Welcome to October and the delayed competitive season is now underway
We have made it to the new season. The heavens have opened and our pitches are recovered and able to play rugby on them once more!
This past month the Executive have mainly been focused on dealing with preparations for the new season and some issues and incidents that have occurred. These were discussed in my hastily arrange Ask the Chair session on Thursday 17th September.
We have previously discussed discipline as a key concern and an area for us to focus our attention. As the season has begun, we are unfortunately seeing poor discipline creeping back in. I would remind you all of the recent articles we have published:
Watching rugby at Latton Park? Please review the RFU Codes of Conduct
Discipline Update and Reminders for Clubs
From a recent incident, spectators have received significant bans from the touchline and the club. High-end bans were issued ranging from 4 weeks ban from the club followed by 26 week touchline ban to 8 weeks ban from the club followed by 30 week bans from the touchline.
My Ask: Please talk to players, supporters, parents & each other about their and your discipline. The impact is far reaching and hurts our club. Our focus on discipline needs to continue to avoid a points deduction, or worse, for this season.
Price drop!
We have reviewed our bar prices, new season new prices with members getting a
Have you set up your membership for the new season?
Please make sure you have set up your membership for the new season. More information is available here: https://harlowrugby.club/membership-details/
Ram Shack
The season is underway and we have our Ram Shack selling the basics socks, shorts etc as well as our club Merchandise. More info on our website: https://harlowrugby.club/ram-shack/
In the Ram Shack we have a great collection of pre-loved items available. We always appreciate every donation made to us and all the money raised goes back to support the Spooner fund which raises funds for the development of mini and youth rugby.
Helping us do what we do
Along with buying drinks over the bar, paying members, attending events, advertising and sponsorship. We need to continue to raise funds to help us do what we do. You can help us by: Joining our 300 club more info & sign up here: 300 Club Sign Up with, or subscribing to our scrum club https://harlowrugby.club/scrum-club/ to enable us to invest in our future.
We announced a new partnership with Utility Warehouse, they can help you lower your boring everyday household bills. Take a look here for more info: https://harlowrugby.club/new-partnership-announcement-utility-warehouse/
Shirt Sponsorship
We have just four shirts remaining for sponsorship this season. For a £650 donation or +VAT for businesses your name can appear on the wall, screens in the club as well as in our 1st XV Match Programme.
Thank you to those of you who are already support the club.
Essex Young Leadership Programme
Applications are now open for a Young Leadership Programme for 16–25-year-olds.
This programme is for young volunteers who are keen to take on wider leadership opportunities outside of their club/organisation and are ready to take the next step in their leadership journey. Co-delivered by the National Youth Council, the programme, will help participants build the skills, confidence and networks needed to take on leadership roles and make a positive impact across the game. Participants will have access to online learning, hear from young leaders during an online session, and attend an in-person day on 5 December.
Please share the Young Leadership Programme: Lead the Game application pack with anyone who may be interested. https://share.articulate.com/KOjA8jScJab_JPCOnwfnd
Supporting Kerrie Mouncey
For those who are unaware, had a stroke on Sunday 7th. She’s being looked after in Queens hospital, where she will remain for the foreseeable future.
We are deeply saddened to hear of Kerrie’s stroke. For those who may not know Kerrie, she is a dedicated supporter and active volunteer and referee in our Minis section, where her children, Logan and Luna, play rugby. Her husband, Ian, coaches and is a first aider in the Under 10s & 12s.
Kerrie is fighting hard and making progress every day and it has been incredible inspiring to receive almost daily updates from Ian.
We will continue to support Ian to offer the family our support during this difficult time, and we wish Kerrie a full and speedy recovery. Everyone at the club is thinking of you and sending their very best wishes. Get well soon Kerrie
2027 marks 10 Years at Latton Park
How has time passed so quickly? We are looking to mark our 10th Anniversary of moving to Latton Park with a series of events to commemorate the occasion. Some of the initial ideas include hosting a special lunch, special invites, special/guest speakers. But we could do more? Do you have ideas you could help us pull together? If you do, please let me know and we can get a group of people together to make it a year of celebration!
What has been happening in August?
Congratulations – A Proud Moment for Our Club
Everyone at Harlow Rugby Club would like to congratulate Axel Brooks, who has been nominated for the 2026 London Rugby League Junior Player of the Year Award – U11s, representing Brentwood Eels. Axel is a proud member of our Harlow U12s rugby union team, and we couldn’t be happier to see one of our young players receiving recognition for his hard work, dedication and talent. To be named as one of just three U11 nominees from across London & the South East is a fantastic achievement, and one that Axel and his family should be incredibly proud of.
We love seeing our players thriving across different forms of rugby, and Axel continues to show the commitment, enthusiasm and determination that make him such a great young player. From everyone at Harlow Rugby Club, Congratulations Axel — we’re incredibly proud of you and wish you the very best of luck!!
Prostate Cancer Day
Wow! Wow! “Wow! Thank you to everyone that supported in aide of Prostate Cancer, amazing day at the club. The rugby the atmosphere, the raffles, the Auction and all those that watched. It was an amazing day with an appearance from the Lawrence Dallaglio Loads of people PSR tested which was quick and easy. We raised over £6k and it is still rising on the JustGiving Page which you can still donate to.
Demand was so high we are setting up another session before the Ex-Players Lunch and 1st XV game against Rochford on 12th December. Keep an eye out for more and to book your test.
Well done to Ben White, Tasha Stallman and those who supported them making the day a great success.
Stones, stones, stones! How our club responded
What a response from our club on 25th September! I issued an urgent call for help after we learned that routine pitch preparation work had accidentally left a quantity of stones on pitches 1, 3 and 4, making them unplayable.
