Rugby wise I am sort of glad to see the back of January. Our fixture list for the 1st team saw us having to play the teams who are 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the league. Our game against 2nd placed Dorking fell foul to the freezing weather. However, our last game in January was away against Sevenoaks and did not go to plan. This was a game we felt we could win but going 12 – 0 down after 6 minutes was not the start we wanted. We battled hard and never gave up but on the day Sevenoaks were the better team.

This result means we really now are in a dog fight to avoid relegation from the National League. Make no mistake, we do really want to remain a National 2 league club and you can help us achieve this.

A look at the league table below says it all. Our destiny I think is in our own hands.
Played points
Canterbury 17 29
Sevenoaks 16 29
Rochford 16 26
North Walsham 15 19
Westcliff 16 -1

Westcliff will be relegated, but who will join them? We have to play North Walsham (NW) twice, starting at home next Saturday, Feb 4. Beat them with a 5 point win, we move onto 31 points, they stay on 19.

If you want to play a guessing game about how many games Canterbury, Sevenoaks, Rochford and NW might win of their remaining fixtures then you could say if Rochford beat North Walsham twice and beat Canterbury and pick up just one more win we could be safe. But of course we don’t know how it will play out.

We played 5 home games before Christmas meaning we have another 7 home games to play by the end of the season. We just have to make home advantage tell in our favour. We have a very busy Feb with home games on;

Feb 4 V North Walsham
Feb 18 v Barnes
Feb 25 v Canterbury.

We know we can win all three games but two of these are really must wins games for both clubs, North Walsham and Canterbury, sitting either just above us or just below us in the league table.

When we play Westcliff we get huge numbers of Rochford members along to support the team.

Well, next Saturday, at home to NW, we need your support just as much. The players tell me just how much of a difference it is playing in front of big,vocal supportive home crowd, so please make every effort to come along. For this game only, to try and encourage more people along, entry to the stand will be free. (please do not sit in any seats that have a reserved sticker on them).Please come along and support us. If you paid for a pre match lunch for the postponed Dorking game and are coming to the NW game please make sure sure Alan knows and if you wish to attend any of the pre match lunches please contact Alan at HOSPITALITY@ROCHFORDRUGBY.COM .

All 6 Nations games will on the TV’s in the Clubhouse as well.

Tackle Height reduction. Unless you have been living under a rock on the moon you will have heard about the RFU saying the tackle height will be reduced from July 1st this year to help reduce concussions in the game. We must all support this, BUT there are a lot of dissenting voices out there. All our coaches are sent every piece of communication I get about this so that they are best informed about all this as they can be. If you are a coach of any team and have not read ALL the information that I have already sent out, please do so asap, as there will be a lot more coming your way over the next few weeks.

I cant see the RFU changing their minds on this and World Rugby is very likely to impose something similar for all rugby playing nations later this year, so we have to adapt to the new laws.

I have a friend you coaches at a high level in France. The French introduced a similar directive three seasons ago, with a similar uproar form players, coaches etc. Season one he said was difficult as seasoned players forgot to tackle low, so an increase in yellows and reds across the game but a reduction in head on head concussions, which is what what we want to reduce. There was a slight increase in knee/hip to head concussions, but it seems this was more down to poor tackle technique than anything else. Now they are in season three and he says the game is more open, many more off loads, hardly any yellows or reds, reductions in concussions and yes, there is a place in the game in France for big men.

Lets just see what happens over the next few weeks. This new law should not really result in droves of players leaving and rugby still represents good value for money. Which reminds me about a conversation fed to me recently by a parent who had a discussion with someone outside of our club. The ‘outsider’ said why do you pay so much money in subs and spend so much time running around for your child to play rugby?

Our club member said, well actually I don’t pay for my child’s subs, training kit, gum shields or boots.

I pay for those moments when my child becomes so tired they fell like giving up but they don’t.
I pay for the opportunity that my child has to make life long friendships.
I pay for the amazing coaches and managers who give up their time voluntarily that will teach my child that rugby is not just about game plans, zonal defences, or even winning but it is about life skills to be learnt.
I pay for my child to learn and practice the core values of rugby, which are teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.

