13th Dec 2025
MATCH DAY Vipers v Didcot Programme
The Future’s Bright
Witney RFC
Witney RFC
Sun 14 Dec 2025 th
Witney ANGELS
KO 2 pm
Banbury Belles
KO 1 pm
Witney ACADEMY
Shipston on Stour
Chairman’s Welcome
AWESOME!
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!
GREATDAY
A massive thank you to all our fabulous sponsors!
Player Sponsors
Player Sponsors
2 Be or not 2 Be!
No game to report on from last week, but all to play for this week as we welcome Didcot to Hailey Road. Didcot are riding high in second place with 31 points, and it doesn’t seem that long ago that we made the trip to Greenwood Way, only to come away bruised and pointless.
What a difference a month can make, let’s make sure we let them know they are on our turf and give them a game they don’t forget in a long time.
Come on you Vipers!
Sat 13 Dec 2025
Witney II v Didcot 3pm
Player Sponsors
Player Sponsors
Who Shall We 3s Beat Again?
No game to report on from last weekend, but plenty of news as we can reveal that our Barmy Army are the Tribute Ale Southwest Team of the Month for November. Well done lads, thoroughly deserved, now to continue the good form and see out 2025 properly.
We welcome Oxford IIs to Hailey Road, and whilst they sit 3 places above us, the difference is one win and a bonus point, 6 points lie between us. So, whilst we can’t overtake them this weekend, we can certainly close the gap. Come on you Black and Blues!
Witney III v Oxford II
TBC
Angels Fly Again!
It’s been a while since we have had to cover an impending Angel’s fixture but it was worth the wait with another debut for one of our Cherubs, Tilly Castle. Go out there Tilly, give it your best, play with passion, but most importantly, enjoy it.
The fixture against Banbury Belles is a friendly, meant to be a mash-up between our Angels and the ladies from Gosford All Blacks, unfortunately that didn’t materialise and so our girls will field a reduced number and hopefully bed in our new players and enjoy some running rugby at Hailey Road.
Remember, our Angels are always looking to strengthen their squad, so if you are in any way interested, please contact Kate Nicholls or Sarah Dunbar, they will guide you through joining a fantastic group of fun-loving ladies.
Witney III v Banbury Belles
2 pm
Team to be selected from:
Izzy Barker (c)
Naomi Godfrey
Hettie McNally
Ailsa Shaw*
Allie Walde
Sadie Andrews
Ella Marshall
Tilly Castle* (debut)
Lily Cope*
Ruby Bishop*
Izzie Pereira*
Replacements:
Situations Vacant
Coaches: Kate Nicholls
Sarah Dunbar
Alex Rosenberg
Kieran Flack
Physio:
Officials: Kevin COYNE
*Denotes WRFC Mini & Juniors Player
Players in Blue on Front cover
On December 13, 1905, the New Zealand Originals (the early All Blacks touring side) played Yorkshire during their famous European tour and won 40-0. While not a Test match, it was part of one of the most celebrated early international rugby tours, leading up to their historic clash with Wales later in the month. Wales won that one 3 : 0, a try being worth 3 back then. The game descended into a bit of a farce as NZ claimed to have scored a try, but Bob Deans was ‘allegedly’ dragged back into the field of player by Welsh players before the ref caught up with the action and awarded no try. Wales the only team to beat NZ on that tour. A size 5 (match ball) is approximately 4.5 litres in Volume, or about 8 pints. So if you needed a challenge you could drink a match ball of beer. 8 pints of Guinness would cost you about £37 if you hold a Member’s Discount Card, or about £40.50 if you didn’t. Getting smashed is so much cheaper with the Card.
Academy
The Future’s Bright!
Player Sponsors
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.
Player Sponsors
What’s On @ Hailey Road!
What’s On @ Hailey Road!
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
Building Science, Attaining Excellence
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
