Blues TV is back – new episode added 5.8.10
July 31, 2010
This season we are bringing back Blues TV on YouTube
The first of our new episodes can be found here, featuring an audio interview with Andy Widdop.
We aim to regularly publish a mixture of video, audio interviews and photographs covering latest news and behind the scenes events at the club.
Visit the forum and let us know what you think, and what you’d like to see on Blues TV in the future.
First set of summer camps cancelled
July 29, 2010
The first week of rugby camps U7-12 on 2nd -4th and Girls 5th-6th have both been canceled due to low numbers but we are still running the camps at the end of the summer.
Newbury 2nd XV v Newbury Stags 21st August
July 29, 2010
Newbury 2nd XV will play a preseason friendly against Newbury Stags on Sat 21st August. Kick off will be at 2pm.
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FURTHER SQUAD ADDITIONS
July 29, 2010
We have now been back in training for nearly one month & I can report that training has gone very well. Sessions have been well attended & we have seen over 60 players attend sessions during this period.
In addition to those that have stayed from last season we can announce that we have been looking at a small group of Fijian players who are based locally in the Army. There are all proving to be good additions to the squad.
We have also arranged for Laurent Chaffre to join us from French Federele 1 club Tournefeuille. Laurent has also played for Blagnac & had a period playing rugby league for Olympic Toulouse. He plays centre & in his first session (on Tuesday) showed that he was very strong in contact but had an eye for a gap! Laurent has come to Newbury, as our first French rugby player, to experience English rugby & to learn English at the same time. We really pleased that he has chosen Newbury as the place to fulfil both of these objectives. Laurent is looking for work & accommodation in the area & if anyone can help with either or both please contact Andy Widdop.
Another addition to the squad is Chris Thomson. Chris is on a year out from Loughborough University & is working in Slough. Chris plays in the back row & is proving to be another good addition. He has represented Scotland U20 & this experience will prove useful in this very competitive league.
We are also looking at a fly half to fill the shoes left by Mitch Burton & hope to make an announce very soon as to who that would be.
We continue to get new players all the time. We are beginning to establish links with Oxford Brookes, Reading & Bath Universities. We are still in contact with Bath Rugby & their Academy for the use of players during the season.
The aim within the club is to produce a system that sees us encouraging & producing players from our own Junior ranks to make the move to our 1st Team. This is beginning to bear fruit with a good number of former Colts now within the squad & many current Colts attending training & showing what they are capable of.
Many of these players are young but gifted & capable of playing a style of rugby that will be exciting, enjoyable & successful.
We will be fielding a 1st XV & 2nd XV on most Saturdays & the numbers that have been attending training will allow us to fulfil all of those fixtures.
Squad Announcement
July 22, 2010
Newbury RFC would like to make announcements about squad players from last season.
The following players have moved on or have made it known to us that they will not be playing at Newbury next season:
Ien Ascroft-Leigh – Cambridge
Jack Bentall – Unknown
Huw Bevan – London Scottish
Mitch Burton – Unknown
Finlay Coxon-Smith – Unknown
Sean Fox – Taunton
Dan Hodge – Cross Keys
Ed Jackson – Doncaster
Craig McGrath – London Scottish
Chris Rowland – Esher
Scott Witcomb – Taunton
We wish all of these players the best for next season, although, we could meet up with a couple when we play Taunton. A good number of these players have moved to clubs at a higher level & Newbury continues to be a club that aims to improve players.
Chris Ridgers is on trial at Birmingham & Solihull. We wish Chris well in his aim to get into a Championship team. Chris will keep us informed of his future.
Charlie Perry has recently begun work in The City & is finding it hard to dedicate anytime to rugby at the moment. He will keep us informed of his future plans.
