Welcome to the latest update on all things happening at our community rugby club. Please do take the time to read through this newsletter as there’s lots of useful information on developments across all sections, as well as some items that require your action.
Most newsletters I read generally start with “well, it’s been a strange couple of years…” – it really has been though, and I get the sense most people are keen to find ways to move forwards to a sense of normality and being together again.
In light of the deplorable war in Ukraine, sometimes it’s helpful to reflect on what we’ve experienced and where we want to go, so I thought it may be cathartic to (over)share some of my own recent experiences:
• My father-in-law and mother both passed away last year – a truly horrible experience for the whole family to watch them suffer in lockdown. Kiran (my wife) and my two boys helped me through this and take the positives from what they stood for and achieved. Love and support are things we (me) often take for granted, but gosh it means so much!
• Having consistently put on weight over the past 20 years, I decided to seek GP advice and joined the REWIND programme (Diabetes REWIND Programme | Know Diabetes) on 1 November 2021. Not been an easy ride, but I’ve gone from 115kg to 95kg (so 3 stones in proper metrics), no longer clinically obese and my Type 2 diabetes is now in remission!
• The untimely passing of Bethany Horchover at the tender age of 16. There are no words unfortunately. On behalf of the club, I extend our condolences to Neil, Jennie & Aidan. Many of you will have come across Neil in his role as Safeguarding Officer for both our club and Middlesex Rugby. I know also that many of you have experienced bereavement amongst your loved ones – our hearts are with you all.
• Having joined the club in December 1995, I was elected Chairman last summer. It has been a true honour working with fellow volunteers dedicated to creating a safe space for girls, boys, men & women to make friendships. With the likes of Aoife Coyle, Bob Harrison, Mark Hensman, Oli Huddle and other committee members driving us forward on a principles & collaborative basis, I am genuinely excited with where we are trying to go. We will need you all to help us get there!
• Receiving a call from the RFU asking Ruislip RFC to participate on the pitch at Twickenham (see next page) • Watching our kids reach for the stars – Samuel Rockley (designated an England Academy Player); Miles Paterson, Arthur Hobbs, Aaron O’Donovan, Oliver Rockley, Jesse Bindra (all U14s selected to join the RFU Development Player Pathway); Gruff Thomas & Jacob Kerswill (U15s in the DPP); Charlotte-Grace Mosca (Rubies – selected for the Middlesex U18s squad) – take a bow guys, we are so proud!
Thank you if you’ve made it this far! I would love to hear your stories and ideas on how we can help and support each other more.
Take care, Jatin
As previously communicated, the RFU have decided to showcase Ruislip RFC as a thriving and vibrant community rugby club. This is a direct result of the behind the scenes hard work put in by our players, coaches, managers, admins, LVPs, parents & members to enable all club sections to play the game, covering Men’s Seniors, Ladies, Colts, Girls, Youth, Mini & Veterans rugby. The event is to support the RFUs Back in the Game initiative.
We decided to open up this opportunity to a club wide vote, and received over 200 nominations for over 90 different volunteers! The below 38 members (chosen by YOU) will be participating in a once in a lifetime opportunity – standing on the pitch waving banners & flags as the players run out, remaining there as the anthems are sung, free ticket to the match & food! And to top it off, family & friends will be able to watch it all on TV.
The men have had some really strong performances throughout the year against some tough opponents and their commitment to the team and cause has to be commended with tremendous efforts by all. Epitomised by two of our senior coaches rolling back the years and becoming ‘player coaches’ when needed. (Referee diplomacy was stretched.) It has been an excellent year for successions, with a large number of former youth players and current colts making their senior debut. The team has been captained and led wonderfully by ex youth player Dan Kane. It has been amazing to see the great support and relationship building between the ladies and men’s teams. We are in a very good place for the end of this season and delighted we have secured services of medics, coaches and serious plans for the infrastructure around the club for all teams in the coming months.
Bob Harrison (Rugby Manager)
The ladies have made their rugby playing debut, smashing their way into the NC3 league in style. It has been amazing to see the team grow with consistently large numbers of new and old, experienced and non experienced players join together for training every week, and lots of ladies making their rugby debuts on the pitch on a Sunday. We are delighted to have our first deaf player, Kate, make her debut on the team and thank her for her sign language evenings in ensuring we are being as inclusive as we possibly can. Watching the team grow from 13 ladies in 2019 to over 45 active members has been a joy and we are so proud of each and every team member. We thank Ruislip for welcoming us into the club, embracing our team dynamic whole heartedly and look forward to continuing to build on the positive relationships we have with not only the senior men’s team, but with the wider club community.
Aoife Coyle (Chair – Women & Girls Rugby)
Ruislip Rubies have a dedicated training time and day at the club (Wednesday 6 – 7.30pm) and they are now able to experience regular matches against other clubs as girls rugby continues to grow. We have been really proud of the girls’ performance this year following some challenging times throughout the pandemic. The rubies fitness and skill level improves week after week and with a strong diverse coaching squad we aim to expand on this. We were also delighted that our very own Charlotte-Grace Mosca made it to Middlesex Rugby U18’s squad for this season. We are always actively seeking new players, so please contact ruisliprubies@ruisliprfc.co.uk for more information.
