SEVENTEEN to 19-year-old boys who are unable to play rugby union during the weekends will soon be able to do so, thanks to a new initiative being launched by the North Midlands RFU Rugby Develop-ment Officers and managed locally by the Malvern RFC Youth Development Section.

Under the scheme, boys living in the Malvern Hills district who are attending Sixth Form and FE Colleges or who are working during weekends when the majority of club and youth rugby is played, will be given the chance to play in a midweek U17-U19 floodlit competition.

In addition specialist development sessions will be held before the competition matches to help the youngsters to sharpen-up their skills under the guidance of North Midlands RFU qualified coaches.

The format of the competition will be based upon 10-a-side teams playing three or four 20 minute matches under lights.

The competition and coaching sessions will run over a six week period from January 2002 moving to a new venue each week with a major 'Tens' festival being held in April 2002.

All the players attending will be encouraged to 'mix and match' with other groups to give them experience of playing alongside unfamiliar faces and build new friendships and social groups

Eventually, the RDO's will want many of these players to play representative rugby for the North Midlands RFU or return to weekend rugby with local clubs as and when the players work patterns change.

Details of this pioneering scheme, found nowhere else in the country, are available from North Midlands RFU Rugby Development Office on 0121 414 3461 or the Malvern RFC Youth Development Section on 01684 573728