And this Saturday is no different. It feels like such an important season this time, as they all do of course, but this one has an extra frisson, making the hairs on the back of the neck tingle.
I feel that over the summer there has been a lot of extra work put into each part of the club, to ensure refreshed teams with renewed va va voom, which hopefully will be reflected in even more success on and off the pitch this season.

Always remember, Barnes Rugby Club is your club, please do try and get down and support your club this weekend, maybe in Marlow on Friday with the Women, the three teams at home on Saturday and let’s not forget the Outriders making their debut! If you can't get down to watch the game in the flesh you can follow it live online:
https://www.youtube.com/@BarnesRugby

Here’s to a fabulous first Barnow weekend of the season.

May we play with pride, fun and talent, see you pitch side!

For Rugby! For Friendship! For Life!

Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - President Barnes RFC

This Weekend's Rugby At Barnes

Before we focus on our adult rugby being played, we also have the first weekend of the Youth season. The younger ones go on the rampage on Saturday, whilst the 12 + age group play on Sunday. Barnes town centre will be invaded by 750 young people proudly wearing the green and gold this weekend, it is a sight for sore eyes!

This weekend we have five adult teams playing rugby on both Friday and Saturday,
I don’t think I can ever remember five adult teams playing on the first Saturday of a season, a remarkable start without doubt!

It all starts with our Women’s 1st XV, who travel to Marlow for some Friday night fun. After a tough campaign last year, I know our Women will be keen to kick off the season well.

On Saturday there are 4 games - 3 at home - starting with the Men’s 2nd XV at midday, as they take on fierce rivals Blackheath 2nd XV. Barnes Occies kick off their season against London Media at 3pm, and the big game, which kicks off the Men’s 1st XV’s season, is against Canterbury.

This will be a tough math first up in National League 2 East, Barnes finished 3rd in the league, having finished 2nd in the previous tow season, with Canterbury snapping at their heels in 4th. Place, winning their last five games. We did beat them at home and away, 45-35 and 13-22 but the games were very tight and could have gone either way. Reports suggest that the City side are much stronger this year so we are going to get a good idea of how our season will be this weekend.

A new rugby star side is born at Barnes RFC - The Outriders

The only away fixture on Saturday is the new rising star in the Barnow firmament, The Outriders, who will be travelling away to play Battersea Ironsides 2nd XV in the New London Premier League. The Outriders are a side created from our new academy structure of 22–24-year-old players, all home-grown talent.

Those out in front, as the vanguard of the original Minis entering the Senior ranks of the club, will be forming the nucleus of a Men’s 3rd XV, aptly named The Outriders. Off the back of the breakthrough win in the top Surrey Under 22 competition last Easter, Barnes Rugby recognises the opportunity to offer this important bridge from Youth to Senior Rugby for a promising cohort of young men!

What’s in the name? Barnes already has Occies (occasional, non-training) and Originals (the Vets) squads. Adding the Outriders to the roster of playing teams signifies the importance of this new team, with a purpose to break new ground.

The Outriders is part of our continuing drive at Barnes Rugby Club to create a sustainable community club for the next 30 years plus. At a time when many clubs are struggling to fulfil their Men’s and Women’s fixtures, Barnes Rugby club goes into the next season with seven adult teams with the Outriders providing the perfect bridge for young players to progress between our thriving Youth section and the senior adult teams in the club. This clear player pathway to the Men’s 1st XV will ensure a Barnes Rugby remains competitive for many years to come.

Jake Shaw will lead the Outriders as captain. Tommy Burkett & Len Ascroft-Leigh, ex-1st XV second row, will support the Outriders as their coaching team. Club stalwarts, Jason Betteley and Chris Williams will continue to provide management continuity and a vital connection with players, parents and sponsors.

Jack Heald, Barnes Director of Rugby, said:

“I am thrilled to see so many players that I have coached for many years coming through the Colts and Under 22s and running out for us in the Senior Men’s teams. We are delighted to add this third Men’s team this season, to build the strength in depth of the Barnes rugby community.”

Jason Betteley, Head of the Academy Division, said:
“The Minis was only set up in 2008 and we now have some of the original players joining the senior ranks. We have a clear vision of how to bridge the gap to the Seniors, and I am committed to making the Academy a model for how to retain young adults in sport.”

Chris Williams, Deputy Manager of the Academy, said:
“Many of us recall the fun and camaraderie for the early seasons of Men’s rugby when first setting out in our careers in London. Barnes Rugby has the ideal culture and rugby family to provide the sporting club focus for many young professionals in SW London. We now have waves of Colts and Under 22s graduating into the senior ranks and the Outriders provides that easy entry point into Senior rugby.”