CLUB coach Simon Edwards is celebrating national success, after leading the South West Region’s under 18 club colts to the England divisional title for the first time in their history.
Having been invited by the RFU to coach the regional squad last season, Edwards demonstrated his young side's potential by taking them to the final of the 2003 championships.
However, this year he was determined to go one better.
Initially selecting a squad of 50 players from the various county championships, Edwards then whittled this down to a core squad of 25, via divisional trials.
Success soon followed, as almost immediately after the trials the newly formed team took on Bath Academy and ran out 22-17 winners.
They then travelled to Spain for a five-day training camp, where they played and beat a Spanish select side 45-0, before returning home and grinding out a 24-18 win over Devon & Cornwall under 19s.
With preparations complete, Edwards took his squad to Castlecroft in Wolverhampton for the England Divisional Championships.
In the opening game, the South West overpowered the reigning champions London by 10 points.
Meanwhile, the Midlands were beating the North to set up an exciting final.
Edwards said: “We were 23-3 up at half-time and eventually beat them 23-11.
“That made us the English Divisional Champions for the first time ever at the under 18 level.
“I had always wanted to try myself at the representative level. It's a massive honour and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was one of the most enjoyable moments of my rugby career.”
With the championship under his belt, Edwards must now turn his attention to the pressing matter of Maidenhead’s promotion campaign.
However, he is hoping his success at a regional level has been noted.
He added: “My ambition is to be involved in the England coaching.
“It's by invitation of the RFU, but I would love to have a shot at the England level. I have probably left it too late, but who knows.”

Tomorrow (Saturday), Maidenhead RFC travel to Salisbury, when nothing but a win will do.
Even then, a narrow win might allow Swanage & Wareham to return to the top of the table, as they have an easier game – at least on paper – at High Wycombe.
However, while predicting a hard-fought win for Maidenhead, Edward warned that Salisbury would be no pushover.
He said: “We’ve been to Salisbury before and lost.
“They’re old rivals of ours and they won’t hand us the game. If we’re on top of our game, obviously we have to be favourites.
“But it will be a real battle down there.”

HONOURED: Simon Edwards is now praying for an international call-up. Ref:84242/1