Well that’s a wrap, the last weekend end of the season has come and gone, and what a season it has been, extraordinary in every way, but you will have to wait one more week for my summary of just how amazing it has been!

The last adult game took place with the Occies losing to Farnham 3rd XV by a whisker in the last play of the game 27-31, absolutely gutting for the lads, rumour has it they are still drowning their sorrows!

Below you will find a note about the Minis Tours to Ireland, Wales and Laon last weekend, a few words about the Colts and their first ever 7’s competition, and a big fat nudge about the Minis and Juniors and Colts 15th Birthday party on 13th May and how to buy your ticket to this jamboree for a measly tenner!

Thank you one and all for making this club so bloody brilliant.

Pre-season training for the adults starts in the last week of July so rest well!

And finally, here's to a magnificent Coronation for King Charles III on Saturday - Long Live The King!

Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - Chairman Barnes RFC

Don’t forget the Minis, Juniors and Colts 15th birthday party
On Saturday 13th May, the Minis, Juniors & Colts section celebrate their 15th season. It’s astonishing that we now have over 750 players, from U5 to Under 22s. Many of those players that won the Surrey U22s cup were original Minis.

The event will be fun-packed for players, parents and relatives & friends alike. Held on the BEST athletics track area, there will be sporting activities, food stalls, bar, music, silent disco, a band and much more.

The link to buy tickets at £10 each is here:
https://buytickets.at/barnesrugbyclub/896913

Surry 7’s - Barnes Colts come 5th – words by Chris Williams
Barnes Colts wrapped up the season with a very respectable 5th place in the Surrey 7s, beating Esher and Teddington along the way. The squad of 12 comprised 11 players that have been with Barnes Rugby for over a decade: ‘Dyed in the Wool” Barnow!!

Barnes RFC U13 & U12 Tour to Ireland – 2023 - words by Jonathan Turner
A 96-strong tour party of U12s and U13s from Barnes RFC had a fantastic weekend in and around Cork in Ireland over the May Day Bank Holiday. They had a busy schedule of rugby, surfing and socialising, starting Saturday morning with the group largely filing the Saturday morning flight from Heathrow to Cork.

Then straight on to a great welcome at Cork Constitution FC, one of the biggest and most revered Clubs in Munster and Ireland. Barnes teams played three matches on their main pitch in front of a busy clubhouse of spectators. This provided a wonderful atmosphere as the Under 12s took to the pitch first, in a game that was played in the true original spirit of the game with some excellent refereeing from Brian Fitzgerald of Cork Con. There followed the Barnes Under 13 squad dividing into two similar level teams: Barnes Gold running out winners 5 tries to 3 while Barnes Green lost 3 tries to 4 with again exemplary teamwork, respect and sportsmanship from both teams.

All were high quality, exciting and high tempo games. A great spread of food was laid on by our hosts as we enjoyed the post-match hospitality, then moved on to our weekend base in nearby Clonakilty in West Cork. Sunday started with further enjoyable rugby matches and wins for both age groups at the equally hospitable Skibbereen RFC, before the touring party headed to the beautiful sandy beach at Inchydoney Island.

Surfing for the U13 boys and a few Dads, and a quick dip in water just above 10 degrees for a few others brave enough – the boys not seeming to notice the cold as they enjoyed the waves and the near-perfect sunny conditions making for a fantastic afternoon. The Under 12 boys were back at the beach Monday morning for their surfing lesson, held in again blistering sunshine, and all the boys also fitted in a round of the high ropes course and climbing wall by the hotel.

Our tour dinner on Sunday evening was at the nearby Clonakility GAA complex who also made us very welcome and presented the club with a signed Hurl and Sliotar in commemoration – with post dinner appearances of the inevitable kangaroo courts dispensing appropriate justice to howls of laughter and a few enjoyable pints of Guinness. We left only when all the Guinness ran out!

All in all a great success, and a big thank you to all our hosts for showing such friendly hospitality. We got to see some of the lovely West Cork scenery and the boys have returned tired but with happy memories of the weekend with their teammates and the welcoming values and rugby spirit of friendly club opponents.

Under 14's tour to Wales - words by Mark Curtis
The Under 14s set off on their tour to the principality of Wales over the May Bank holiday.

Fun and refreshments were enjoyed by all on the three hour journey down, before checking into the palatial (by comparison to the usual caravans) Mercure hotel.

Saturday saw the Dunvant tournament kick-off with several English teams in attendance. The rare but welcome Welsh sunshine turned it into a real community event, with some coaches and parents taking advantage of the rest periods to work on their tans.

The Under 14s played against Llantwit Fardre, Pencoed and slightly more local Maidenhead before progressing to the bowl semis against the inspiringly named Camelot. It was a tough day at the office for the Barnes team, with solid Welsh tackling and direct running from the country lads fed on raw lamb. Great guts and determination were shown in defence, with some flashes of brilliance in attack. The pack had their first chance to soar like eagles, as lifting is allowed West of the border. Unfortunately, it all ended in the bowl semis but this just meant an early exit for the beach and BBQ!

Sunday saw all 17 lads scrambling up a stream, over rocks and leaping off of waterfalls into the icy Brecon Beacon (Bannau Brycheiniog to the cogniscenti) waters. A return coach trip, some singing and mopping up of the leftover Welsh Ale saw everyone arriving back in London in time for the Bank Holiday. Another excellent U14s tour organised by Danny, Mike & Simon.

Under 11's return the favour in Laon - words by Minis Captain Boris Pomroy

Last Friday lunchtime, 52 U11 players and 55 parents gathered in the Barnes clubhouse, ready for their final tour as Minis.

8 hours, several stops, an underground train-ride and a full coach toilet later, the weary crew arrived in Laon. And with it tour formally began.

After an early night and a good sleep (or running around singing ‘Tom the toad’ and wrestling one another, I’ll let you decide), Barnes finest ran out at Rugby-Club de Laon to take on the best France and Germany had to offer. Despite being up against older players and having to grapple with local variations in laws, our boys and girls reacted with typical resilience, spirit and flair. They won some, lost some, but never stopped playing. It’s fair to say the parents were extraordinary proud.

Alongside the rugby, the Laon locals responded to our visit with their normal hospitality. Beer, champagne, wine and other drinks without names flowed all day. As did the speeches, the singing and, later in the day the hugging and exclamations of love. A special mention should go to the parents and coaches of Köln RFC who became firm friends with both the hosts and Barnes as the day progressed. (I’m already looking forward to the Koln 2024 Tour Hoodie).

Sunday started slowly. But what a day it was. Visits to the Caverne du Dragon, where French and German soldiers lived, fought and died throughout the First World War, were a precursor to all 107 tourists paying their respects and laying a wreath at the Memorial Aux Rugbymen. It was particularly poignant to hear of the sacrifices our players great (and great great) grandparents made to ensure we were free to live, learn and play rugby today.

And finally, to Sunday evening. Court, involving some heinous crimes that I couldn’t possibly damage your delicate constitutions with. Awards for our amazing players (and for Tom and Al, our equally amazing Lead coach and Manager). A disco. A sing-a-long. A nightcap and then a final sleep on a too small bed and the faint smell of raw sewage coming from the communal bathrooms.

This U11’s group is a very special group indeed. Not only our largest U11s group ever, but also with more than double the number of girls we’ve ever had. And with a single sense of team, of fun and of love of the game. This transition from Minis into Juniors is the end of an era, but also the start of two new ones - a cracking new U12s boys team and an amazing new junior girls squad (with both committed to train, tour and socialise together).

September 2023 can’t come soon enough.