Welcome to the 2016/17 season, this hopefully regular news item will keep you informed on the progression of the Senior section at LFRFC and feature some match reports, player interviews and news of social events.

There has been an all new coaching team established for the senior squads with Marc Birr stepping down from his role as Director of Rugby towards the end of the season, I for one would like to thank Marc for his contribution across both the senior and Mini-Junior section and introducing me to the club.

Ex-Tigers flanker Rob Tebbutt heads the new coaching set-up. Rob joins the club after a previously coaching South Leicester and Leicestershire senior squad and is supported by myself as forwards coach and Megan Harris. Megan has previous coached at Bath Ladies and in the Military and we are currently working hard with the senior squads to get them ready for the new season in Midlands 3 South. The 1st XV will be captained by Kieran Shuter and 2nd XV by Mikey Waldron. Glyn Johnson has taken over the captaincy of the Vets XV and it has been particularly encouraging to see the numbers of vets putting the boots on for training on a Thursday evening. If you are reading this thinking about investing in some heat rub, some WD40 and lacing those boots back up then I am sure you will be more than welcome, training is followed by the obligatory pint to reward your hard earned efforts in true Vets style.

The numbers at the senior squad preseason sessions have been encouraging with a number of new players joining and re-joining the club. Joseph McAlister has finished discovering himself in New Zealand, David Kennedy has joined us from Coalville RFC, Ross Carrigan has rejoined the club from Hinckley, Lewis Hunt, Mattia Melone from Italy and Mark Bayley rejoining from a brief hiatus at South Leicester. Along with a few players returning from injury and players moving up from the very successful colts set up means that the senior squad is in good shape heading into the season.

At the end of each season there are inevitable losses in playing personnel, former captain James Coulthurst has moved jobs and subsequently joined Wilmslow Rugby Club and is joined in his departure by Kieron Stone, Kieran Bugby and Josh Palmer who have joined Melton Mowbray RFC and Aaron Pike who has join Syston but still helping coach the junior section. The club wishes them success with their new clubs.

The new league fixtures for both the 1s and 2s have now been announced and can be found under the fixtures tab on Pitchero. Local derbies against Jimmies are something to put in the diary with the first at Jimmies on the 22nd Oct and the return fixture on the 11th February 2017. The 1s begin the season at Northampton Casuals on the 10th September, with the first home game of 2016/17 the following week (17th September) against Northampton Men’s Own. Hopefully this home game will see the debut of the new LFRFC home kit, with the sponsors raffle being very successful, with a special thanks to Tom and Ed Willday, Paul Clayton, Lib Wanstall, Dave Stockhill, Rob Price, Ben and Phil Vesty, Screwy, Chaz Allen and Mick Pike. The lads and the club are very thankful to these individuals for supporting us and hopefully we can repay you with performances on the field this season. The 2s fixtures start with a local derby on the 10th September against Aylestonians (H)

Prior to the new season starting the coaching team have organised 2 pre-season games for the senior squads, the first against Loughborough RFC (Home) on Thursday 25th August (730 kick off) and Vipers RFC (Away) on Saturday 3rd September (3pm kick off). Loughborough achieved promotion at the end of last season from Midlands 3 North, with Vipers finishing just above us in Midlands 2 South and will be ideal preparation for the squad for the coming season.

Finally, I will take this opportunity to wish continued success throughout the club for the forthcoming season, a continuation of the very successful mini-junior section, the continued success of the Colts set up following their victory in the National Cup last year and a return to winning ways of the senior set up!

Tom Maden-Wilkinson
“Doc”

1st XV Forwards Coach and Manager