The following have not made us aware of their plans for this season, as yet, & we are still hopeful that we can find a way of keeping them involved:
Paul Fincken
Matt Humphries
Mike Mangeolles
The following players from last season’s squad will be staying:
Jack Avery
Karl Buttle
Andrew Cannock
Tom Fidler
Martin Freeman
Andy Gale
Calum McGregor
Jamie Monger
Matt Oliver
Liam Perkins
Greg Price
Ben West
Alistair Widdop
There have been a number of new players attending training during the first 3 weeks of pre-season & we hope to be in a position to make some announcements by the beginning of August.
There is a sense of disappointment in the number of players that have chosen to move on but we have to accept this as an inevitable factor in modern rugby. This disappointment is counteracted by the number of new & talented players that have been attending training. The group have already begun to show that are capable of playing a style of rugby that will be enjoyable & exciting to play & watch. We have asked them to remain positive in everything they do & we ask the same of all those that support Newbury RFC.
I should remind everyone that we will be fielding a 1st & 2nd team most weeks. This will require a big squad of players (we have already had 55 players attending pre-season). We will be trying to work the fixtures so That there will be either a 1st team of 2nd team fixture to watch, at home, each weekend.
Andy Widdop
Director of Rugby
Caroline Withers
July 22, 2010
It was with greatest sadness I heard that Caroline had lost her battle with cancer that she had been fighting for eight months. Caroline’s husband Kalvin is a long time club member, a Berkshire society referee and a friend, our thoughts and best wishes are with Kalvin and their son Benjamin aged 7 as well as the rest of Caroline’s family and many friends.
The funeral service will be held at St Marys Church Shaw at 12 noon on Tuesday the 27th of July. No black attire has been requested by the family and only flowers from your garden. Donations are very much welcomed by the family to the Duchess of Kent House Hospice Charity c/o Camp Hopson Funeral Directors 01635 522210 or collection box with book of remembrance at Natures Corner, 12 Bartholomew Street.
In addition Kalvin posted this on Facebook yesterday.
“I want to express my profound gratitude to everybody that has offered kind words to Benjamin and me since Caroline lost her battle against Cancer last week. It has given us both strength. Can I ask for even more support from you all now though. Benjamin wants to raise some money for charity and I have opened a Just Giving page to help him. Please would you take a look yourselves and also pass the details to your own friends on Facebook, by email or whatever you think.”
“I’m fundraising for Duchess Of Kent House Charity using JustGiving. Please take a look at my page: http://www.justgiving.com/Caroline-Withers“
Kalvin and Benjamin, our thoughts and prayers are with you – Big Hugs.
Kindest Regards – Jules.
Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities 10/11
July 12, 2010
We have a diverse range of sponsorship and advertising opportunities available across the club for the 10/11 season.
Sponsors and advertisers make a vital contribution to the developing the club. At very little cost you can publicise your company and fulfill your corporate and social responsibilities within the community. Our basic packages are set out via the link below, but we would be glad to tailor something to suit your needs.
For more information please contact Julian Lewis – chair@newburyrfc.co.uk
Details of sponsorship and advertising packages
Beer and Cider Festival 17th of July – Details
July 5, 2010
New Nike kit deal
July 4, 2010
Newbury Rugby Football Club has announced that they have agreed a three-year deal with sportswear giant Nike to become their official kit manufacturer from the start of the 2010/11 National 2 South season. The sports goods brand were among a number of companies speaking to Newbury RFC about becoming the Club’s new kit supplier and after several weeks of negotiations the agreement has now been signed.
Recently appointed NRFC Chairman, Julian Lewis, said: “The decision in choosing a new kit supplier has taken time and we had many offers on the table from several suppliers, including a deal with our existing manufacturer. It was important however to find the right deal for the Club, its members and the supporters. After a series of meetings over recent weeks, Nike demonstrated that they had the passion, desire and commitment to work with Newbury and we are delighted to be able to associate the Club with such a powerful brand.”
Highlights of the new deal include:
- An all new kit to be available to the whole club
- New online shop with a wide range of Nike products
- All mini players to be given a new shirt
- Junior teams to have numbered playing kit for the first time