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All You Want To Know About The Coming Season!

All You Want To Know About The Coming Season!

Rob Long9 Aug 2017 - 17:48
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A message from Andy Brown - Chairman Rugby Committee.

York RUFC -Senior Rugby Committee and Officers 2017 – 2018

With the 2017-18 season fast approaching, I would like to introduce you to all the team responsible for delivering and developing rugby at York RUFC.
This season will once again see us try to escape the clutches of Yorkshire 1 (level 7) rugby. Lee Denham will continue in the Role of Head Coach, with Chris Peace taking on the role of Backs Player Coach from Ian Thomson, who now takes on the role as “Club Rugby Manager”
Ian’s role is all encompassing but his main roles include responsibility for the playing structure of the club; being the main link from the playing side of the club to myself as Chairman of the Rugby Committee, ensuring all coaches fulfil their responsibilities throughout the Senior club. Additionally, he is tasked for developing a strategy for rugby development at the club over the next 3-5 years and to clearly define a path for the progression of juniors into the senior ranks.
Two additional members have been added to the coaching team - Neil McClure and Carter Croft. Everyone will know Neil who has accepted a role in helping develop the Gladiators (3rd) XV) which will now become our Development squad. He will be assisted by Carter who brings with him considerable technical expertise having been associated with Blackheath, London Irish, Kendal, Fylde and more recently as technical Director for the Swiss U20 national team. Carter recently moved to the York area and we are looking forward to him becoming a valued member of the team.
Additionally, this year we have created the position of “Community Development Coach”. This role will initially be undertaken by Toby Atkin. This is a big step for the rugby club and was taken after much deliberation and consideration. Toby will work with local schools in delivering rugby based activities whilst at the same time develop and promote recruitment to York RUFC. Anyone who would like more information about this venture, or would be interested in assisting in the funding of the role, should contact either myself, Mark Gronnow or Ian Thomson
Chris Fox has this year stood down as 1st XV captain to be replaced by Sam Forbes who last season joined us from Hull Ionians. The experience he brings will stand him in good stead for the “big shoes” he has to fill. He has all our support and is looking forward to his role.
Conor Smith-Lynch will continue in his role as 2nd XV captain. We are in need of a 2nd XV manager - anyone interested please make yourself known. There is no Gladiators (3XV) captain being appointed but we will be adopting a role of a rolling captain, depending on week to week selection.
In the social rugby side, Chris Clegg has taken on the role as Cavaliers captain and has already built a team around him for the coming season with numerous social functions planned.
This year has also seen the formation of a Women’s team with its development already well beyond “the embryo stage”. Sunday 20th August sees us host the RFU Inner Warrior Camp, introducing women and girls to rugby and followed by hosting a development tournament on October 29th. It is hoped in the not too distant future we can announce the Women’s first competitive game – watch this space.
Last but by no means least, we are pleased that that both Hanna and Eve have agreed to continue their roles into the coming season as team manager and physio team.
All in all, things are looking positive and everyone is looking forward to the coming season which we hope will this year see us leave Yorkshire 1 behind. Our first league game is on the 2nd September at home to Beverley. I would like to encourage as much support as possible - not only for this game but all games, home and away, for all the teams throughout the club.

Andy Brown
Chairman Rugby Committee

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