Hello everyone,
I hope this message finds you well! It’s been a busy and exciting month at Harlow Rugby Club, and I wanted to take a moment to share some of the highlights and updates with you all.
On The Field Rugby Activities
Even though this season has had its challenges, we know our players’ and coaches’ hard work will eventually show. Until then, we can focus on the positives.
Representative Rugby
A huge congratulations to U18s player Nancy Harris! As she continues her England pathway journey, she took the field for Maggie Alphonsi’s PDG against Becky’s Essex PDG at Northampton University.
Champions!
This month our U12 girls did Harlow Rugby Club proud as they dominated the Saracens Sonics Charity Tournament and brought home the GOLD! Beating Bedford and Finchley in the group and losing to Chiswick. Then in the semi’s beating Ealing and taking on Chiswick in the final to reverse the group result. An outstanding performance from start to finish, full of teamwork, grit and determination. Congratulations to this group of young athletes!
Colts secure first win
Our Colts squad this year is made up mostly of U17s, and with every game they’re gaining valuable experience. It’s taken some time, but they earned their first win in a hard-fought match against Burnham on Crouch, edging it 29–24. It’s an important first step as we continue to grow and push onwards and upwards for the rest of the season.
Have you joined our match day WhatsApp Group?
You can receive the match programme and updates throughout the game direct to your phone sign up here. Thank you for your amazing support!
Flood lights
After upgrading the floodlights on Pitch 4 to LEDs earlier this season, we’re pleased to confirm that—thanks to a grant from Essex RFU and generous donations to the club—we have now replaced the bulbs on Pitches 1 and 3, bringing both back to full capacity.
Boxing Day
We are organising a past Colts team to go up against Mex’s All Stars for our annual Boxing Day game. It’s a social, friendly match, and all players aged 18+ are welcome. If you’re interested in taking part, or know someone who might be, please let me pauloweneynon@gmail.com or Mex Clark harlowmex@gmail.com know. It promises to be a great post-Christmas activity and a chance to work off some of your festive feast.
Discipline
As a club we have received 3 red cards this season, 2 youth players and 1 parent. We have been called to an Essex disciplinary meeting to discuss what we are doing to tackle poor discipline.
As a result, our 1st XV have a suspended sanction of 10 league points deduction hanging over us until the end of the 2026/27 season.
We all have some learning points to take away:
The referee is in charge; his word is sacrosanct from when they arrive at the club until 30 minutes after the game completes. Any approach during this time is likely to result in a complaint of abuse if it is not polite. We were not aware of the extension beyond the final whistle, please ensure your are respectful to referees and all our visitors to Harlow Rugby Club.
Parents, Supporters, Coaches, first aiders etc are not allowed to enter the pitch without invitations even when the game is complete.
Any disciplinary in front of us as a club, we need to make sure we reach an outcome following the RFU guidelines. Pressure to hold disciplinary meetings quickly can where possible be deflected to ensure we have all the evidence available, late evidence hinders our decision making.
First aiders need to wear hi-vis jackets, so they are clearly identifiable.
Should we hit five red cards we are likely to face further sanctions from Essex targeted at our 1st XV.
Please ensure you read and understand our communications on our expected behaviour and our discipline. As a reminder here is our parents code of conduct.
Off The Field Activities
Meet the Chair
I held a “Meet the Chair” event on Thursday, 13th November. Thank you to those of you who attended. We discussed several topics including our playing structure and how we can support each other, ensuring all mini players can access playing shirts and how we can support coaches to attend courses and get qualified. I will hold another session in the new year on Tuesday 27th January at 8:30pm. If you have anything you would like me to discuss please let me know.
Reviewing Our Membership Arrangements
We have been considering our membership options for 2026/27. We had previously agreed to ensure all parents of under 18s should become associate members; we have received some feedback that this is not a model that many would be comfortable with. As such our membership working group has produced some alternative options for consideration.
