After a couple of weeks off, we are now back in touch and looking forward to the new season. If you want to know what is going on at the club, please note what information is available -

• In-Touch will continue to be sent out weekly via the RFU club information system (known as GMS). If you don’t get it, then please contact me and I will be happy to check it out. GMS does have the reputation of missing some addresses from time to time on a random basis.
• In-Touch is also posted on the Club website (powered through Pitchero) along with first team match reports and photo and video albums and if you sign to be member on the website, you will get a weekly newsletter containing the all above. You can also access the club’s social media from the website

The Club AGM was held earlier in the month and the main points to note are

• Our finances over the past two years were battered by Covid-19, but due to government support grants (which have now ended) and careful management we were able to generate a surplus in both years. However, due to the impact of events on our normal income streams the underlying trend is that we are running at a loss and need to get back to a position of stability and genuine profit as quickly as we can.
• We have improved the performance of the bar and have increased the hiring of our facilities, but we need to do more. The car wash development has got off to a good start and we are hopeful that this will become a stable source of income replacing other things such as the car boot sales, which no longer run.
• Like everyone else we are subject to rising costs and we need to ensure that items such as hire charges, bar prices and membership rates stay in line with inflation and enable us to meet our financial targets. The mini and junior section has already decided to increase its rates and the Committee will be reviewing the senior rates shortly. We don’t want to add to members’ problems of living with inflation, but increases are inevitable from time to time and we would prefer not to have a big jump at some point.
• Our intention is to balance the books with a reasonable reserve to enable us to deal with repairs and other contingencies (which happen all the time) a strategic reserve and a pot for development projects - the latest of which is to install high specification training lights on the third team pitch with the help of a grant from Warwick District Council which we are required to match-fund. It is hoped to have the lights in place and operating early in the season. The netball section has a similar development which they have funded in the same way, with their own funds plus a District Council grant
• We have a full Committee in place but, as mentioned in the AGM papers, we have an urgent need to begin the process of replacing some of our long serving Committee members and adding to the list of those members willing to assist the club in all sorts of ways, using their interests and expertise. Please don’t be shy about coming forward – we need your help.

Pre-season is underway. The 1st XV is continuing to play at level 7 (now known as Counties 2 West South) although there are significant changes in the make-up of the league, including Bromsgrove and Broadstreet 2nd teams and Old Leamingtonians, who have moved up. The aim is to go for promotion and a leadership group has been formed to give this a focus based on commitment to training and availability and we are looking for some outside support to help our internal coaching group. Training is on Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7pm. We could do with more numbers, so now the horrible hot weather had abated (for a while at least) get your boots or trainers out and come along and get involved.

The first match is a trial involving both sides against Barton under Needwood on 13 August – a return fixture from last pre-season. This will be followed with a visit by Llandaff North from Cardiff, playing to a similar trial/warm-up format on 20 August. This will be on the Saturday evening as the Midlands Rugby League Cup final will be held at Moorefields in the afternoon.

After the bank holiday weekend, we will begin league games on 3 September, against Old Coventrians at home and the Seconds away at Rugby St Andrews in the Warwickshire Shield.

VP Lunch dates have been pencilled in for September 24 (Old Leamingtonians) December 10 (Bromsgrove) January 21 (Berkswell & Balsall) and March 11 (Old Coventrians)

The regular Wednesday evening Walking Rugby activity paid off on Saturday when we entered the Bourneville Walking Rugby Festival which was played in a league format on their 3G pitch. We started with a win over Droitwich (9-0) followed by Coventry (5-2) and then two Old Leamingtonians sides (their B team 8-0) and their A team (2-1) and to complete our programme we overcame hosts Bourneville (3-1) and Moseley (3-2). So, having won all our games we claim victory although no trophy was awarded. The winning team was: David Ward, Pete Mulhern, Dudley Turner, Tony Philpott, Melanie Harvey, Ian Thompson-McFarlane, Andy John, Richard Watkins, David Limmer.

Summer activities are still going on in addition to club training
• Rugby League Tag on Tuesdays and Thursdays (7.00)
• Walking Rugby on Wednesdays (7.00)
• Diddy rugby for 2-5 year olds on Saturdays (9.00 to 11.00)

Rugby Camp – Gareth Shuttleworth’s Rugby Camp is from 15-19 August, led Gareth and other coaches from Dallaglio RugbyWorks. Open to all age groups, members and non-members, children will enjoy a mixture of games, skill development and rugby-based challenges. The Camp is running from 9am-3pm, from 15-19 and costs £20 per day. Children will need to bring a packed lunch, a refillable water bottle and appropriate clothing. For bookings and further information, please contact Gareth on; gareth@dallagliorugbyworks.com or 07522 944792

johnlizlyons@btopenworld.com