MATCH DAY
Chairman’s Welcome
It is with immense pride and pleasure that in our clubs 60th anniversary year celebrations I can extend a warm welcome to our second team opposition, Grove RFC, and indeed to everyone at the club today. It is always wonderful to see the members, sponsors, and VPs as well as those visiting us for the first time. The first team travel to Chippenham in the opening league match whilst the threes visit Stow and I wish all players well in their matches today.
In my first programme message as Chairman, I would like to extend my thanks and admiration to my predecessor, Bob Fisk. Though Bob decided to step down as chairman he remains a key member of the non-playing team that enables the wonderful game of rugby to thrive in West Oxfordshire, and if you see him at the bar do get him half a shandy, for it is thoroughly deserved.
Matt Carter leads the senior men’s coaching set up this season with Dan Ashford leading the senior ladies. We welcome a new addition to the coaching gang in Tom Phillips, who brings extensive experience and skill to support the players growing into great people players. We also welcome with relish the return of the king that is Matt Clark, who joins Simon Copperwheat and our second team set up after soaking up the sun for the last few years. I particularly enjoyed hearing his new nickname “Wilson”. James Lamb moves into the first team backs coach role, which I am sure will add some brilliant insight and growth for the players.
Chairman’s Welcome
Thank you to all the coaches for all the hard work, and in particular to Carl Strutt who is the linchpin to our brilliant third team, and one of the best wingers the club has had. Rumours abound that after Adam Copperwheat let go of the first team reins last season he is dusting the boots off again to run around with the Barmy Army?
We enable rugby in all forms to be played at Hailey Road, with an extensive Mini and Junior set up including our wonderful Witney Wolves SEN tag rugby team led by the M and J Chairman Dale Heast. Other forms of the game that thrive are walking rugby and touch rugby that both take place on Thursday evenings, so I encourage you to come and have a taste of the game in whatever form takes your fancy. Our new membership Secretary, Wayne Caffekey, can help you out with any queries, and I encourage everyone to renew their membership, or join up for the first time via the club website.
As a committee we are working to keep the club moving forward and to this end we will be setting up some regular club updates for all members and we are introducing an extra membership service, a bar discount card, keep your eyes peeled for further details.
Chairman’s Welcome
The clubhouse remains the beating heart of the club with Ian and Annette, and the rest of the bar team, serving up refreshment and sustenance, in both quality and quantity! Do show your appreciation to them and keep those glasses coming back to the bar.
We have an exciting few week ahead of us with plenty of rugby on, the ex-players day on Saturday 13th September and the first chairman’s lunch on 4th October which is followed by Oktoberfest celebrations, lederhosen and all.
Finally, I would like to thank all our commercial partners and sponsors who support the club, and who are all represented in this programme. Our membership and reach is vast so if you can, do support the businesses that support us and let them know you are involved with the rugby club.
Andy Merriman Chairman Witney Rugby Football Club.
Player Sponsors
Want to do more for your Club? Why not sponsor a player?
Packages start at £190+VAT
Get your name in the match programme, but more importantly you are helping develop WRFC players!
Aden Spence Hare Studio
George Boswell WRFC Wizards Walking Rugby
Ailsa Shaw WRFC Wizards Walking Rugby
Angus Brown Fowler Hicks Landscaping
Callum Cope John Campbell Landscaping
Callum Godfrey Barry Bowles & Tony Maycock
Charlie Dunbar Oxon Fastening Systems
Dan Webb David Willis
Finn Ayris Haysham Electrical Services
A massive thank you to all our fabulous sponsors!
Player Sponsors
Want to do more for your Club? Why not sponsor a player? Packages start at £190+VAT
Get your name in the match programme, but more importantly you are helping develop WRFC players!
Marcus Reading Celestra
Mark Greenwood Ready Set Solar
Monty The Academy Partnership
Ollie Dawkins
GMD Management Consultancy Ltd
Owen Fillary ADR Service and repairs
Reuben Owen
Hyatt Financial Management LLP
Sadie Andrews Polythene Uk Ltd
Sam Winstone Mike Dunbar
Simon Copperwheat Oqema
A massive thank you to all our fabulous sponsors!
