You will all be aware that on Sunday 13th March we have our NLD Semi Final match against Paviors at Sleaford Rugby Club. To guarentee our promotion to the Cup competition next year, we have to win that game. As with all NLD matches, we can only field a squad of 22 players, and so once again its selection time. We have been looking not just at who has been trying hard and playing well, but also at player combinations. Whoever takes to the field will be representing the whole Barbarians set up. Again, as we have done on previous match days, we will be taking around 26 potential squad members, so if anyone is ill, or gets injured in the warm up, someone else can step in. We know that we have the depth of squad to make that happen. Of course it would be great if everyone came to support the team, and we have a 12.30pm kick off (still to be confirmed).

On 27th March we then have two teams entered into the NLD Sevens competition at Mellish Rugby Club (around 24 players). A number of you have never played Sevens, and we need a chance to sort that out. So as well as preparing for our vital Semi Final, we also have this to work on. For those three or four players who can't play in the semi because of NLD registration after Christmas, you can play in the Sevens.

Our plan for this weekend is to take around 20 squad members to Southwell, to test out some combinations, while the remainder of the squad engage in training at Bourne. The Bourne based training will focus mainly on Sevens skills, but with a few of you returning from holidays, sickness or injury, we will also look at who is best able to make up the remainder of the squad going to the semi. There are a few moves we need to sort out with a couple of you, so again have the chance to focus on that.

We would therefore like the following players to go to Southwell (usual 9.45am warm up):

Dylan Jones; Jack Goodyear; Merren Leaper; Josh Edwards; Aaron Wray; Bradley Hiscocks; Joe Warner; Tim Hodgson; Jack Lagdon; Robert Martin; Joe Crickmore; Devon Brooks; Dan Whadcock; Ethan Duran; Will Hooson; Sam Cheek; Josh Flegg; Matt Hudson; Harley Bycraft; Ollie Dilloway; Ollie Sherwin.

If you are NOT available, and listed above, please let me know asap so that we can cover any gaps. As said some more of you will be in our NLD line up, but we don't want lots of folk standing around on Sunday waiting to get onto the pitch.

We would like all other players to train at Bourne, with a 10.15am start please. If everyone attends this session (14 - 15 players), we can have the most fun as well as learn some new skills. Places are still up for grabs in our NLD 26, so make that last impression.

Arrangements for Thursdays:

We are training at Bourne this week, as the Deepings training area is still unusable. We know that for the next two weeks a number of you have options evenings, so the sessions will most likely have a strong fitness focus.

Nick