Official West Hartlepool RFC

Bit of "Durham University" about this squad ... well I never, just like private school selection of County teams from U15s upwards ... what a load of old bull!

Surely a Durham County team should be representative of the county, not chocked full students who are there for just 3 years? Is the U20's team not intended to expose talented local youngsters to a higher grade of rugby? Or have Durham decided winning whilst forsaking your identity is the aim?

Result: Northumberland U20's 42 - Durham U20 21

Tom Dixon man of the match for Durham!%-)

Hit the nail on the head there Mr. Wonderfish.
Pick a side that represents the County, not folks passing through.
I played County U21s (was a few years ago mind!), we were all from County clubs, so all born and bred local, like!
Don't recall any Uni. students in the team!

I think we just disagree fundamentally; I believe any county representative team should be made up of players from that county. If that means losing then so be it.

In the distant past when I pulled on the white shirt in the Championship we hammered Durham and Cumbria, but my abiding memory was still Steve Hanley scoring four tries despite his side shipping 70. I'm afraid Durham should just accept that they aren't going to be that strong because of the smaller pool of talent they have on offer. Both Cumbria and them should accept their lot; leaving Cheshire, lancashire and Yorkshire to fight it out.

Durham U20s last season:

beat Cheshire away
beat Lancashire away
beat Cumbria @ home
lost heavily to the eventual winners Yorkshire, partly due to 10 Sunday morning cry offs.
lost narrowly to finalists Northumberland

Why the hell should the U20s players lie down?

Quote: “I believe any county representative team should be made up of players from that county”

I am sure that your comment proves this is still a very well held view in rural areas of the ‘County of Yorkshire’. As I am sure that you are aware that: In matters of team selection at an given year group, and at senior level that due to the size of the county the ‘Yorkshire selectors’ have as many players to chose from as the Welsh National selectors have at their disposal.

Counties: Clubs

Cheshire (45)
Cumbria (28)
Durham (39)
Lancashire (80)
Northumberland (23)
Yorkshire (123)

It is therefore in their view that all of the other counties lie down and allow them a free and unobstructed entry into the semi finals of all county competitions.

Whilst we in Durham are only a relatively small county we have in the not to distant past proved to be a considerable obstacle to the larger counties in many of the matches played. Even at odd times appearing at Twickenham in county championship finals and long may that continue.



Post Edited (30-01-07 10:14)

Your success or failure is immaterial. Does it bring any credit to Durham County if a team which is essentially a Durham Uni XV with a couple of token others?

Yes Yorkshire has a bigger catchment area, unfortunately that is just fact. I don't believe that redressing the balance by bringing in uni students who have no link to the area is the way to go.

Don't you Poolies agree? I can't believe you're happy being represented by a team with so many transient players.

HBL - Blaydon is in the old County Durham! Stretches between the South bank of the Tyne and the North bank of the Tees including Dalton Park and Sunny Blunts!

WHY WASENT THE GR8 JHON GREENWELL PLAYING ???????

Is that you John? :oD

i hear the senior county team have new coaches any one now who they are

Could be his dad, mam or their big dog?

I thought that the whole idea of representative rugby was to give better players a chance to play competitive rugby at a higher level. Okay in years gone by when Lancashire had an awesome side packed full of internationals (Cotton, Beaumont, Neary in the pack, Smith, Slemen, Carleton, Bond in the backs) it was still great rugby watching Derek Boyd, Jonty Groves Peter and Kevin Robinson etc. play against current internationals. We played all over the county and although we lost heavily they were still passionate games and it was a big deal playing for the county. (That bald flanker from Durham City brings back a few memories - any help, Saggy??)

Surely it is not good for the county to play virtually a Durham University side? Fair play to the three local lads who made the starting XV but I would rather we put out a proper local side. It may be at a lower standard, I agree, but why should lads who in many cases will play ALL their rugby for a Durham club, be shoved out of the way for a lad from, say, Bristol or Birmingham, who will play under our name for a few years and never be heard of again around here?

reckun youlll find that three local lads didnt start the game. The local players dont seem so keen to get involved perhaps its because they feel strangers among so many Uni lads.

I regularly see one of the Durham Senior players who won at Twickers and he still wears his maroon tie with pride after all these years (inclusive of vindaloo & beer stains). Will these Uni lads do the same in years to come ?



Post Edited (30-01-07 16:01)