The Youth section of the club is having a busy season and as of the end of February has played a total of 73 matches – this is 15% more than we have ever registered before at this stage of a season and represents great effort on the part of all of our age group coaches, admins and volunteers . The younger age groups, the U13s and U14s, are both regularly running two teams and it is great to see the U15s running out for a full season of matches and starting to link up with our U16s in training. At the other end of Youth, we have seen five of our Colts players turn out for the Ruislip Seniors 2nd team in the last month and our U16s are starting to integrate well into our Colts section. Also, we would like to give a big shout out to the volunteer referees who turn out every Sunday and make sure that we can play our home Youth matches – they are a key part of keeping our Youth section busy and active.
Mark Hensman (Chair – Youth Rugby)
The Minis were bursting to get back into action and normality this season after a couple of Covid ravaged seasons. It didn’t take long for them to get back into their stride and we’ve had some really good, competitive and sporting fixtures so far this season. They have flown the Ruislip flag high and done themselves, their coaches and the club proud. With new recruits joining weekly across the section, it’s a good sign that rugby is still growing at our club and the surrounding areas. Lots of new faces on the coaching front this season too; we’ve welcomed some brilliant new coaches into our U6/7 age group, as well as other age groups and also some old faces stepping up, stepping down or just rocking back up to help! The Minis Tour to Burnham-on-Sea is back! We set off at the end of April for a weekend of rugby and fun, and it promises to be the best yet. Spoiler… the tour tops are awesome! Special thanks to Sean Baxter and his U11 team for organising. Lastly, we host the annual Middx U10 Festival at Ruislip on March 13th. It promises to be a great tournament with a really good turn out from teams in and around the County. Special thanks to Elliot Howe and his U10 team for all their efforts in pulling it all together.
Aaron Chichon (Chair – Minis Rugby)
Ruislip has been running the Jack Petchey Award scheme for the last five years – we are now a Silver Partner – during which time 20 of our youngsters have received Jack Petchey Achiever Awards. This not only provides each awardee with £250 to spend on their age group squads. It also, more importantly is an achievement that is valued by employers, colleges and universities and so is great to have on a young person’s CV as they venture out into the world. Awards are made quarterly and nominations can come from parents, players & coaches so please look out for these being requested by your age group admins and nominate away!!
All age grade players (U6s to Colts) are required to be registered with the RFU to ensure accurate contact details and consents are in place, and also as a condition of RFU insurance. In previous years, Ruislip has been managing the registration process on behalf of its players but, from this 2021-22 season, parents of age grade players have been responsible for the accuracy of their own data. This will have the added benefit of improving communications and will give players an accurate record of their playing career.
This guide will show how a parent can complete a new under 18 player affiliation on GMS, the RFU’s Games Management System.
• Every member of Ruislip RFC has a GMS account, either set up by that member or by the club, using the email address given in the membership form. If you don’t have a password, use the “Forgot Password” link and enter that email address to enable access.
• Each parent should be linked to their children who are members and on the Personal Profile Dashboard there should be a notification in the green box to action a Player Affiliation for your child: • Click on this link in the dashboard for the ‘affiliate at a new club’ for your child and complete the player affiliation form.
• In the form, fill out all the mandatory details, including medical conditions and emergency contact, read and tick the consents and click SAVE.
• You will then receive an automated email confirming completion of the Age Grade Affiliation Request, and this will now show as ‘Pending’ under the Player Status on your child’s profile until the Age Grade Registrar at your club approves the request.
• Once the Age Grade Registrar has approved at the club you will be sent one last email at this stage confirming that your child is now a registered player at your chosen club, and then the status changes to Active under the Player Status in your child’s profile and the Player
Established since 2014, WILL TO TRAIN. Group Fitness has always had one objective in mind, to build a community of as many local and likeminded people as possible. The group fitness sessions are 1hr Bootcamp style workouts open to all levels of fitness. Workouts are designed to challenge you by taking your body through a selection of functional movements within an individual, partner and team setting.
Session run:
- Monday & Wednesday 7pm – 8pm
- Friday 9.30am -10.30am
- Saturday 9am – 10am
WILL TO TRAIN. Group Fitness is owned and run by Will, a husband and father of 2 who has lived in the Harrow and Hillingdon area for over 40 years. Will is a highly experienced and motivated coach with a deep passion for the fitness industry and his local community. This combination has helped Will build his ever growing community of like minded people.
WILL TO TRAIN. Group Fitness is in proud partnership with Ruislip Rugby Club, therefore offering you the opportunity to train within a fantastic, professional and safe environment.
All RRFC members (both player and social) are entitled to a 10% discount OFF all sessions.
Please contact Will via the following:
- TEL: 07545 226 100
- WEB: www.willtotrain.co.uk
- MAIL: will@willtotrain.co.uk
- FB: WILLTOTRAIN.
- INSTA: willtotrainuk
We are delighted to confirm that we have received a formal offer letter from the RFU for a substantial loan to support infrastructure improvements. We are in the early stages of exploring our development options with the London Borough of Hillingdon. As with any large scale project, we will need to generate sponsorship and donations, as well as local expertise and resource. If this is something you can help with, please contact Jatin!
