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View from the Touchline

View from the Touchline

Meg Gardiner29 Aug 2018 - 21:50
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Chairman of senior rugby, Stef D’Anna, looks forward to Saturday’s fixture at home to Tring

Welcome to the start of a new exciting season at Barham Road. A lot has been happening!!

But first, a very warm welcome to our visitors; the players, supports and management team of Tring RFC. We know they finished third in the table last season and, from what we hear on the grapevine, they are a very ambitious club and take their rugby seriously. Although our 1st XVs have never met in a league match, our 2nd XVs have on several occasions and it has always been a close affair. If that is to be the benchmark, we expect a solid test today from a very committed opposition. We look forward to the challenge and hope you all stay and enjoy some Wimbledon hospitality after the game, whatever the result.

After a very tough season in National 2, riddled with injuries, which led to relegation (only just) and the departure of several senior players as well as some senior coaching staff, I want to thank everyone for their loyalty and commitment both at the end of the 17/18 season and the start of the 18/19 season. We have closed ranks, taken responsibility, worked hard and rebuilt to get us to a far stronger position now from which we plan to kick off from and have a successful season in London and South East premier league, where we look forward to meeting some old foes. The off season is always tough when you are rebuilding and trying to lock down all your combinations but we are there now and judging by the two performances in pre season, against Tonbridge Juddians and Barnes, I can honestly say I am now (finally!)very excited about the new season ahead and our first big test today. Although don’t be surprised if you don’t see a smile until 5pm!

So, behind the scenes we have been very busy…..

On the coaching side we welcome Matt Allnutt from The Honorary Artillery Company where he had two very successful seasons winning promotion to London 1. Matt will oversee our 360 degree game strategy and planning as well as defence, with the support of Nick Easter and Wade Kelly. We also welcome Neil Hallett, former Wimbledon Captain, to the coaching staff who will focus on our backline attack. I am also delighted to see Bully fend off the overtures of a local rival to take greater responsibility of our Match day preparations as Head of Rugby operations. Shawn Renwick stays with us as forwards coach and will be supported by fellow South African, and friend of former Wimbledon player Roy Godfrey, Rob Louw on our set piece. And I am happy to say that Marc Bertrand is still in the chair running our 2nd XV, which is such a critical role within the club hierarchy. We enjoyed watching the side win silverware in the Surrey Cup at the end of last season. We are still in the market for a 3rd XV coach and hope to publish an appointment in the near future. Our women’s coaching team has been joined by Scottish international, Jade Konkel.

Following Joe Gray’s departure to Northampton Saints, we have chosen not to fill the role of Head Coach this season, instead opting to work together as a coaching team alongside the Senior Players’ group. There is a great chemistry amongst us and things are working extremely well, which I hope will be obvious during the game today.

I am also delighted to announce that Caroline Parmenter and Justin Smith have stepped up to lead the physiotherapy department for the while club following the departure of Chris Whittle.

On the playing front, we were sad to see the departure of Dylan Flashman and Rhys Morgan (Old Elthamians), Daniel Laventure and Jack Reville (Rosslyn Park), Andy Hore (Esher) and James Doe (Tonbridge Juddians), but we also respect their ambition to play a higher level and are encouraged that Clubs in higher leagues are looking to us to provide members of their squads. They all still close with the squad and coaching staff and we hope to see them in a Wimbledon Shirt again soon (ish). One other notable mention for ex Wimbledon player is Roy Godfrey, who captains Jersey Reds in the Championship this season.

In other important player news, Josh Bayford has taken the role of 1st XV Captain and has had a very big pre season. We look forward to seeing him lead the boys out this afternoon. Steve May has not totally hung up his boots and steps into the important role of Club Captain. Our Senior Players’ group have been incredibly active welcoming new players to the squad and driving the agenda and standards for training, match day and socials. George Beale takes over from Josh Charles as Social secretary. I hear he can chin a jug in 4 seconds although I am yet to witness it without him barfing.

Our Senior Players’ group this season is the talented crop of Kane Alboni, Leighton Bellamore, Josh Charles, Ben Hough, Lee Reilly, Mark Scott, Harry Tabb and Chris York.

Some new players to look out for today and in the coming weeks:

Phil Chesters – joined us from Chinnor RFC, on the wing or full back
Rob Louw – joined us from Rotherham Titans, unfortunately sustained a small injury in pre season but we hope to see him back in the next week or so
Campbell Musson – fresh off the boat from Mew Zealand and in at scrum half
Zak Vinnicombe – joined us from Old Albanians, playing at Fly Half
Toby White – joined us from Easts Tigers RFC in Brisbane, Australia, playing in the centres

A special mention must go to Tyler Flashman, the younger sibling of Dylan, who makes his first full debut starting for the 1st XV.

There are some other new players we expect to see on the 1st XV pitch in the not too distant future like Freddie Hopper (Guildford) and Jordan Saunders (Westcombe Park). Both players, you might remember, caused us a few problems in the past, and will be turning out for the 2nd XV today at Bishops Stortford alongside some of Wimbledon’s finest home grown talent Abu Abdul, Tom Bracegirdle, Jack Kremer and Josh O’Rourke. We wish the whole team well in what will be the highest and toughest league the 2nd XV have competed in. Exciting to have such strength in depth in our Senior men’s squad as well as seeing so many players built at Wimbledon RFC!

Our 3rd XV don’t play today but we look forward to seeing them in action next week away at Sutton & Epsom. Our women’s side play a friendly tomorrow against Old Elthamians and start their league campaign next Sunday away to Teddington. Good luck to all involved.

With more than 55 players at training this week the intensity and competition for places has been fierce. There are still players joining and coming back from injury, but the strength in depth will serve us well and I know the boys will give everything today.

There is a real buzz amongst the players so let’s light the touch paper, stand well back and see what happens………

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