MATCH DAY
Oct 4th KO 3pm
Witney RFC
Sat 4 October 2025 th
Tadley
Cheltenham
Sat 4 October 2025 th
Sun 5 October 2025 th
Chairman’s Welcome
Today we welcome Cheltenham to Hailey Road, the last time you visited us was back in 2014, I was Chairman back then and I seem to recall we got the win, but I don’t think we can claim any advantage, that being 11 years ago. Regardless, we hope you have a great day here at Witney RFC and enjoy the Club and our facilities.
Unusually our Vipers are also sharing Hailey Road today as they welcome Tadley. Tadley are also relative strangers having come across this season from Counties 2 Oxon South. It couldn’t be closer, whilst Tadley are yet to get a win, they have 3 bonus points so far to their name. We hope you enjoy your day at Hailey Road.
Normally the welcome is done by our Club Chairman, but as Andy is otherwise engaged, I felt it appropriate that I step back into the role I occupied for so many years. It is a great honour to be able to welcome some of our wonderful Sponsors without whom we wouldn’t have a Club. So welcome all, I hope you enjoy your day and get to see some great rugby, preferably with a couple of Witney wins.
Post match celebrations are in the form of an Oktoberfest.
Lederhosen and steins de rigour, don the leather, drink the bier and sing Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit.
Above all else, have a great day.
Danny Crump President Witney Rugby Football Club.
Dob in Dabber !
Dabber Willis has taken up hiding in the programme. All you have to do is find him and win a pint. Dob in Dabber at the Bar on match day, and if you’re the first to do so, you win a pint of ale or a glass of wine. Cheers Dabber!
1st
A massive thank you to all our fabulous sponsors!
Player Sponsors
Player Sponsors
2 Be or not 2 Be!
Witney Vipers v Tadley
3pm
Our Vipers are back in action after an enforced absence from the playing field. We welcome Tadley to Hailey Road who have moved across from Oxon South, where they did quite well last season.
We are also delighted to welcome members of SF Stefan, our amazing 2 Team sponsors. If you get a chance have a chat with Stefan Voloseniuc, Ben Englefield & Scott Oliver-Munt, make them feel at home and prove why we are the best community sports club in the country. Stefan has an amazing back story, if you get a chance ask him about growing up in Romania, you never know it could be a future tour destination for our Vipers. You can read his back story here: https://www.meetstefan.org.uk/about-stefan. nd
Tadley will prove to be tough opposition today, but our Vipers can do it, come on you Black and Blues!
Player Sponsors
Player Sponsors
Today we are celebrating Oktoberfest, originally a party to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prinz Ludwig in 1810. Celebrations start once the major of Munich says “O’ zapft is!” “It’s Tapped!” 6 million people will visit the Munich Oktoberfest or Weisn as it is known locally. They will consume 1.8 million gallons of bier, all of which must be brewed in the city of Munich, or München. I reckon if the Witney faithful visited then we could get that figure over the 2 million mark. Prost! Hier kommen den bierleichen!
I kept wondering why the rugby ball was getting bigger! Then it hit me.
Player Sponsors
Who Shall We 3s Beat Again?
Oxford Harlequins III v Witney III
3pm
No game to report on for our Barmy Army as they enjoyed a rest weekend.
This week sees the Boys on the road across the big City to Oxford Harlequins III. Quins III haven’t played so far this season, their 5 points coming from a no show from Chipping Norton II. With that in mind it is hard to assess what level of competition our Barmy Army will face. In the same fixture last year Quins earned the bragging rights, let’s see if we can’t turn that around.
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Well, our Red Roses did it! And in some style! What a game, I know some Club members made it to Twickenham as I was jealously reading their posts on Facebook. I know a lot of the media focus was on Ellie, she was awesome, but I felt that the whole squad played their part in what was an enthralling competition.
What was also nice to see was the reaction from the other Teams’ players, in particular Black Ferns who were blown away by the level of support offered to all teams. If you managed to get along to a game it will be a memory to treasure for quite some time.
Results:
1230 Bronze Final New Zealand 42 : 26 F
1600 Final Canada 13 : 33
Winners: ENGLAND
Witney Music Scene:
Our very own George Lewis is on stage at Fat Lils, Friday 17 October with Lucille & The Lightning Soul Train. You can get your tickets here: https://wegottickets.com/event/661678 th
Witney Calling!
There are new global law trials implemented for the 2025/26 season. These include banning the "crocodile roll" at rucks to enhance safety, players in offside positions after a kick, a time limit for players contesting a lineout, and the removal of a scrum option for free kicks, Additionally, the 20-minute red card for technical offences is moving to a global trial, and there's a new law "protecting the 9" to prevent players from being played at the base of scrums and rucks.
More details on the Rugby Laws can be found Here
Whilst we are on the subject of the laws of the game, we feel duty bound to remind you of the terrific support we get from the guys in the middle, the Referees. These men and women give up their time to officiate and make the games possible. They cannot possibly see everything and whilst we support with line runners, they cannot help with the real time decision making required. They don’t have two officials running the line and a 4 TMO with video playback so cut them some slack. th Mistakes will be made, offences go unseen, and sometimes it can appear from the sidelines that we are getting a hard deal. By all means voice your support for our wonderful teams, but abuse of the officials will not be tolerated from players, coaches, supporters or Club members. Let’s keep it good natured, enjoy the game and make the officials want to visit Hailey Road.
