A busy weekend so please take note. Three important community notices to share first of all...

1) We will hold two minutes' silence at 11am to remember all of those who died in service of our country. Please respect this time.

2) We are collecting unwanted coats (only coats!) for the charitable campaign Wrap-up London. Wrap-up London ensures adults and children living in poverty or escaping violence, refugees and the homeless get a warm coat this winter. The key thing is that instead of sitting in a charity shop gathering dust, your old coats go directly to people in desperate need.
Please take your coats to the Club Shop. The coats should be wearable.

3) As we did last year, the club wants to send our old rugby balls, rugby bags, boots, TAG belts, kit and more across to Africa via TAG Rugby Trust a charity set up to get kids in Africa and around the world playing TAG rugby. It is a fantastic charity and offers so much more however to start with sending more kit across makes sense, however they want more. So while you are looking for old coats please dig out old rugby kit and any clothes that are not used any more and bring them to the club so we can give them a great home.

Please bring all spare coats and kit to the club shop in the clubhouse this Sunday

U12s KO P2 & P3 at 10.30, so will be finished by 11.30. Please use Old Changing Rooms 3 & 4. Please move off P2 ASAP as the U18 Girls will start their game at 11.30.

U14s are training on P4 - please go the top 2/3rds or to P8 - so that the U18 Girls have an area to warm up from 11.00.

U16s play at 1.45 on P1 please use New Changing Room 3 & 4

Colts will probably train from 11.00 till 12.00 so should be well clear in time for your warm up.

U15 Girls are on P3 KO at 2pm so can use New Changing Rooms 1 & 2 (which will be left in good shape by the U18 Girls for you)

U18 Girls KO at 11.30 on P2 and will use New Changing Rooms 1 & 2 (leave them tidy for the U15 Girls please)

U11 have an overflow area above P7 & U10 have a small overflow area above P5 (where the U7’s normally train), but you are on the bigger pitch which should help.

Here's the pitch plan

Congratulations to South Africa on their third world cup win. 3 from 3 sounds a lot better than 1 from 4... reminder about getting the basics right - scrum, lineout, defence. Moving swiftly on...

U7s are on parking, no cake sale this week.

Quick reminder about:

1) The Wimbledon Rugby Club quiz on Friday 8 November 2019 at 7.30pm. Very last chance to secure your tables, there are a couple of slots left: either ask your age group manager or email Zoe and Frances on social@wmrfc.co.uk

2) Even more new content uploaded to the Wimbledon RFC coaching Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2347835308878184

3) Don't miss out on Wimbledon RFC news, sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/8c687b9049e7/wimbledonrfcemail

Here's the pitch plan

The best place, by far, to watch the rugby world cup final is... at a rugby club!

Breakfast is served from 8am

None of us who saw Jonny slot the drop goal to win the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003 will forget where we were. Those of us who were lucky enough to watch it at a rugby club have by far the strongest and happiest memories.

From 8am this Saturday we'll be serving a full breakfast, coffee, tea and other 'beverages'. Don't sit on your sofa: get down to your club and make memories that will last a lifetime.

The Wimbledon Rugby Club family hopes that all our members: kids (especially the kids), parents and players will join us and watch the game. Breakfast is from 8am, anthems at 8.55am, kick off at 9am. Memories made together last a lifetime. 

All together now... I looked over Jordan, and what did I see? Coming for to carry me home...

Wonderfully, our first XV won their top-of-the-table clash last Saturday and now sit with clear water at the top of London & SE Premier.

With the Rugby World Cup coming to a boil, I'm sure some of the age groups will choose to start their sessions a little later this Sunday - your age group managers will let you know what's what.

U10s are on parking, no cake sale this week.

Quick reminder about:

1) The Wimbledon Rugby Club quiz on Friday 8 November 2019 at 7.30pm. Last chance to secure your tables: email Zoe and Frances on social@wmrfc.co.uk

2) More new content uploaded to the Wimbledon RFC coaching Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2347835308878184

3) Don't miss out on Wimbledon RFC news, sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/8c687b9049e7/wimbledonrfcemail

Here's the pitch plan

As the World Cup draws towards the business end of things, all the matches are BIG matches. The Wimbledon RFC adult 1st XV have their own BIG game this Saturday as we host a top-of-the-table clash with Rochford Hundred. Both sides have won all their matches, all with bonus points, so you can't expect to watch a better, harder match this side of Japan. Come on down to the club straight after the All Blacks game and see our own lads in action - 3pm kick-off. Even better, why not watch the All Blacks v Ireland game with us - the clubhouse and bar will be open!

Before we get onto Sunday's plans, there are still a few half term sports camps places available at Wimbledon Rugby Club for 22 October, 23 October and 24 October - kids from aged 6 to 15 are most welcome. Full details are here.

Don't miss out on the The Wimbledon Rugby Club quiz on Friday 8 November 2019 at 7.30pm.
It's always a fun night and it's always great when age groups can pull a table or two together.

Don't forget to sign up to our coaching Facebook Group - new vids added this week - all are welcome: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2347835308878184

Don't miss out on Wimbledon RFC news, sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/8c687b9049e7/wimbledonrfcemail

Here's the pitch plan (ignore that it says the 19th, it is for the 20th)

Most of the minis are away at Sutton & Epsom for a festival this week so room for lots of visiting youth teams. A big welcome to Guildfordians, Richmond and London Welsh. With parking at a premium (especially with the pitches now wet and restricting on-grass parking) please park on the green roads only (as indicated on the map below).

