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WELWYN RFC MINI AND JUNIOR SECTION

NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2005


WELCOME                                                                                                                             3RD August 2005
Well, after what seems like only a few weeks since we held our end of season presentations, the new season is now upon us, and we look forward to welcoming you all back on Sunday, 4th September from 10.00 a.m.

A number of changes took place at the end of the 2004-05 season.

Bryony Atkinson, Chair of the Mini and Junior section, has stood down after a very successful 3 years in the post, during which the section moved from strength to strength, with some 350 players registered by the end of the season, and Girls’ Rugby successfully established within the Club - several of our U17 girls representing Eastern Counties during the last season. Bryony steps down with our considerable thanks, and will continue to have an active role within the administration of the Girls’ team.

At the same time, Lesley Brooks has decided to step down as Manager of Girls Rugby, and this role will be performed by a committee managed by June White.

For the first time in several years, this season will see us running a COLTS team, managed by Dom Basse and Mark Smith with administration managed by Christine Robert. COLTS rugby is extremely important to the development of our club, to ensure we have a constant stream of talented players to feed into our senior sides and participate in the long-term success of the club as a whole, and we wish them every success in the coming months

Welwyn RFC Website - Much work has been done over the past 6 months to bring our website into the 21st century, and this provides us with a 1st class communication tool. The site provides details of your age-group coach contacts, fixtures, directions to other clubs and news of playing results, forthcoming events, etc.

We hope to be able to bring you regular updates as the season progresses, and would encourage you to visit the site on a regular basis, as this provides the most efficient way for us to pass information on to members.

Registration – As in previous years, registration points will be set up in the Clubhouse to facilitate registration. Registration forms can be downloaded from the website here and completed in advance, so that you can save time on the day.

Due to a change in laws governing the licensing of clubs, it is essential that all persons who purchase alcoholic drinks from our bar must be members of the Club. To overcome the fact that many parents only pay subscriptions for their children, it has been decided by the committee to introduce family membership in the following way, for the 2005-06 season:

Parents + 1 playing child – membership fee will be £25.00
Parents + 2 playing children – membership fee will be £35.00
Parents + 3 playing children – membership fee will be £45.00

“Family” membership cards will be available at registration.

This structure will legally permit parents of players to use our bar facilities, but it should be noted that such family membership will not entitle the holder full club membership privileges, which include voting rights, access to the Gym and the right to apply through the club for International tickets. However, our VP membership, which extends to the holder full rights, is available for the still exceptionally low price of £10.00 minimum per individual adult. Voluntary donations above this rate are, of course, gratefully received.

On registration day we will be holding a Barbeque immediately after training, so please stick around and enjoy the relaxed social atmosphere for which Welwyn is rightly renowned. On this note, manning for barbeques and other areas, including helping out in the kitchens, parking marshals, staffing of the bar and assistance in administration areas, are performed by volunteers, so if you feel you would like to get involved please put your best foot forward and let us know.

Saracens Partnership Programme – This season we will be re-establishing our links with local Guinness Premiership side, Saracens. Through this relationship, all club members will have the opportunity to:

Attend Saracens home games at Vicarage Rd. with some of our players having the opportunity to participate in pre-match activities, including matches on the main pitch at Watford, and forming the guard of honour as Saracens players take to the field.

Saracens 1st team player visits to our club to assist us with training and player development.

All U12 and younger will enjoy FREE membership to Sarries Squad

Additionally, involvement in the Partnership programme will enable our coaches access to the professional coaches at Saracens to help us to develop the same techniques and skills in our players as those used by the likes of Richard Hill and Thomas Castagneide

We are running the 1st trip of the season to attend the London Double Header at Twickenham on Saturday, 3rd September. This event was hugely popular last season, with over 50,000 at the ground to see Saracens triumph over London Wasps, and we have the good fortune to have the opportunity to repeat itself this year! In addition, you get the opportunity to see London Irish vs Leeds on the same programme, all for the price of £25.00 adult/ £15.00 Child. The price includes return coach transportation from Welwyn RFC and a Buffet lunch.
Full details are available on the website here or contact Mike Flint direct on 07929 422406 or email to m.flint@lineone.net.

We have targeted several other fixtures during the season, which we will actively promote, with support from Saracens:

Saracens vs Biarritz (Heineken Cup) Sunday 23/10/05
Saracens vs Gloucester (Guinness Premiership) Sunday 08/01/06
Saracens vs Leicester Tigers (Guinness Premiership) Sunday 30/04/06

It only leaves me to wish you all great success and, above all, enjoyment, in your Rugby during the 2005-06 season. See you in September.





Gary Peterkin
Chairman – Mini and Junior Section
Welwyn Rugby Football Club

07973 429343
gpeterkin13@aol.com