Plans for Cheshire U13s Rugby 2024/25

For several years, we have been unable to find a suitable format for the U13s in the absence of a Cheshire Cup / Knockout Competition. However, after discussions in the Cheshire M&J sub-committee, we would like to propose a new format for the 2024/25 season, based on a simplified Waterfall competition.

The plan is to form small groups from teams entering, based on geography and reducing travel time, and to play games between each team in the group at one location over two dates. Points will be awarded for each game, and the teams will be invited to a finals day on a third date based on their position within the groups.

For example, 4 groups of 4 teams, would play 6 games in total within the group. These would be split between the two dates for the group, and played (for convenience) at the same location, with points awarded. The highest ranked teams in each of the 4 groups would play in Finals #1, the second ranked teams would play in Finals #2, etc. And on the finals days, there would be two games: 1st ranked vs 2nd ranked team and 3rd ranked vs 4th ranked team.

All teams / clubs would have to adhere to the RFU 50% rule and would be expected to adopt a fair playing time for all players policy.

If your club would be interested in such a competition for the U13s, and if your club would be interested in hosting the two group days and a finals day, please email: cheshirerugby.mj.sec@gmail.com

At this stage, we would like to run a simplified competition in the first year to gauge interest and to flush out any potential problems, so we would be looking to limit numbers to 16 teams initially.