Hello everyone,
Spring is here, and although February flew by, I’m writing again with important updates to share. Let’s get started.
Highlights from February
Whether England wins or loses, the 6 Nations tournament continues to bring together fans with varying emotions. The atmosphere at the club during these matches has remained warm and inviting, irrespective of the outcome.
Our events remain a significant revenue stream, generating income during periods without rugby and providing additional support when matches are held.
Afternoon teas have been extraordinarily successful, and we extend our gratitude to Hayley and the team for their outstanding service.
We have hosted The PELIROCCOS present PELIPARTY and brought back Comedy to Harlow Rugby Club for a long-awaited Comedy Night. Much more coming up in March!
Club Meetings
Alongside Gordon Reid (Treasurer), Paul Adams (Secretary), and David Eynon (Assistant Secretary), I met with our trustees, Steve Barret, Derek Fenny, and John Roberts, in early February. The trustees have requested that we re-forecast our finances, review our commercial operations, and evaluate a potential contract with a Padel provider.
Our Sponsorship Working Group is organising the Sponsors Lunch on 21st March and planning to grow sponsorship and partnership revenue for 2026/27. Please share any leads we can pursue.
Looking Ahead: What’s on in March
- New for Harlow: Join us for a Saturday Ladies Game Cheshunt and a ladies lunch on Saturday, 7 March. All are welcome to celebrate one of the region’s longest running women’s teams.
- Our 1st XV hosts Holt on Saturday, 21st March. Join us for a pre-match lunch to thank our sponsors. This is the last home league game of the regular season, time to book your lunch table with Alan Price president@harlowrugby.club
- Have you joined our Match Day WhatsApp Group? Receive the match programme and live updates (home and away) straight to your phone – don’t miss out! Sign up
Senior Male Players
New Approach: we have been busily working on a new approach to senior rugby for the 2026/27 season with the following objectives:
- To field as many senior teams as possible each week, maximising playing opportunities for all eligible players.
- To ensure players are selected to play at a level that matches their current form, fitness, and development needs.
- To apply clear, consistent, and fair selection criteria, including but not limited to recent form, fitness, availability, attitude, skill level, suitability to the game plan, past performance, and potential for further development.
- To guarantee transparency and fairness throughout the selection process.
- To communicate promptly and sensitively with players who are not selected, maintaining morale and engagement.
- To manage player availability through the coaches and team management, ensuring all relevant information is gathered and considered.
- To prioritise player development and retention, including the integration of returning university players and the nurturing of home-grown talent.
- To minimise fixture cancellations and unnecessary fixture switching, complying with league rules, and upholding the club’s commitments.
We will be holding a players’ meeting on Tuesday 10th March to discuss our new policy. All players and members are welcome to attend.
7s or 10s tournaments: we haven’t entered teams in the past few years into 7s or 10s tournaments. Would you like to? Perhaps you could take a lead in getting a group of players together. If you are interested, please get in touch so we can work how the club can support you.
Next Meet the Chair
The fourth ‘Meet the Chair’ event of the 2025/26 season will be at 8pm Wednesday 25th March. I have varied the evenings I have hosted these events to allow different members to attend. This is an opportunity to engage on an informal basis with me as the Chair of the club and ask any questions you have about the club. To make the club as great as it can be, we would like to come along with your questions and suggestions. The session is open to all players, parents, and members of the club. I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Open and Urgent Roles
- Grants Manager – Can you help us research and apply for grants? 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 contact me.
- Coaching Co-ordinator – Ensure all our players have a positive experience at Harlow, following a curriculum supported by appropriate training.
- Fixtures Co-ordinator – Assist in organising the 2026/27 season and managing schedule changes. There is a chance to gain experience before stepping fully into the role.
- Schools Co-ordinator – Help us develop a vibrant schools programme, secure funding, and oversee its operation.
- Walking Rugby Co-ordinator – Could you help us re-launch walking rugby for the club?
- Colts Head Coach – We are looking to transition our under 16s into the Colts side for 2026/27. We have lots of support available including Veo video support and support from existing coaches.
- Under 15s Head Coach (under 16s 2026/27)– Our under 15s side folded in 2025/26 and we are looking resurrect the side link a phoenix being reborn. We have a core group of players that need a head coach to give them direction and help them grow participation and recruit new members from schools and the local community.
- 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.
Celebration time
As we head towards the end of the season our thoughts lead into presentation days and evenings as we celebrate our season’s achievements. We will be having a couple of fabulous events:
- Mini, Youth and Girls presentation day: Sunday 10th May
- Club Awards night: including senior presentation and club awards Saturday 16th May.
Personal note
It’s great to see the players of Harlow doing well representing their club. We should rightly celebrate their achievements. I’m not always comfortable shining a light on myself and the family but it is becoming difficult to put to one side. Recently my son Rhys was able to represent Essex u20s against Middlesex at Eton Manor, they won which was great to see. Here is a photo where he isn’t standing on his tip toes to look taller. 😊
Of course I have two sons playing at Harlow, and a nephew Thomas in the minis. Owen has taking on a leadership role within the 2nd XV and of course I am immensely proud of them all and enjoy watching them all play, particularly when then are out on the field in our 1st XV. It really does remind me why we volunteer and what we enable by pulling together to make sure we continue to play rugby at Latton Park. If we keep doing what we do, we will see many more home-grown players make that journey from rugby beginner to 1st XV player.
I look forward to seeing you around the club soon.
Paul Eynon
Chair & Interim Chair of Rugby
Harlow Rugby Club
