Saturday 4 September at Priestfields
Medway 3XV (Development Squad)
v
Dartfordians 3XV
Kick Off 3pm
followed by
Barbecue and Live Music
Tickets £5 from Chris Green or Jamie Settle - only a few left - no entry without ticket
Season starts with Kent Cup for First XV
The First XV have their first competitive game of the season on Saturday in the 1st round of the Kent Cup away to Old Dunstonians RFC from London Division 2. Kick off 2pm at St Dunstans school.
UPDATE: Vets Tournament
Saturday 4 September: Medway Vets leaving Medway 9.30 (9.15 meet).
11am is first match in pool C vs Colfeians (other matches vs Ashford and Maidstone).
Please (if you have not already done so) - contact Graham McManus on 827281 to confirm availability and if you are bringing a tent or need a space in one!!
Club appoints medical and physio staff
Medway Rugby Football Club are delighted to announce, as part of the ongoing development of the club, the appointments of Dr Paul Staker MB BS MRCGP DIP SPORTS MED MSOM , Dan Horgan Bsc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP and Jessica Thorne MCSP for the forthcoming season.
Paul Staker, a Sports and Orthopaedic Physician, will take up the role of Club Doctor. Dan Horgan is appointed as Head Physiotherapist and Jessica Thorne Assistant Physiotherapist.
Paul Staker is a highly experienced Doctor who specialises in the field of sports injury medicine and provides the expertise much needed by the club to provide quality pastoral care for its players.
Dan Horgan too is experienced in his field having previously acted as Physiotherapist for Ashford RFC and is currently physiotherapist for the Kent County RFU under 20s representative team.
Jessica Thorne is a qualified physiotherapist and a keen rugby player herself who wishes to develop her experience and knowledge of dealing with sports injury and rehabilitation through the role.
Medway RFC have also installed a purpose built ice bath and are in the process of completing a dedicated treatment room.
Medway RFC Head Coach Taff Gwilliam said “These appointments are fantastic for the club. The knowledge and experience they bring will be invaluable and shows how we are serious about the care of our players”
First Aid Coordinator - messsage from Liz Evernden
I have now taken over this role from Louise Burford and would like to thank Louise for all her work and effort in this role over the years.
My background covers working as First Aider at Greenacre School for 7 years and 5 years with Medway, starting with under 17s ,moving onto 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, Colts and Development Squad. I also help Sheila in the kitchen and many of you will know me from working there on a Saturday or Sunday during the season and at Medway's festivals.
Your start of season refill bags will be available to collect from me at the clubhouse on Tuesday 7th September and Thursday 9th September, 7.00pm-9.00pm. My email address is lizsprigg@blueyonder.co.uk, if you need to contact me.
I look forward to meeting you.
New First XV pictures
First XV pictures from the Spitfire Tournament at Folkestone RUFC, 29 August.
Pre-season
First XV
Medway's 1st XV played their first pre-season friendly against a very strong Dover side bristling with county representative players and although soundly beaten by 10 tries to 2 there were a lot of positives to come from the game. Dover showed their class and the style and type of rugby that this developing Medway team must aspire to.
With notable performances from 18 year olds Sam Garofalo, Josh King, and Miles making their debuts combined with the debuts of the more experienced Tony Nolan and Alastair Lock it showed that Medway will be a much stronger squad this season. With the return of Rhyneheart, Collins, Stockford, Karol, Ruffel and Burns to the squad over the next few weeks competition for places and the strength of the team will grow.
Coach Taff Gwilliam said "this is the toughest of friendlies we could possibly start with. Dover are the top non- national league team in the South East of England and they paid us the compliment of putting out their strongest side (Collins apart). They are a quality outfit well coached and organised and with a lot of talented players. I am not disappointed with the performance. We had a reality check of where we need to be in the near future. We will be better for the experience ".
Development XV
Report and pictures from the Development Squad's 19 - 14 win over Dover III at Priestfields, 21 August.
Suggestions for the shop please
The new shop has now been set up and stocked. Please go and have a look, and if there's anything you want to see which isn't there at the moment, speak to Tina or let her know by posting suggestions here.
New sponsors for Development Squad
A successful first season last year convinced the club to enter Medway's Development Squad in Mid-Kent and East Sussex Divison A for the 2010/11, playing as Medway RFC's Third XV. The Squad have now been boosted by a second year of sponsorship from Hydraquip, and the addition of five new sponsors. All the sponsors are keen to encourage youth and young adult development in the Medway area, and see the Medway RFC Development Squad of 17 to 22 year-olds as a perfect outlet for their ambitions.
Morris & Turner, suppliers of quality bathrooms and gas fires locally for thirty years, have sponsored junior soccer teams in the past and are now pleased to maximise the exposure for their company through the Development Squad. "We at Morris & Turner pride ourselves on our performance and are pleased to be associated with Medway RFC", said Managing Director Andy Cowell, and generously offered special prices to Medway RFC members as part of their commitment. The picture shows Morris & Turner's Financial Director Lee Preston presenting sponsored jackets to the Development Squad's coach Paul Essenhigh.
The Club and the Development Squad welcomes all our new sponsors to the Medway RFC family!
Sponsors for 2010/11: Hydraquip, Morris & Turner, Elite Heating Services (UK) Ltd, Ideal Heating, L&M (Heating), Glow Worm
Clubhouse Sunday openings
COACHES AND MANAGERS:
If you want the clubhouse to be open on Sundays during August please tell Mandi now by phone on 07850 635292. Mandi will then have a good idea about numbers. Could everyone who sees this message make sure your team coach/manager knows about it.
Please also consult Gerald or Mel about the best places to train on each Sunday, so that they are able to manage summer growth on the pitches.
Coaching team strengthened for coming season
Medway are pleased to announce that the club’s preparations for the forthcoming season are now almost complete. The club has sought to strengthen and develop their Senior Coaching team. Director of Rugby Mark Marriott and Head Coach Taff Gwilliam have implemented the next stage of the playing business plan for the club.
In addition to Head Coach Taff Gwilliam and Gordon Stone, Graham Longstaff and Brian Walpole BSc., MSc., C.E.S, U.K.S.C.A are added to the Senior Team. Paul Essenhigh comes in to join Chris Thompson in the Development Squad and Drew Sherston takes on the extras.
Taff Gwilliam said “ I am delighted that Graham, Paul, Drew and Brian have all agreed to come on board, this will provide us with the coaching platform and the impetus to take Medway to the next level”.
Graham Longstaff and Paul Essenhigh are former players of the club who both went on to represent Kent and Paul to represent England. They both have experience at coaching at 1st XV level. Drew Sherston is an experienced player and Army Coach. Brian Walpole is a highly qualified and proven coach who will be responsible for the Strength and Conditioning of the players.
The Senior Club’s Strength and conditioning programme gets under way on Saturday with fitness assessments tests. Further updates on the club’s progress will be posted shortly
Medway RFC now on Twitter
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