More than 60 members, from the 1st XV to the Minis, across the whole club, arrived within minutes with buckets and rakes to clear the stones so the weekend’s matches could go ahead. Many hands truly made light work, within two hours of the call, we had swept the pitches, removed the stones and restored the weekend’s rugby!
Thank you to everyone who helped. What a club we have, well done!
Meet the Chair
Thank you to all those members who came to the Ask the Chair session on 17th September. It is always good to see people engaged and attending these sessions and talk about the great work we are doing together. My next session will be 8pm on Wednesday 21st October.
Pre-season games
Rams v Millwall 4th September, A great evening at Latton Park with half the squad former Colts in the last five years at Latton Park last night watching the Rams win over Millwall 55-5.
1st XV v Epping Upper Clapton, 10th September, our team won convincingly 7-51 at Thornwood. The team relished taking on some former Harlow Players. You can see the Trylights here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AmgmLVLg9/
1st XV v Colchester, in our last pre-season game Harlow travelled to Raven Park in what appeared to be a try fest winning 40-64. You can see the Trylights here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18Rt2m9jh9/
Our big league kick off double header on 26th September saw the 1st XV take on Thurrock in the League and the Rams take on Thurrock I’m not sure that Thurrock read our script in two hard fought games Thurrock won both, 1st XV lost 38-40 and 2nd XV lost 17-27.
Coming up in October
Pre-Match Lunches this coming season
Our version of corporate hospitality. Bookings now being taken for all lunches. We kick off with lunch including a main course followed by a cheese board. Wine and port served at table. You can even sponsor the match ball for £150. To book please contact Alan Price president@harlowrugby.com
Next 1st XV Home Games:
Saturday 17th October 1st XV v Chelmsford
Saturday 31st October 1st XV v Wanstead
2nd October Under 15s are playing Under the Lights
As the teams prepare for the coming season our under 15s have a wonderful opportunity to get ready by playing local teams Cheshunt and Saffron Walden in a round robin season opener.
The team have been preparing all summer with team building exercises such as taking part in the Harlow Park Run and working together to raise funds for their end of season tour. They will be running a raffle, tombola, cakes and sweets stall to help with their tour fundraising and will be playing music on the patio as the evening gets underway.
Supporters and players will be arriving from 6:30pm and the first kick off will be 7:30pm, the Members Bar will of course be is open all evening.
Come along on and support our young Rams!
Saturday 10th October Soul Night Out UK – 8pm – Midnight
Get Ready for It’s going to be a night to remember… 100% Feel good Soul & Disco Anthems brought to you by Top Djs including.. DJ ANDY SMITH from STREETSOUNDS RADIO. Limited to just 300 .. Be Quick to secure your place!
Tickets just £10 https://www.skiddle.com/e/42097738
Friday 23rd October – Stacey Lee & Lisa Hammond PARTY NIGHT!
PARTY & TRIBUTE NIGHT –TRIBUTES TO THE QUEENS OF MUSIC
Join us at Harlow Rugby Club for a fantastic night of live music with Stacey Lee & Lisa Hammond, bringing you a Party & Tribute Night celebrating some of the biggest Queens of Music. Expect huge hits, fantastic vocals and plenty of songs to get you up on the dance floor. Grab your friends and make a night of it at Latton Park.
Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are limited, so book early to avoid missing out. Tickets: £10 per person
Christmas is coming…
Have you booked your Christmas Party? There are a number you could bring your team along to at Latton Park. Take a look here for more details: https://harlowrugby.club/events/
Regular events
Did you know we host a Weekly Quiz on a Tuesday evening? 7:30-9:30pm Maximum teams of 8 at just £2 per person entry where you can win Cash prizes!! Just Turn up and test your general knowledge. This group bring donations to the Harlow Food Bank and make regular contributions to help feed those in need in Harlow.
We regularly host Afternoon Tea, booking is essential with arrival time between 12pm – 4pm. £15 per person, upgrade to Glass of Fizz for £19 per person. Book in here: https://harlowrugby.club/events/
You are our biggest sales force, please promote and support our events, bringing your friends and family to Latton Park along with you.
Open & Urgent Roles
- Grants Manager – Can you help us research and apply for grants? We have some key strategic projects where grant funding will be the difference between making these come alive or they remain ideas. There are resources available, but we need someone to coordinate applications. If you’re interested, you’ll have plenty of support from the Executive. As examples,
- Grants are available for us to take opportunities hosting community events where the funding can be split across organisation, an event leader and facility rental.
- Facility upgrades, in some cases grants are available for us to improve our facilities, this often involves matched funding.
Urgent: Rugby Management Roles
We are currently seeking a Chair of Rugby, but this role can be split into manageable parts. Could you help in one of these areas? If so, please get in touch with me.
- Walking Rugby Co-ordinator – Could you help us re-launch walking rugby for the club?
- Chair of Rugby – Oversee the above roles and help shape the future of rugby at Harlow. I am happy to mentor you or even share the responsibilities as you settle in.
Personal note
The ups and downs of being Chair of the club, often mean I need to deliver tough messages that impact us all. During the darker, less fun moments I am always lifted by just how much we do together that is positive. Much of this is reflected in this month’s updates.
We know this is our club and we care deeply about it and its sustainability. A great example this month was the Prostate Cancer Event. Club members wanted to make something happen and they pulled together and did it.
If you want to make something happen for your team, section, group, charity, you are invited to make something happen and make a positive contribution. If you need some help, please ask and we can help point you in the right direction.
I look forward to seeing you around the club soon for a successful season both on and off the pitch.
Paul Eynon
Chair, Interim Chair of Rugby, Colts Coach
