Its been nearly a year since our last game. The 1s beat Frome 2s 38-0 on 14th March 2020. Then the season was the first postponed and then ended. We were not allowed to train again until June, and that was limited to fitness training in groups of 6. The regulations were slowly eased throughout the summer and autumn allowing some limited contact training and touch rugby. Games were due to start again in December under altered laws with no mauls and scrums, but the current lockdown ended any chance of fixtures. Training is due to resume after 29th March and it is hoped that the season will start as normal in September. This will be the last season of 12 team leagues as a restructuring by the RFU is moving us to a 10 team league for the 2022-23 season. I understand that the new leagues will be based on location rather than county, so we should be playing games more locally. Good luck to 2 of our players who are leaving us (temporarily) to join the armed forces. Kieron Tillotsen is joining the RAF and Del Murray the army.
We have been unable to get together much this season due to covid regulations, but have been running regular zoom socials, quizzes and even a murder mystery. Thanks to Dave Cooke, Sam Hughes and Duncan Simpson for organising. One event we did hold was the annual golf day at Oaksey Park Golf Club. A good time was had by all despite it being cut short by torrential rain. Well done to James Stuart for organising.
The new website, designed by Duncan Simpson, is well worth a visit. It has lots of great content , including past match reports, club news, game video etc.
2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Minety Rugby Club. The committee has decided to postpone the celebration until summer 2022. We plan to hold the event on site in a marquee. A 50th anniversary tie is also being produced.
John Butler has been hard at work at the club throughout. Our main project for this spring/summer is upgrading the floodlights on the main pitch. A work party will be required when covid restrictions/weather allows.
The club AGM will be held on Wednesday June 30th. If we are unable to hold it at the club, it will be held on zoom. There is currently a form on the club website www.minetyrfc.com for those who wish to stand for the committee. The person standing, proposer and seconder must be a paid up member of the club and you are illegible to vote in the agm unless you are a paid up member.
Unfortunately we have also seen the untimely passing of club stalwart Mark Wallington who will be sorely missed.