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County

Somerset Rugby is the governing body for rugby in Somerset but we are far more than just another layer of bureaucracy and blazers.

Growing the game across the county

As well as running county representative rugby, we facilitate the playing of grassroots rugby across the county, ensuring that our clubs thrive and grow. That might mean giving a metaphorical or financial helping hand or it might mean dishing out a bit of discipline here and there. Without the structure and governance that we provide there would be no game.

Representative Rugby

Our county representative program consists of seven squads, offering aspiring players from various age groups the chance to compete for the county. These squads cover U16 & U18 Girls, U17 & U18 Boys, U20 Men, and both Men’s and Women’s teams, with the potential for players to progress to divisional honours. The squads are organised into three sections: Senior, Junior, and Women & Girls. The program is led by a Director of Rugby, who oversees all playing activities, supported by team managers and high-level coaching staff.

The senior women’s squad has recently undergone an almost total transformation and improved to a level where they now play in the Women’s County Championships.

At the junior age groups, more than 480 players from Somerset clubs and schools are involved an initial screening process every season, of whom 150 Age Grade players will join a county squad at the appropriate age group, with the potential to be selected to represent Somerset in grade matches against other counties.

Every player receives top class coaching and mentoring from 36 qualified coaches as part of our player development programme. In turn, our coaches themselves participate in their own development programme and are individually mentored to help them achieve Level 3 coaching awards.