Welcome existing and new members.
This second Season of our 5-year plan will build on solid foundations. Your Club, Medway Rugby Football Club First XV finished Champions of South East Division, Kent Three of the English League Structure and also won the Kent League Three Cup last Season. Congratulations!
We reached the final sixty-four Teams nationally in the Junior “EDF” competition and also reached the later stages of the Kent Vase, well done to the First Team Squad!
Mr. Taff Gwilliam will coach the 1st XV again, his second Season (and will continue the foundation work in Kent Division Two).
Mr. Dominic Collins will captain the 1st XV of this Season and his Vice Captain will be Mr. Anthony Cross.
The Extra 1st XV will be led Mr. Matthew Riches and his Vice Captain will be Mr. Geoff Kempt.
The “A” Team will be led by Mr. Joe Thorpe.
The bridge from the Youth to the Seniors will be built by Mr. Graham (Ginger) Longstaff who has overall responsibility for the new Development Squad formed this Season. This is a combination of the Under 17s, Under 18s and Under 19s and will feed the Senior sides under Ginger’s careful guidance ensuring smooth integration.
The Youth Chairman, Tony Krasij, will continue to steer the Youth Section and I welcome Justin Hollidge as the Mini Vice Chairman supporting Geoff Kempt. Justin is being sponsored as future Mini Chairman.
I ask all Coaches and Managers to read the guidance on the website currently being built and updated concerning protocols and ethics at Medway Rugby Football Club in respect to training and playing of the game of Rugby at all levels.
I encourage you to attend the Workshops that Taff will lead this Season (coaching the Coaches). The dates and times will be posted on the Website.
All members should seek guidance and address questions initially through the Coaches and Managers, then the Section Chairman who will bring unresolved Rugby issues to me and of course ultimately the Executive for resolution.
I would like to personally and on behalf of the Executive Committee congratulate Mr Joe Thorpe and his Team for their success in becoming runners-up in their competitive League last year and wish them future success.
That sentiment is also passed to the Ladies Section and their captain, Leanne Ogston, who needs everybody’s support at the present time - in order for them to continue with their successful run. I wish all of the Mini and Youth sides at Medway Rugby Football Club success in the future which I anticipate will continue because of the enthusiasm and effort of so may volunteers.
Finally, we are targeting “Clubmark Status” this Season and we need more Coaches to come forward (the Club will pay for your Coaching course). Do ensure you e-mail all match reports with photographs to the Press to keep up the Club's profile and you will find the e-mail addresses on the Club website and in the Handbook. Please continue to tell your friends about the Rugby Club, get involved and know that Medway Rugby Football Club, your Club, is among the most vibrant in the country.
Good luck for season 2007/2008
Mark Marriott
Director of Rugby at Medway Rugby Football Club