Sunday 3rd February 2025 1pm KO Rugby Lionesses Ladies vs Witney Angels 1pm KO
Witney Academy XV vs Harwell U18 Colts
Only one game on the hallowed turf of Hailey Road this weekend with our Academy playing host to Harwell Colts on Sunday at 1pm. Harwell currently sit top of the table but our Academy are looking to upset the apple cart. Why not pop up the Club and see how good our future is.
Our Firsts are heading southwest to Keynsham to play the rearranged fixture from last weekend, hopefully the pitch has dried out and we can play on.
There is still something big happening up the Club on Saturday which needs your support. England play their first home game of the 2025 6 Nations against table topping France with a 1645 kick off. Wales take to the pitch earlier in Rome against Italy with a 2.15 kick off, hoping to get their 6 Nations started, wooden spoon to the loser?
NEW FOR NEXT SEASON! Want to see your name on the front page? Want to join us for pre-match buffet before 1st team home games? Want to see your name on the Match Day TV? Why not sponsor the match ball? Prices start at £50, you are immortalised and you help our wonderful Club.
Sunday action comes from Edinburgh where Scotland host Ireland, what a great afternoon in store, the Academy at 1pm, Scotland v Ireland 3pm, you know it makes sense.
Click here for your 6 Nations Calendar
Robert Fisk
Chairman - Witney Rugby Football Club
£16 each
TheWitneystoreisatruecommunitystore, servingthevicinityforthepast40years. Stockingeverythingfromwinetowetwipes andbreadtobananas,CannonPool(asit's affectionatelyknown)isaonestopshopfor HaileyRoadandthesurroundingvillages. On Sale from
On this day in 1983, prize stallion and Derby winner Shergar was kidnapped in Ireland, never to be found. Lloyds of London were forced to pay out about $10.6 million after years of court battles. Is it a coincidence that HAMBURGERS is an anagram of Shergar Bum?
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Come & Watch Rugby @Witney RFC!
Witney Calling!
Today sees our First Team on the road to Keynsham on the A4 between Bath and Bristol. Despite the cancelled fixture the author and a group of Black and Blue fans still managed to have a great weekend in Bath, this weekend’s support may be somewhat tempered.
What a start to the 2025 6 Nations! France proved themselves to be the Team to beat despite being 4th in the World rankings 2 places behind current 6 Nations champions Ireland. Dupont was mercurial proving his status as the best player in the World, however his pass for the 3rd try, Attissogbe’s second was forward, little solace for Wales who stay on the Continent for this Saturday’s opening fixture against Italy in Rome. Kick Off 2.15 with the game being shown live in the Hailey Road Club House. Highlights from the France v Wales game can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/uCiRPElWaQc.
Italy gave a reasonable account of themselves in Edinburgh for their opening fixture against Scotland. With the score tied 19 all at the 50minute mark, the author’s outside bet of an away win seemed possible. 15 minutes later with 2 tries from centre Huw Jones and I was ripping up my betting slip, that’ll teach me! It finished 31 : 19 but Italy can take heart from that and will be wanting to secure a home win when they welcome Wales. Highlights from the Scotland game can be seen here:
Witney Calling!
The final game of round one took us to Dublin for a mighty clash of Ireland 6 Nations Champions looking to get revenge over what they perceived as a hiccup last time out against England at Twickenham. England started well and looked the better side in the first half but Ireland’s strength, especially off the bench with 509 caps between the replacements, almost as many as the starting 15 for England, was about to show. That’s not to take anything away from Ireland, these guys know how to win, and in front of their home crowd they did just that. Highlights can be found at: https://youtu.be/OPD_Vy11ODA.
A big game for Ireland on Sunday in Edinburgh where Scotland will look to make it 2 from 2 at home in Murrayfield. All games will be shown live in the Witney RFC Clubhouse, so regardless of the weather outside, a warm welcome awaits you at Hailey Road.
