Devizes RFC

Dear valued member, volunteer and parent.

Rugby is back! – We have an incredibly exciting year ahead of us – The 1^st XV promoted to the new Regional 2 league, the 2^nd XV promoted to the Counties 2 and the Ladies in NC2. We look forward to some great rugby on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season against teams old and new. Alongside that we have a thriving junior section where our junior boys and girls provide some super enjoyment and great entertaining games on Sundays.

A lot of focus over the summer has been about securing our future in terms of how the Sports Club (Facility) can reflect the needs of the clubs using it for the future. I am pleased to say that Tennis and Cricket both agree in principle that the club should be operated by one club. All clubs recognise the changing needs of all clubs involved in the Sports Club. For example, maintaining committees for the Sports Club over the last 5yrs has been increasingly difficult. Add to this each clubs committee member will have a view of their own individual operating needs usage levels and access requirements means there is no common view of how to progress the operational elements of running a building together as three clubs in the current format.

It is recognised by all parties that the rugby club have a greater necessity for a club house due to how it operates. We are currently working through the principles, leases and separation costs that will need to be put in place. We will be holding a Sports Club EGM at the end of September so you as members can ratify the way forward.

In other news, we are so happy with the Sponsors we have managed to secure for the year ahead (and beyond). And we anticipate more to sign up so please speak to James Rapson should you need any information. We will see our new kit rolled out across the whole club over the coming weeks and supporters kit will be available in October which will add to the rebranding of the club during last season.

Membership of course is the best way you can help support the club to ensure we can continue to build this club and meet the rising costs that are inevitable. So please help us by buying your membership, there are a number of ways of doing this:

• Login in to the RFU system using this link (there is a forgotten password if you cannot remember) once in you can buy membership using this link.
• You can send a cheque to us but please put your name address and phone number on the back and send it to Niall Maclean, Littlecroft, London Rd, SN10 1LU our Treasurer.

If you do have problems using the system do get hold of us.

We need people to help, however little you can offer, so please do contact us as this is your club and cannot rely on a few people doing everything.

We do have the website, Twitter and Facebook, if you can access these, where we let everyone know what is going on with regular reports, fixtures and key information including the digital programmes for each weekend please connect with them.

Finally, for those who want to apply for International tickets the application window is open for the 6 Nations Internationals, the application is here.

Being your President is an honour but I am also a club member and this is our club We are Devizes RFC

Yours in Rugby,

Chris Jones

Club President