Training Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 SHARP! (from 30th June 2009)

Well it's that time again and no doubt you have all been missing those weekly sessions at Barn Elms so with next season and National 2 looming it has never been more important to get to the maximum level of fitness before the season starts in earnest - be there or suffer Carson's and Gibbo's wrath!

Coach's Corner

News from our squad

After a fantastic end to the season and a great win over Bracknell in the play off, Barnes RFC now move into the National leagues for the first time. With several promotions over the last few years the club and squad continue to improve and make progress

Planning for next season is well under way and everyone is very excited about the next few months, the players will need to be fitter, the coaches better prepared and the supporters more vocal but if any of our opposition underestimate us then I can promise you they will get a surprise

Recruitment of new players has already started and I anticipate that we will need a dozen new faces to supplement the squad we already have. We will be loosing a few quality players and I would like to thank them all for their commitment and camaraderie whilst they have been involved with us, Rigger leaves for a twelve month sabbatical in Jersey, Marcel is sadly hanging up his boots, Stumpy is returning home and Adrian Penzhorn and Matt Hill can not play because of the RFU regulations about professional rugby in the National leagues. Outside of this I can report that the rest of the squad are looking forward to pre season

The coaching team remains the same as last season and will be supplemented by Richard Hicks who returns to the club after a couple of years away. Further appointments for the second and third teams will follow. Ken is continuing as manager but unfortunately he has to retire his touchline flag, as we will have touch judges next season

Our strategies that have been so successful to date will not change and we will not move away from the “core rugby values” that have been integral to the club. We remain as ambitious as before but continue to believe in playing for each other and playing for enjoyment, training will always be skill based and we will always play to our own abilities and not focus to much on our opposition, the quality of our performances is down to us and no one else. I for one am looking forward to the new challenges we will face

The clubs success is not only about the 1st xv, all of our other teams have performed to a consistently high level and each squad continues to support each other on and off the field. The committee overwork themselves and make constant sacrifices while our sponsors remain loyal through this tough economic down turn. Barnes RFC is a strange phenomenon, we are a club with a small stature but a huge heart and one I am extremely proud to be involved with

recruitment@barnesrfc.org

New Players wanted at Barnes Rugby Club for the 2009/2010 - 5 Mens XV's. a Ladies XV and Minis - from National League 2 to under 6 years old come and play for us next season - email us NOW!

recruitment@barnesrfc.org

Barnes are in National 2 next year and we need your help big time!

So how can you help YOUR club next season?

We need lots of helpers and lots of money....

Money

Rob Orr, our sponsorship manager, has done a fantastic job in recent seasons and he raises a huge amount of money each year, last season this was from over 70 people and companies. Some are international ticket deals for companies and some are for individuals who want to spend as little as £150. Whatever you can do next season, small or large, now is not the time to be bashful, please do not hold back. As we have said many times, we not only have the costs of being in a National League but also, following the passing of Neil Copp, we have to cope without the clubs most generous benefactor. There is no point beating about the bush, it won’t be easy, but, with all of your help we can carry on growing successfully. It’s up to you! If you want to assist us as a sponsor in any way please email Rob Orr now sponsorship@barnesrfc.org

Helpers

Barnes is a club where a few do most of the work and, put simply, we need many more volunteers so that we can at least be able to hold our own next season. Whether it is doing your stint in the kit shop or selling programmes or putting out the advertising boards, every job takes time and needs an extra pair of hands. If you want to help, in any capacity, please email me at BarnesRFC@Thomsons.com and tell me what you would like to do for the club

Gareth Williams Davies with the ball – in support (left to right) Jon Dawson, Matt Clarke, James Lumby, Gibbo & Dan Sutherland

Jason Leonard looking suitably nervous about scrumaging against Rhino before the start of the Barnes Vets vs Legends XV for the Neil Murphy Benefit fund - the legends won 22- 17