Expect to hear plenty of the phrase ‘fast and free’ from now until the rest of the season because the Independent Schools Lambs U18s are back!
The lengthy and exciting U18 trial process begins tomorrow with the regional trials. This consists of four trial games, South East, South West, Midlands, and North.
Following those trials players will be selected for the South East XV, South West XV, Midlands XV and North XV, and on the 5th January the North will play the Midlands in a trial game for selection to the Northern XV, while the South East will play the South West in a trial game for selection to the Southern XV.
The final trial comes the following week, on the 12th January, when the Northern XV plays the Southern XV for selection to the National XV.
Once the National XV squad has been selected the Lambs will then play four fixtures, against the Irish Exiles, Loughborough Students U19s, Crawshays Welsh, and The Boys’ Club of Wales, before embarking on their annual tour.
This year the Lambs travel to Zimbabawe, the scene of their fantastic 2010 tour, where they will look to recreate the fantastic success that they had last time, and that they achieved on their unbeaten tour of Ireland last year.
They also hope to play some warm up fixtures against Leinster or Ulster U18s ahead of the Zimbabawe tour, which goes from the 4th to the 13th April, showing just how strong a connection this side makes with their opposition whenever they tour.
A squad of 28 will travel to Zimbabwe, showing just what a fantastic achievement National Squad selection is, where they will play four fixtures against: Mbare Academy (who have a number of players sponsored by the Lambs, a Zimbabwe Presidents XV, The Goshawks (Zimbabwe Barbarians), and Zimbabwe U19.
This is the Lambs 8th season running since their original inception as the Independent School Barbarians, and they seamlessly become a treasured fixture in the independent school rugby calendar now, and a superb achievement for anyone who achieves selection.
With their total commitment to play exciting, daring, running rugby within their ‘fast and free’ philosophy, they are a side that is always a pleasure to watch, and one of the finest adverts for schoolboy rugby that there is.
Lambs U18 selection process:
2013/14 U18 Lambs Selection | ||||
1st December 2013 | North Trial | Midlands Trial | South East Trial | South West Trial |
For | For North XV | For Midlands XV | For South East XV | For South West XV |
5th January 2014 | North XV v Midlands XV | South East XV v South West XV | ||
For | Northern XV | Southern XV | ||
12th January 2014 | Northern XV v Southern XV | |||
For | National Squad Selection | |||
Independent Schools Lambs U18 Fixtures:
Sunday 19th/Sunday 26th January:
Lambs XV v Irish Exiles – Hartpury College
Saturday 1st February:
Lambs XV v Loughborough Students U19s – Loughborough University
Saturday 15th February:
Lambs XV v Crawshays Welsh – Venue to be announced
Sunday 16th March:
Lambs XV v The Boys Clubs of Wales – Port Talbot
Friday 4th April to Sunday 13th April:
Lambs National Squad tour of Zimbabwe
