It has been a very strange year from a rugby perspective. The pandemic has hit our sport very hard and it is difficult to see when we will be back playing competitive rugby as we had come to know it anytime in the immediate future. Rest assured, however, the Club has and will continue to meet the considerable challenges we face thanks to the great work of our Chairman Mark Steward and the Board. My sincere thanks go to all of them for their huge contribution in what are very difficult times.

I must take this opportunity to announce to you that Mark will be stepping down as Chairman of the Club in January due to work commitments. He had indicated earlier in the year that he would not stand for re-election at the AGM, but had agreed to stay on to help us through the pandemic. He has been a very good Chairman and we could not have asked for a better person to steer us through these unprecedented times. I am sure you will wish to join me in thanking Mark for the contribution he has made to the Club. The Board will look to make an interim appointment to replace him early in the New Year.

It is especially at this time that we remember all of those who we have lost in 2020. We may not have been able to properly say farewell but we will get together and remember them in true rugby fashion when we are able to socialise once again.

Please also spare a thought for all those less fortunate for whom this pandemic has been a very stressful time with the months of lockdown, furlough and in some cases loss of employment. All of this must take its toll and not all individuals will cope as well as others. The convention in Rugby is that we look after our mates both on and off the park. So please think about those in our community both young and old who might be under pressure from stress or loneliness caused by these difficult times.

I wish to thank all our Sponsors who have stood with us this season. We are very grateful for their support and to you our Membership who have turned out in great numbers to pay your subscriptions and support our Club. Without your contributions we would simply not be here. Whilst your support allows us to function, it must be very obvious to all that our income is not at the levels of previous years. To tackle this loss of earnings we have decided to launch a crowd funding event. Details will be shared with you on Boxing Day. So please take a look and support the event in any way you can. We hope that this will be a bit of fun as well as bringing in some very welcome cash to the club coffers.

I will also mention our Club Staff, Tiz, Chris, Jay, Peggy and Jenny. It has not been easy for them during the months of the pandemic and we thank them all for working with us so that this Rugby Club will be in great shape and ready to play whenever our Governing body gives the go ahead to do so.

May I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing you all at Sandhill Lane where we will once again have fun and enjoy our rugby.

Doug Skelton
Club President