football match, so hopefully we will have some players now available. If you previously answered NO to the teamer, but can now make it can you let Mike know.
It will be the only match this weekend - the Sunday Bryncoch game has been cancelled.

Get well Ows

Good news from Owen at the end of the local derby. He had a nasty knock but was given the all clear by the docs. Will need a couple of weeks off most likely.

News Update

Neil has been with us for 5 years. During this time he has never taken a backward step and developed into a really competitive wing. One of the highlights of this season for me was the tackle he made to set up Josh's try in the really close recent match at Dunvant. Neil and family are now moving on, so this weekend will be Neil's last with the Wildcats. Many thanks from the coaching team go to Neil and Emma for all their efforts and support for the team. We hope that Neil can find a new local team to benefit from his tenacious skills. Maybe bring them on tour to Mumbles some point in the future.

More Injury woe. The pack will have to cope without the considerable presence of Josh for the rest of the season. Wrist in plaster after a school game! Out for 6 weeks. And the organisation in the backs is suffering without Cam. Wrist in plaster as well after a football injury. Waiting to see the extent of that one, but will be a while. We limp on to the last few weeks of the season with a game against South Gower this weekend. Meet 9:30 for an early kick off.

Update.... Arthur, both bones in wrist. Roll on end of season.

Training off Pontardawe Match ON

With the overnight rain on top of yesterday the park is a real mess today and we will not have training (Ben also off on a stag!)

Match on Sunday vs Pontardawe. Meet at the Pontardawe Leisure Centre playing fields (not the clubhouse grounds) at 10:15. When you turn off the A4067 at the roundabout left into Pontardawe (just after the Tescos), the Leisure Centre is signposted on the left. SA8 4EG.

Another Tour Match

Some more good tourists news. I had a call from Wexford in Ireland yesterday, and Gorey RFC u13s will be visiting Mumbles on 10th April. This will be a Friday match (more fun than training). Kick off expected to be about 5:00, but will finalise near the time.

Please can everyone respond to the SATURDAY tour match teamer as well. We need to know we have enough players not involved with football that day.

Injuries
It has been a difficult season with injuries and we could not believe Lloyd's luck picking up a bad knock to the finger last Sunday. Hopefully this one will heal much quicker than the last. Jacob also was in the wars and could not complete the game. The latest news is Ethan, who has struggled with a knee problem for most of the season. We know Ethan will play through anything, but the sensible decision now is a proper rest and he will take the last couple of months of the season off so he can have a good break before being back in fine health for the start of u14s. Injuries are always frustrating, but the best thing is not to rush it. While on the subject, apologies for lack of action from the coaches in training for the next couple of weeks, as both Ben and Mike are suffering with their shoulders. Ian, as usual, is in perfect health.

Tour Match

We have an extra game booked in on Saturday 28th March. We will be hosting an English touring side and playing at Underhill as a curtain raiser before the firsts play Cwnllynfell with a kick off of 11:00. Unfortunately this is not very flexible and obviously being a Saturday morning there is a football clash, which will put our numbers down, but we should still be close to a full side and it is a good opportunity of some extra rugby for our big squad. Tour matches always fun as well. The teamer is going round now, please everyone respond yes or no so we are sure we can go ahead. 

Waun at home

This weekend we have a match at bishopston vs Waunarlwydd. Meet 10:15.

Training this Friday at 5:00 at Underhill.

Best wishes to Ben who has picked up yet another injury in his comeback game last weekend. Horrible luck. On better Fox news, a fantastic achievement for brother Bonny who has been picked in the Wales u20 squad for the 6n match against France this weekend. Best of luck from all the Mumbles u13s.

Half term weekend

No training on Friday this week.

On Sunday we have an away trip to Cwmavon. Meet at 11:15. Directions to the playing fields will be put up here ASAP.

Briton Ferry Match

After Friday wash out we are lucky to pick up a last minute game with Ferry Steelers the visitors to Underhill Park. We have an early kick off, so please meet at 9:15 for a decent warm up.

Pontarddulais match OFF

Frozen pitches up in Bont. Just heard. Pass the word if you can.

This Weekend

Training on Friday is moved to an early start of 4:30 at Underhill. This is to catch the light and get a decent session in on the junior pitch, away from the bog that has formed by the changing rooms. We will also be done in good time for the start of the 6 Nations.

We will keep this going a couple of weeks, until we can get back to our usual 5:30 time, which is know is easier for many to make, including coaches.

The match on Sunday is away at Pontarddulais. Meet 10:15 for a good warm up. In the past we have always played at the comp in Bont, but this match will be at the proper club ground, at Coed Bach playing fields, SA4 8LG. This is just off Pentre Road (if you come via Penllegaer then take Bolgoed Road straight into Pontarddulais then turn left into Pentre Road at the traffic lights at the King Hotel). Note that the playing fields are not right next to the clubhouse/bar (which is near the school).

Dunvant

Firstly i want to congratulate the boys on a well deserved victory against a strong dunvant outfit especially after a difficult start to the year in which the boys did themselves immensely proud despite not picking up the victories.

  

It was really pleasing to see the boys stand up to physically much bigger dunvant side and how they showed a lot of maturity to close the game out. As you are aware players at this age grow at different times and different speeds so playing against bigger and more physical sides will become more frequent. To combat this our skill level, fitness and tackling technique which we have been working on alot in training will become more and more important. These have all become greatly improved over the last few weeks which i believe made the difference on Sunday so keep up the good work troops.

Secondly, injuries. Touching on what i said previously with regards to games becoming more physical so will the bumps and bruises the boys will pick up. As a team its hugely important that we support guys who do pick up injuries and help them get back playing in any way we can. As someone who has had a lengthy lay off with injuries i know how much it means to have the support of my team mates, coaches and parents to help you get through what can be a difficult and frustrating time. Adding to that it was great to see Lloydy back out there on Sunday i know how tough it has been for him and he looked like he had never been away and im sure all his shoulder problems are behind him so keep up the good work. Mention also to Nathan (appendix) Duncan (Shoulder) and Ethan (Knee & Cheek) who we all wish speedy recovery's from their various injuries and we will hopefully see on the pitch sooner rather than later. We have a great team spirit so as a team lets all get behind them.

Uppa Wildcats 

Ben 

Training off

I was down the park last night, and the small area under the lights is a real mess now, so training is off.

Match away at Dunvant on Sunday is on, just waiting to get a confirmation of kick off time.

Best wishes to Nathan

Up in Morriston today having appendix sorted out. We all hope to see you back in action soon.

Videos at matches

A reminder to everyone that videos at matches should only be taken after permission has been given by parents and coaches on both sides.

Bens First Post

My first post so here goes. (Bare with me)

Just wanted to congratulate the boys on their efforts on Sunday against the Under 14s. Against a much bigger side the boys held their own and certainly gave as good as they got which was really pleasing to see. Their attitude, commitment and skill level was the best i have seen it for a long time and something that we can really build on and move forward as a team. All of what i mentioned in the previous sentence were things we talked about in our team discussion in the changing rooms before Christmas and its very encouraging to see that the boys have stuck to what they all agreed to.

As you know we have a big few weeks ahead of us with games versus Uplands, Morriston & Loughor. The attitude and intensity the boys showed on Sunday needs to be taken into training and all of these games in order to pick up the victories against tough opposition which i firmly believe we are capable of doing.

Hopefully that wasn't to painful for you all.

See you on Friday in the mud and bullets at the park

UPPA WILDCATS

Ben