After our Women blew Cranleigh away 58 - 0 last Sunday in an amazing performance, we have six games to entertain you this time out - and it is our stupendous Christmas Lunch before the Men’s game too, with lots of post game yuletide celebrations in the clubhouse to get you in the festive spirit.

Top billing this weekend goes to our two 1st XVs. Our Men have an important league game on Saturday, playing London Welsh at Barn Elms for the first time ever, whilst on Sunday the Women's 1st XV take on old foes Battersea Ironsides.

Also at home on Saturday, the Men’s 2nd XV take on Dorking, whilst the Outriders are back in action against Belsize Park. The Occies make the trip to Cranleigh to complete the Saturday line up.

Our Women’s 2nd XV look to add another win to their season as they travel to play Kilburn Ladies on Sunday.

We can’t let this historic first game against London Welsh go without acknowledging the extraordinary past of our close neighbours in Richmond.

As a teenager I watched in awe the exploits of that amazing Welsh team of the 1970s, no doubt in my mind that they would have won 3 world cups on the bounce had the competition been in play at that time.
On the 1971 Lions tour these legends all played 4 tests against New Zealand and Australia:
• John Dawes – Captain
• John Taylor
• JPR Williams
• Gerald Davies
• Mervyn Davies

All 5 were extraordinary players, and all 5 played for London Welsh.

That is how big the club was back then,.

In all, 47 London Wesh players have represented the British and Irish Lions, 190 London Welsh players have been capped by Wales and 75 London Welsh players have played for other countries. Their history is second to none.

So what about this game this Saturday - the very first time in our history that we have played London Welsh at 1st XV level.

Since their tumble out of the big time in 2015, Welsh have been climbing steadily back up the leagues, sweeping all comers aside with consummate ease, until this season that is, when they have found National League 2 East the opposite of a stroll in the park, winning 3 games and losing 8, which sees them in 9th place in the league.

Whilst Barnes started well this season, we have stumbled in November against both Westcombe Park and Bury St Edmunds, and we currently languish in 5th place in the league, London Welsh will be buoyed by their thumping win last time out against Guernsey and we will have to dig deep on Saturday to bring home the bacon, even tougher with 14 injured players watching from the touchline.

We need to finish this year strongly, so this game is the first of three really tough games in the lead up to the Christmas break.

We face Guernsey away next week, and then finish the year away to Henley, who we drew with at the start of the season - we couldn’t have three more difficult games in my opinion to finish this first half of the season.

However, I know this squad, they are talented, proud and still smarting after the two losses last month.

The game against the Welsh is likely to be a high scoring encounter, and I know our lads will be raring to go, and willing to put their bodies on the line for the Green and Gold!

One thing for sure, it is going to be a Christmas cracker of a game, so do get down and support the lads and shout like crazy pitch side!

Here’s to an amazing weekend of Barnes Rugby ahead, and here’s to some outstanding performances, all played in the original spirit that we love at Barnes Rugby Club.

Onwards and Upwards Barnow!

For Rugby! For Friendship! For Life!

Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - President Barnes Rugby Club

Here are the weekend’s fixtures in detail:
Saturday 6th December Fixtures
• Barnes Men’s 1st XV vs London Welsh - 2pm KO
• Barnes Men’s 2nd XV vs Dorking 2nd XV - 1:30pm KO
• Barnes Outriders vs Belsize Park - 1:30pm KO
• Cranleigh vs Barnes Occies - 2pm KO
Sunday 7th December Fixtures
• Barnes Women 1st XV vs Battersea Ironsides 1st XV - 2pm KO
• Kilburn Ladies vs Barnes Women’s 2nd XV - 2pm KO

Barnes Women 2nd XV 58 - 0 Cranleigh Ladies - words by Co-Captain Angie Chow
Barnes was ready to play their third round of the Plate game against the unknown Cranleigh. With Barnes receiving the ball from the first kick, it was clear that Barnes will be dominating the game.

The game concluded with a total of 10 tries, with a mixture of try scorers from forwards and backs.

Besides Cam and Lou from the forward pack scoring fantastic tries, Coz single handedly out run their fullback and scored try. Not to mention Aisha dominating the carries and rucks, despite this being her fourth ever rugby game. As for the backs, tries were scored by a beautiful teamwork between Hollie and Atlanta, securing our win in this game. Other tries were from Noor and Bigland, with Ruth successfully converting most tries.

The game was cut short at the 55th minute and Barnes winning 58-0 at home. Although it was a heavy defeat for Cranleigh, they fought hard until the last minute and demonstrated the true spirit of the sport.

Special mention to Jojo and Abi, playing their first game of rugby, and a huge welcome back to Zoe Jeffers returning from injury.