Also on Sunday our Academy boys welcome Harwell Colts for a league fixture kicking off at 1pm. Harwell are sitting pretty at the top. Good luck to all who don the Black and Blue this weekend.
Last Sunday 6 of our Academy lads were out on trial for Oxfordshire. They all did incredibly well but unfortunately Josh Benson picked up some knee damage, the full extent of which will be known following an MRI. George Boswell also picked up a broken wrist and so is expected to be shouting from the sidelines for at least 6 weeks. Speedy recovery guys, hopefully back playing well before your exams.
Witney Calling!
Have you played rugby with one of these guys? Do you fondly remember your playing days, the physicality, the camaraderie, the antics on and off the pitch. Do you find yourself using the phrase
Stop! Stop being an I used to be guy and rekindle your relationship with the game we love. Be the, ‘Yeh I still play’ guy and get yourself up to Hailey Road. You know you want to. #witneyrfc #welovewitney
We would love to know your opinions on the Club, 6 Nations, or anything else that concerns you about Witney, rugby or anything else of relevance. Why not message us at: feedback@witneyrugby.co.uk.
Witney Calling!
There are many new laws coming into play for this year’s 6 Nations; here’s a run down of what to expect:
· 60 second shot clock for conversions as well as penalties.
· 30 second set up time for lineouts to keep in line with scrums, this will be managed by on field officials.
· Play on rule when an uncontested lineout is not thrown straight.
· Defenders penalised for making a tackle on a player if they are part of a maul or a ruck.
· At scrums, the defending scrum half will not be able to advance beyond the centre line of the scrum.
We would love to know your opinions on these law changes, why not message us at: feedback@witneyrugby.co.uk.
We are fortunate to have a fabulous Minis & Juniors set up across all age groups and genders from 4+ to Academy level at 16-18yrs. The Academy have been filling senior positions all season and enjoying the challenge, it would be great to see even more youngsters enjoying Sunday mornings and regular fixtures so please spread the word.
Witney Calling!
Georgie’s fundraiser for RFU Injured Players Foundation
Banbury player John (JB) Baker sustained an injury during a VETS match at Banbury RFC against Witney RFC in November 2024.
Unfortunately JB has been left paralysed from the chest down losing function in both arms and legs. His Daughter Georgie has taken on the challenge to complete 12 hikes around the UK in 12 months, something which JB would be both immensely proud of and, also somewhat jealous. If you want to know more about the family, the challenge and donate then visit Georgie’s
JustGiving page
Witney Calling!
I wanted to make you aware of a serious issue surrounding health, the subject is suicide. We rarely talk about it, which is one of the problems, there is a stigma attached to it. Before we look at how we can be better placed to help, here’s a few statistics:
Almost 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, nearly twice the number who die by homicide.
For every death by suicide, there are approx’ 20 suicide attempts made. Each death by suicide leaves behind a community of bereaved family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. For every death by suicide, at least 7 to 10 people are directly affected by the loss.
Research shows that mental illness is the most important risk factor for suicide. More than 90% of people who die by suicide struggle with their mental health and/or addiction. Researchers estimate that up to 60% of people who die by suicide have major depression.
In the UK suicide is the biggest killer of men aged under 50.
So, what can we do? I believe the first step is for as many people as possible to be made aware of the signs and behaviour which could indicate somebody is contemplating suicide. Fortunately, there is a free online training aid available, which I would encourage as many people as possible to participate in. It takes about 30-40 minutes and can be found Here & Here
In the meantime if anyone has any concerns then please feel free to reach out to Ian Loughborough at l8est55@gmail.com or on
What’s On @ Hailey Road!
Saturday 8th March 2025
Chairman’s Lunch kicking off at 11am. Some places still available. Thornbury will be the opposition this day, they got all 5 points in the earlier fixture in Bristol, let’s hope Witney can return the compliment.