Player Sponsors
Want to do more for your Club? Why not sponsor a player?
Packages start at £190+VAT
Get your name in the match programme, but more importantly you are helping develop WRFC players!
Gareth Jenkins Matt Delnevo
Dan Wilson Matt Delnevo
Harry Ward Countryfit
Harvey Wattleworth
Tom Wattleworth & Andy Bateman
Jacob Hayter White Brothers
Josh Rhian Adler & Allan
Josh Whitehead JS Motor Services
Leo Dolan Chris and Sam Hodges
Liam Cook J Brand
A massive thank you to all our fabulous sponsors!
On this day in 1666, after 4 days in which the Great Fire of London burned down St Paul’s Cathedral and most of the City, the Great Fire was extinguished.
It began in the bakery of Thomas Farriner (or Farynor) the King’s Baker, on Pudding Lane, near London Bridge. The rumour at the time however was that, because of tensions between the English, the French and Catholics of Europe, that the fire was started deliberately by those pesky Europeans. I think ’X’ would be on fire if it happened today.
The highest ever winning score in first class rugby in England was in 1992 when Leicester (100) beat Liverpool St Helens (0). The highest Premiership victory was in 1999, Richmond 106 Bedford 12.
Player Sponsors
Want to do more for your Club? Why not sponsor a player?
Packages start at £190+VAT
Get your name in the match programme, but more importantly you are helping develop WRFC players!
TBC
Tilly Castle
Tom Gafney
William King
Zach Way
Will Phair
Matt Webb
Sam Turberville
Charlie Greenslade
Matthew Collins Furniture
Tian Smith
Ian Loughborough
Tetbury Accounting
Pro Motion Sports Therapies
Simon Copperwheat
Fairfax Estate Agents
Pittaway Fencing
Shandy & Jack Godfrey
A massive thank you to all our fabulous sponsors!
Witney Calling!
Welcome back to Hailey Road for the start of what is sure to be an exciting season. Unusually, our First Team find themselves in the same league as last year, how novel! We look forward to welcoming back some adversaries and visiting some lovely Clubs in the region.
Our Vipers and Threes remain in Counties 2 and 3 respectively and are looking to be even more competitive this season. Our Angels have taken a step down, to Women’s NC 3 South West (East), a bit of a mouthful but a league where our Angels are looking to be more competitive than last season’s NC 2.
Our Academy will continue to do battle in Division 2 of the Oxon, Bucks and Berks Junior Leagues, although a great number of them will be pulling on senior shirts when required to continue their progress through, from the M&Js, Academy and into adult rugby, something that the Club is rightly proud of.
Good luck to all who pull on a Black and Blue shirt this season, do us proud, but most of all enjoy your rugby.
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. 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. th
What’s On @ Hailey Road!
Saturday 13 September Ex Players Day th
All players past and present, their partners and families, welcome.
60 years of this fantastic Club is something to celebrate. Need to know more, contact Dave “Dabber’ Willis or Bob Fisk.
Saturday 4 October
Chairman’s Lunch th
First Chairman’s Lunch of the season. Some spaces still available so get in touch and book your place.
TRAINING:
Senior Men
Tuesday and Thursday nights 7-8pm.
Angels Tuesday 7-8.30pm
Touch Thursday 6-7pm
Walking Thursday 7-8pm
Cherubs. Tuesday 6-7.30pm
M&Js Sunday Mornings 10-12
Academy Sunday 1pm
1st Things First!
So we all agree that last season was a tough one, amidst several really hard battles our First Team produced some wonderful rugby, not least of which came from our Academy players making their senior rugby debuts. Hopefully the experience they gained last season will begin to bear fruit as they continue their development.
LAST SEASONS TABLE
Witney finished 9 last season on the same points as 8 place Old Centralians having won 8 games each. Old Centralians join us again this season, lets hope our First Team better the head to head results last season, but more importantly manage more consistency this season.