We have half term rugby and multi-sport holiday camps happening at the club on 22 October, 23 October and 24 October - kids from aged 6 to 15 are most welcome. Full details are here.

All coaches (and parents) are welcome to join a Facebook Group we've set up with loads of coaching videos and tips - follow the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2347835308878184

We're building an email group to keep everyone up to date with Wimbledon RFC news. Please take 10 seconds and sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/8c687b9049e7/wimbledonrfcemail

Finally two dates for your diary. The Wimbledon Rugby Club quiz is in the diary for Friday 8 November 2019 at 7.30pm. Usually each age group takes a table so get in touch with your group's manager and come along. It's always a fun night. Also a massive 1st XV game is being played at home on Saturday 19 October. It's a top of the table clash between Wimbledon RFC and Rochford Hundreds. Both clubs have won all their opening games this season, all with bonus points. It's going to be a cracker. Come on down from 2pm on.

Here's the pitch plan

Following the enormous success of last week's Wimbledon Minis Rugby Festival its back to normal this week. In case you haven't heard the KCS Minis Festival (u7-u11s) has been cancelled due to the conditions so everyone will be training at home today.

Hopefully the rain will have eased by 10am. If not, bring a brolly! Colts start training at 11am today please.

Please park as per the policy below and if arriving after 9.30 please park on one of the green roads as all on-site parking will be full.

Here's the pitch plan

Welcome to the Wimbledon Minis Autumn Rugby Festival!
**although it is raining we will still run today’s festival. A bit of rain never hurt anyone! Please tether your tents**

A huge welcome to our guests this Sunday...

It's highly likely that you won't be able to park near the club. There will be parent volunteers in hi-viz to help make the parking as stress-free as possible. Wimbledon RFC is situated in the middle of a residential area with some of the roads being private roads so if you are asked not to park somewhere, please listen. The same goes with cones, if you see a street with cones on, don't park there. Please only park in one of the green-shaded roads below...

Please also read and follow our parking policy, and listen to any parking instructions you are given - and respect that everyone marshalling the parking are parent volunteers.

Anyone blocking access to homes or restricting ambulance access will be reported to the police.

If you need directions to Wimbledon Rugby Football Club click here

The programme for Sunday can be downloaded here and the fixtures for Sunday are here

Here's the pitch plan

A note from Sophie Castle, Wimbledon's child protection officer
Remember, everyone (parent, coaches and players alike) must observe the RFU rules and spirit of play...namely

1. Support positively and applaud good play (even if it's not your team!)
2. Respect officials and opposition players
3. Remember that children are playing to have fun
4. Behave as good role models on the touchline
5. Congratulate the opposition and make their supporters welcome.

The London Society of Rugby Football Union Referees has announced a zero-tolerance approach to backchat and appealing from players during matches. This approach is wholly endorsed by Wimbledon RFC and all players should expect to be warned and then penalised for instances of arm waiving and backchat/challenging refereeing decisions during games.

Bad behaviour by parents will not be tolerated. This from Brian Moore
[Children] do not always recognise a general expression of disappointment and believe it is directed at them. Head shaking, rolling of the eyes, looking away, kicking the ground – any of these can discourage children, and exhortations like “come on” and “sort it out” are as practically useless from the touchline as they are on the pitch. Full article is here

Hope you enjoy the festival and remember TREDS

Teamwork • Respect • Enjoyment • Discipline • Sportsmanship

Back by hugely popular demand are our half-term sports camps. Running on the 23rd, 24th and 25th October 2019, our fantastic, fun-filled activity days get filled up quickly.

Early bird discounts (save £3 per day) are available until 4th October. Book here!

Run by highly-trained coaches, the camps focus on developing your child’s team building and problem solving through multi-sports sessions. We develop physical literacy, fundamental movement whilst keeping fun and enjoyment our number one priority.

The camps run from 9am – 4pm (we offer earlier drop off facility if required from 8:30am). And we also offer an optional late stay club until 5:30pm for a small extra charge. The address is Wimbledon Rugby Club, Barham Road, off Copse Hill, Wimbledon, London SW20 0ET. Don't miss out!

A very busy Sunday - and the start of the Rugby World Cup (!!) - to look forward to.

This is your last call for help with paying your subs and getting DBS checks done at the clubhouse (as next week it's the Wimbledon Minis Autumn Rugby Festival).

World Cup on the telly We'll be open (BBQ, coffee and beer) for the Ireland v Scotland and England v Tonga games this Sunday There's nowhere better to watch a rugby match than at a rugby club is there!

Subs For the last of you struggling to pay your subs through the GMS please see Nick the treasurer at the clubhouse on Sunday - he'll sort all of your GMS woes out. Details of how to join Wimbledon Rugby Club are here.

DBS checks Sophie and Kate will be at the clubhouse this Sunday from 9am. Please make sure you see them if you are due renewal or new to coaching (so need a new check doing). Any coach with an expired DBS (or if new, not started a check) after the end of September will not be allowed to coach (and no-one wants that to happen).

A larger, downloadable version of the DBS info is here. Link to full list of documents you can bring for a DBS check: https://www.gov.uk/criminal-record-check-documents

Here's your pitch plan