Angels Calling!
Whilst we waited with bated breath for the start of the season for our Angels, especially following the success of the Red Roses, a difficult but sensible decision was made and the Angels withdrew from their league. This wasn’t an easy decision to reach, with a strong core of players ready to do battle, the overall numbers didn’t add up and week in week out the Angels would have struggled to field a full 15. That would have put an uneven slant on the league and so the decision was made to concentrate on building resources.
The Cherub feeder is already bringing positive results with 3 girls coming through the programme who should be ready to play adult rugby next month. This will of course help, but more is needed to recruit and retain players willing to don the Black and Blue and call themselves Angels.
Spread the word, all ages and abilities welcome, the Angels are a fantastic group and it would be brilliant to see them this season fielding strong sides for the friendly fixtures they hope to play.
First up, fingers crossed, 19 October away to Didcot Ladies, let’s get behind the girls and let them know we’re with them all the way.
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What’s On @ Hailey Road!
What’s On @ Hailey Road!
What’s On @ Hailey Road!
Academy The Future’s Bright!
The Academy took on Faringdon Colts on Sunday and were keen to put right the previous loss on the road to Bracknell and put on a good performance for their first home league fixture of the season, and they didn't disappoint.
Witney were positive from the off and really took the game to the visitors from the first whistle. Crunching tackles in defence and some quick recycling and slick hands in attack rewarded Witney with their first try after just 3 minutes. Full back and Man of the Match Jacob Hansen spotted a gap behind the Faringdon defence and executed a perfect chip and chase to dot down for the first try, which he then converted for 7-0.
Witney the lost their way a little bit and handed the initiative to the visitors through a series of penalties and scrums, with Faringdon's big pack giving Witney a torrid time in the scrums. Witney were under pressure in their 22 and a panicked clearance kick gifted a try to visitors out wide, 7-5. Faringdon then took the lead with a penalty after a late tackle, 7-8.
Academy The Future’s Bright!
Despite Witney losing a player to the sin bin for not retreating 10 at a penalty, they never looked like they were a man down. By this time Witney's lineout was firing well, the next try came from a catch and drive 5m out with Owen Davies touching down and Jacob adding the extras, 14-8.
The rest of the half was played out almost entirely in Faringdon territory, another catch and drive at the lineout saw Witney taking a 19-8 lead into half time.
The start of the second half ebbed and flowed without either side being able to press home a clear advantage, the deadlock eventually broken by Ben Dilks brilliantly intercepting a pass and running in a try from halfway and then add the extras to extend the lead to 26-8.
It was then Witney's turn to feel the pressure with Faringdon spending an extended period camped in the Witney 22. One yellow card for persistent infringement later and Faringdon got a converted try back, 26-15.
The Future’s Bright!
Witney then spent much of the time left in the Faringdon half, adding a further two tries. First up from tackling machine Basil and a final score from Leo after a quick tap and go 5 yards out, Ben adding the extras for a final score of 38-15.
Great result, plenty to be happy about, plenty to still work on at training and loads more to come from this squad. The future is bright!
MOM - Jacob Hansen (outstanding in defence and attack and with the boot), DOTD - Will Walker (proving why 2nd rows don't usually kick!).
Want to analyse the action? Access it here: https://app.veo.co/matches/20250928-28-sept-2025-143009-07a99155/
Academy The Future’s Bright!
Cup action this weekend as our Academy Boys take on Cirencester Colts in the National U18 Cup Group 7.
Cirencester currently sit joint top of their league having played an extra game. This will be a hard game but our young lads are finding form at the right time and will hopefully get a result on Sunday.
Witney Academy v Cirencester Colts 1pm
A massive thank you to all our fabulous sponsors!
How would you like 10% off everything you buy over the bar? With a WRFC Members Discount Card that’s exactly what you get. 10% off all your beers, teas, coffees, sandwiches etc. For a small anual fee, currently £25, you get a year’s worth of discounted products. That’s approximately 50p a week, so one pint of lager a week and you have made your money back, 2 pints and your saving at a level appreciated by Yorkshiremen.
To qualify for the card you need to be a signed up member of the Club.
Interested? email me or speak to any of the marvellous bar staff. ian.loughborough@witneyrugby.co.uk
Twickenham tickets available for England’s home fixtures in the 2026 6 Nations. If you are a sponsor, player or Club Member then you can obtain tickets for the Home of rugby at face value by contacting Ian @ ian.loughborough@witneyrugby.co.uk
Saturday 7 February England v Wales 4.40 pm th £152
Saturday 21 February England v Ireland 2.10 pm st £152
Limited availability so get your Bid in now. Tickets will be allocated once all of the sponsors have submitted their requirements
The Reality is:
You have to be over 35 years old and have been a member of Witney RFC for at least 4 weeks before match day. Sound like this could be for you? Why not come along to Club training night; Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If you need to ease back in gently, we have Walking and Touch Rugby on Thursday evenings. Contact Simon Copperwheat on: 07904 360561