Saturday 26th April
Witney Wolves SEND RFC are hosting the 2025 Katie Peel SEND Family Friendly Festival of Rugby
Keynsham XV vs Witney First XV (Postponed )
No First Team game to report on as the game fell victim to a waterlogged pitch. Ever watch the film ‘Groundhog Day’? Well, here we go:
This week our First XV are on the road to Keynsham for last week’s rearranged fixture. Keynsham managed a win at Hailey Road in a very closely contested game which could have gone either way. Take your swimming trunks just in case, but if the game is cancelled, I can highly recommend restaurant Sotto Sotto, in Bath City centre, and a smoking negroni. Keynsham XV vs Witney XV
Time for a reset. 5 points could make a big difference!
1st XV - South West Division
Regional 2 Tribute Severn League Table
Walk-In Hairdressing & Barbering
Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
THREES A CROWD!
Witney 3rd XV 22 : 7 Oxford 2nd XV
Abandoned at 62 minutes.
Our Threes welcomed Oxford IIs to Hailey Road for a game that should never really have gone ahead. Oxford turned up with 12 players and made the decision not to contest scrums. A couple of injuries in, which Witney’s bench covered, stretched the referees patience and when a final injury happened on the 62nd minute the ref thought enough is enough.
Tries from Marcus Reading, Sam Turberville, Sam Jones and Alfie McLoughlin easrned us the points with Sam T landing a conversion. Man of the Match Alfie McLoughlin, whilst Connor
P earned himself a Yellow and a free pint for a no armed tackle. Some people will do anything for a free pint.
Oxford posted the result as abandoned and so the table does not yet show that the result should stand as a bonus point win, lets hope ORFU recognise the result, we tried to keep the game going, we don’t deserve to be punished.
No game for our fighting threes this weekend, enjoy the break boys, back for a big game against Oxford Quins away.
Hopefully with 5 pts from Oxford and we’re up to 6th!
Counties
3 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
Veterans @ Hailey Road
lar belief, you to have: enches of WWI a pacemaker! g either of preclude you aying, a letter from rent.
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 nights; 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
Witney Academy
Let’s Get Back To
Winning Ways!
Witney Academy 10 : 33 Shipston Colts
A tough day on the field last Sunday against a well organised team who maybe wanted the win a little more than we did. The Witney Academy lads played some good rugby in pockets but sadly couldn’t maintain any consistency. Keeping our focus on the game is a key takeaway. There was a great individual try from Jacob Hayter and Jamie Hoyle took the ball over the line as part of a cracking team try, but that wasn’t enough to keep us in the game. Man of the Match went to Josh Halcrow, for an excellent shift and not just for his post-match attire. Well done Josh.
With County Trials and a couple of injuries we weren’t quite the full complement but that is no excuse as we were up against a well drilled outfit. A big thank you goes to Jack Larkin for covering the full back position and Oli Dee for filling in on the wing. Both out of position but both put in a good shift.
Witney Academy
As is fast becoming tradition at friendly games, we issued a challenge to all players and coaches. On this occasion, and to mark the start of the 6 Nations, the team was challenged to wear something to the post match meal that represents any of the countries involved in the tournament. The winners, Josh Halcrow and Will Phair, secured immunity from changing room duty for the rest of the month!
Finally, we are very grateful to Tom Young who stepped in at the last minute to ref the game – Tough gig Tom?!
This Sunday sees our Academy boys in action against Harwell Colts.
Go you Witney Lads!
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!
The club have 8 tickets for England v Italy @ Twickenham on Sunday 9th March. Great tickets at only £119 each. Available to Club members and Sponsors on a First come First served basis. Contact Ian: tickets@witneyrugby.co.uk
To book a table or individual places please contact WRFC Chairman, Bob Fisk. email: robertfisk@btinternet.com
Sponsors: All sponsors are welcome to attend, Some sponsorship packages include chairman’s lunch, otherwise charges apply
VP’s, Club Members & Guests: All welcome, price per lunch may vary between £30-35 per head