I pay for my child to learn how to take care of their body.
I pay for my child to learn to work with others and to be proud, supportive and kind to team mates.
I pay for my child to learn to deal with disappointment when they don’t get that try they hoped for, when they drop the ball or miss that tackle that they have practised hundreds of times, but they still get and are determined to keep trying to give their best.
I pay for my child to be on a pitch, out in the fresh air, instead of indoors stuck in front of a screen.
So, I don’t pay for rugby, I pay for the opportunities rugby provides my child to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lifetime. I think by me paying for rugby is a very good investment.

I am proud to me a member of Rochford Hundred RFC and I am proud to me your Chairman. Our Club vision is a holistic and that is to continue strengthening the Club from the Little Rascals through to our senior sides. We want to provide a clear pathway for our future senior players to learn and develop through the teams by investing in our coaches to make them the very best coaches they can, which will in turn mean all our players perform week in week out, to the very best of their ability.

A big focus of mine and the Executive Committee has been to also ensure that as best we can we get things off the pitch right as well. This is not just infrastructure, such as a ‘mud’ free pathway around the main pitch, the outside bar and BBQ, the new stand and the soon to be completed new changing room and our great new floodlights. Our future plans include a complete refurbishment of the changing rooms, redecorating the clubhouse, upgrading the toilets, constructing a new shower and toilet and changing area bespoke for the increasing number of female referees we get, building a new external toilet block, creating a new meeting room and a separate rehab room. So, still a lot to do. The list goes on, such a new roof over the outside bar and BBQ area, erecting the large commercial marquee we have to be used as an additional social space which we hope will also become a bespoke wedding venue. The new solar panels should be fitted in February.

We are also trying to create an even more inclusive environment and culture for all our members. No matter what role we have in the club, player, parent, coach, manager, supporter, the list goes on, we are all people and I believe looking after our people first is a priority, building a sense of value, a place where we care for each other as individuals. We all want to be the best possible rugby club we can be. We will continue to try things, to be as innovative as we can be, do things different to other rugby clubs, but at the same time take great pride in creating a rugby club that perfectly aligns with the core values of rugby.

As one way of recognising the value and commitment of all our volunteers we are inviting all volunteers to attend a pre match lunch on Saturday 11 March. All volunteers attending will not have to pay for the pre match lunch as one way of saying thank you to all our volunteers who can make it. Volunteers are reminded that they can bring along with them as many other people as they wish, but they will all have to pay the £25 for the 3 course meal we will be providing. If you have not already booked your place for March 11 you can do so by text messaging Andrea Church on 07821 985547. She will obviously need to know your name and what volunteer role you carry our for the Club and if you intend to bring along any other guests.

On Saturday 18 Feb we are holding our Ladies Day pre match lunch. We held our first one last year and it was great day. All the profits from the raffle we donated to the breast cancer unit at Southend Hospital. This year we will again donating all the profits from the raffle to the Dove Project who are an organisation who assist and support men, women, young people and children who are victims of domestic violence and abuse based in Leigh.

To reserve your place for the Ladies Day pre match lunch please contact Alan on HOSPITALTY@ROCHFORDRUGBY.COM. Please remember this lunch is not exclusively for women, men are just as welcome. Please support this day and get a group together, everyone is welcome.

As we begin the second half of the season my mind turns to the end of the season. Our End of Season Awards Dinner is on Friday May 19, and to reserve your place please again let Alan know at HOSPITALTY@ROCHFORDRUGBY.COM. Our guest speaker is non other than the former England and Harlequins captain, Chris Robshaw. In addition to ALL senior side players attending the End of Season Awards Dinner is open to ALL club members (over 18 years old though).

The following Wednesday, May 24, is our AGM. We need more and new volunteers to join the Executive Committee in some capacity. If you think you have some time to spare and would like to at the forefront of decision making in your Club, in the first instance just let me know by contacting me at CHAIRMAN@ROCHFORDRUGBY.COM and we can have a chat about how you can become more involved.

Best wishes
Ray