Issue 19 October 2022
‘ONE CLUB : MANY TEAMS
Message From The Chair.
Your club is now in full swing with midweek training under the new floodlights and weekend games for every team. We can all share in the league success of the Seniors whose numbers have been bolstered by the arrival of many new players of real quality. At Tuesday training they are joined by our U18 Colts. This innovation will only help the boys transition into senior rugby which is a primary focus of the Playing Committee. I believe a rugby club more so than any other sports club is a safe haven to let off steam and has a long history and tradition in supporting and guiding teenage players on and off the field.
This month Wasps and Worcester have called in the administrators and face an uncertain future. Oxford and Wasps are interlinked through their 16 – 18 Colts Academy. The Wasps Aces play their home games at the club and will continue to do so – although under what name we do not know. Only this week they beat a strong Sale Academy side 43 – 24. Very much like our own Charlie Atkinson we are ‘heartbroken’ at the fate of both Premiership clubs and hope all those made redundant can find new clubs or work very quickly.
Oxford RFC is not immune to the current financial crisis but we feel we are well prepared to ride out the storm. If rugby was our only income stream there would be issues but we have become a very successful events venue. The NOMADS 1909 CLUBHOUSE is a perfect indoor venue for private theme parties and the extensive work on the fields is being recognised by Wasps Aces, Oxford University Rugby League, England Touch and TryTag Rugby who all hire them for games. Indeed in March we hope to host a Quadball (formerly known as Quidditch) Festival.
This newsletter is one way the club can communicate with its membership whilst a second is the redesigned Oxford RFC Website. We have a strong social media presence on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter but we have recently felt we needed to streamline our whole club communication of logistics and now use SPOND as the only official ORFC communication site. The code for Oxford RFC is “WKLJN” and I would ask that all adults connected with the club log on.
Floodlights
The new floodlights were signed off last week. The lux tests show they are far better than the existing lights and are a terrific asset to the club. Without the final push from the membership which raised £22000 in 54 days they would not have been possible. You can all feel very proud.
Match Day Buffet and Mini Helpers
Everyone is welcome at Senior rugby games on a Saturday. To help you plan and encourage you to attend, Kick Off will always be at the traditional 3:00 pm and a FREE buffet for 25 adults will be available from 1:30 pm – first come first served. The kitchen and bar will be open at the same time selling Burgers and a Pint.
Our younger Mini Players are always welcome to be BallBoys/Girls and for their efforts will be rewarded with J2O and Crisps. All interested should mailto:[email protected]
U14 and U15 Finals Day
Oxfordshire RFU continue to recognise and reward the club by holding meetings in the NOMADS 1909 CLUBHOUSE and they were pleased to award ORFC the U14 and U15 Oxfordshire County Finals to us on April 23rd. This is another tick in our development box.
ORFC DIARY
for further details mailto:[email protected]
Senior Training
– Tuesday and Thursday 6:45 pm
Midweek Training U18 Colts
– Tuesday U15 – Thursday U14 and U11 – Wednesday
ADULT TRYTAG Rugby
– Wednesday 7:00 – 9:00 – beginners welcome.
FIREWALK in aid of Maggies
Thursday December 1st.
Pre-match Sit Down Lunch
Saturday December 3rd. Cost £15:00
Useful Links
ORFC Nomads 1909 Clubhouse Venue Hire mailto:[email protected]
All Enquiries mailto: [email protected]
John Brodley
Chair ORFC