2 Be or not 2 Be!
Our Vipers had a reasonably successful season last year finishing 4 with some great rugby being played with ball in hand. 13 wins was not unlucky for us but we are looking to go even better this season. th
We kick off today with a home game against Grove. Welcome to Hailey Road, we hope you enjoy our hospitality, and have a great day. Grove struggled last season in the higher Division, Counties 1 Tribute Southern North. They will be far more competitive this season and will no doubt want to get off to a flyer, lets hope our Vipers clip their wings.
LAST SEASON’S TABLE
Adam Nobbs*
Charlie Gardner* Seth Savage* Harvey Wattleworth*
Cam Ayris* Zach Way*
George Boswell* Josh Rihan* Callum Cope*
Jon Derrick
Rory Atkins* Josh Whitehead*
Montgomery Hinge Jack Strong*
Ben Dunkley*
Simon Copperwheat
Matt Clarke
Rob Phair
Officials: GARETH SHEER
Who Shall We 3s Beat Again?
Our 3s are on the road to Stow-on-the-Wold who finished one place below us last season and only 5 points adrift. They did however beat us home and away, the away fixture being the first for last season, déjà vu, let’s hope not.
LAST SEASON’S TABLE
SUPPORTING CHARITABLE CAUSES AND THEIR RETAIL STORES ACROSS THE UK
White Brothers supply charity shops across the country with new products ranging from socks and underwear to designer handbags and branded toys. Our customers range from large national charities to small regionally based organisations all supporting a wide variety of worthy charitable causes.
Calling all Golden Oldies?
Veterans @ Hailey Road
Contrary to poular belief, you do not have to have: Served in the Trenches of WWI Be over 60 with a pacemaker!
Although being either of those does not preclude you from playing, we do ask for a letter from your parent. 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
Angels Calling!
No Angels games just yet, perhaps that’s because they are all enjoying a thrilling Women’s World Cup. Here’s a resume of what’s happening this weekend with the final matches of the Group stages, some of which will be absolute corkers, unless you is Welsh!
Saturday 6 September 1330 USA v Samoa th 1700 England v Australia
England have qualified but need a win against Australia to guarantee winning the group and avoiding a likely QF clash with 2 seeds Canada. USA Need to win by a margin of 68 points and hope that England beat Australia by more than a point to reach the QF and a possible match against Trumps 51 State, Canada.
st
Saturday 6 September 1200
Canada v Scotland th 1445
Wales v Fiji
Canada and Scotland have both qualified. Scotland need to win against Canada at Sandy Park Exeter to avoid a likely semi final clash with tournament favourites England. Lets hope the Canadians are still on Mountain Daylight Time and Scotland catch them napping.
Sunday 7 September 1200
Japan v Spain th 1445
New Zealand v Ireland
Both New Zealand and Ireland have qualified with a humdinger of game set for Sunday afternoon at the Amex, Brighton. The winner gets to play the loser of the big game in Group D, France v SA.
Sunday 7 September 1400 Italy v Brazil
France v South Africa
An amazing turnaround in South Africa’s performance has led to a QF slot and a shot at the big prize. A win against France, however unlikely, should see a QF against NZ, or Ireland if they pull off a surprise at the Amex.
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Join The Witney Wizards
Witney RFC Walking Rugby.
The Witney Wizards is a group of older players, some with no previous rugby playing experience, all with one aim, to enjoy some fitness in a happy, social environment. We train once a week on Thursday evenings. Skills sessions, tactics, and competitive games, followed by a Supper Club and a social drink in our Hailey Road Clubhouse. The Wizards welcome people of all ages and backgrounds; we do have female players but could always do with more. The Wizards have played competitive matches at home and away, always draws a big crowd and above all else, is always fun. Think this is for you? Why not come along and give it a Try!
Contact: Derrick Fox on 07922 626332
Email: derrick.fox@witneyrugby.co.uk