- Introduce a signing on fee, likely to include: Minis – socks, shorts, playing shirt, admin fee, Youth – socks, shorts, training top, admin fee, Ladies/Seniors – not applicable
- Removing family membership for new family members to simplify signing up. (Existing family members would remain in place)
- Amending senior membership to align to how much players use the club for training and playing.
- Introducing a Volunteer Membership discounted for our coaches, managers and volunteers reflecting the time they are volunteering for us.
If you have any thoughts on this change of approach, please share them with me all changes will need to be approved at our AGM.
Sad News – Paul “Digga” Hartley
It is of great sadness that we are passing on the news that Paul Hartley know as “Digga” who has been part of our club for many years, as a parent for his son George, a player himself in the 4th team along with devoting time to coaching. Digga has sadly passed away, we do not know of the details yet but once we know of any arrangements we will post them on our Harlow Rugby Club Supporters Facebook Page. For all those that knew Digga or his son George as we know this has come as a massive shock to his family and all that knew him. Sleep tight big man
Sad News – Dave Warren
It is with great sadness that we pass on the news of the passing of Vice President Dave Warren on Thursday the 17th of November. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cher and family at this very sad time. RIP Dave. Details of Dave’s Funeral are 3pm Thursday 4th December at Parndon Wood cemetery followed by a wake at the Moot House.
Open roles
We are in need of volunteers to help at the top of the club Chair of Rugby and Honorary Club Secretary.
- Chair of Rugby
Since Kev Harman stood down in August, I have been undertaking the role of Chair of Rugby. There is so much more we could do that would make a huge difference in the way we deliver rugby across the club and build and develop our players. I am in need of some help to help deliver all we can and add real value to those who play, coach, manage and referee at the club.
The Chair of Rugby is accountable for the playing and development of Club Rugby; specifically, the recruitment, development and management of players, coaches, managers and referees. The role can be broken down into Strategic, Tactical and Administrative areas and could be undertaken by a number of people willing to work together.
The focus is very much on the Rugby side our operation as such is heavily supported by The Chairs of Rugby sections, Women & Girls Representative, Youth & Mini Chairs. Club Coaches, Captains. Rams, Saints Representatives, Colts Manager, Safeguarding & Welfare Officer, Club Coaching Coordinator, Referees Coordinator. Senior, Youth & Minis Fixtures Secretary Grounds Manager.
- Honorary Club Secretary
Ken Potter has done an outstanding job as Honorary Club Secretary, but his term will end this year. We urgently need someone to step into this role, which involves managing club correspondences, processes, and documents, organizing meetings, and ensuring adherence to our Club Constitution and RFU Compliance. If you’re interested in taking on some or all of this role, please contact me ASAP. We’ll work on a handover program to help you grow into the position.
Club Culture
We continue to build our club culture, this month our teams are arranging a Club trip to Saracens on Saturday 20th December, and then we have our club Christmas Party on 21st December. These is being driven through our touchline team who are doing an excellent job of
Helping us build a culture of pride, connection, and shared purpose that will carry us forward for years to come. If you are interested in helping build this culture, please drop me an email chairman@harlowrugby.club we’d love to have representation from all our teams. It’s great to build this together.
Christmas & New Year Opening Hours
25th December, Christmas Day – Closed .
26th December, Boxing Day. open for the Boxing Day Game.
We will then be closed until New Years Eve.
Then open as usual from 2nd January.
Teams may organise training sessions during this period as required.
What else?
There’s much more happening at the club, and you can stay updated by visiting https://harlowrugby.club/news/. Don’t miss the JOCA Outdoor Swim on 7th December and the launch of The Scrum Club, thanks to Jim Beavan and Ross Loveday. More info is available (https://harlowrugby.club/breaking-news-scrum-club/).
Lastly, I would like to thank all our members and volunteers who help deliver rugby at Harlow Rugby Club, thank you for all you are doing to get our many teams playing and training each week, we simply could not do this without you. Thank you!
Looking forward to seeing you all around the club soon.
Paul Eynon
Chair & Interim Chair of Rugby
Harlow Rugby Club
