Turning out to be a cracking season isn't it? We've got, for the first time, over 500 kids signed up for this season. This is fantastic. Thanks to all the mums and dads who help out each week. Makes all the difference.

We are still after more helpers...
Specifically, with help on the website (both technical: webmaster, and admin: comms officer to help put up posts like this); another fixtures person to help organise the mini festivals and matches; a registrations officer to help administer the kids' details on the RFU game management system; another person to help with child safeguarding with Sophie and Kate, and a person to liaise with schools and the community. None of these roles takes up much time - about 10 hours a month, max. But they are vital to keep the club running smoothly. If you would like to find out more about these roles and can help please email Richard Castle: secretary@wmrfc.co.uk.

Also... don't miss the half-term rugby camp for u7-u14s and the club's fireworks. Details below...

Wimbledon fireworks

Pitch plan

Half term rugby camps
Not too late to book into our fabulous rugby camps - 23-25th October 2018 for u7-u14s. Full details here

Wimbledon RFC city lunch
Finally, we're having a city lunch again this year with guest of honour Jason Leonard on 30 November 2018 at Brasserie Blanc, South Bank SE1. Tickets and info via citylunch@wimbledonrfc.co.uk. A very fun afternoon to talk rugby and get the festive season off to a bang.

Quite a few age groups are away this weekend. But for those who are at home be first to secure tickets to our fabulous fireworks evening on Saturday 27 October 2018. Tickets on sale from behind the bar (and at King's this weekend if you're at the KCS festival (where the u8s are playing)). Last year's fireworks was a sell-out so get your tickets early and come down and enjoy a great family night out at the club. Doors open 5.30 with BBQ and bar. Fireworks at 7pm.

Wimbledon fireworks

Pitch plan

Half term rugby camps
Not too late to book into our fabulous rugby camps - 23-25th October 2018 for u7-u14s. Full details here

A huge welcome to our guests this Sunday: Wimbledon Warriors, Rosslyn Park, Esher, Old Midwhitgiftians, Sutton & Epsom, Guildford, Warlingham and Battersea Ironsides. By far the largest number of clubs to ever join us at our festival.

The weather is looking good so we will be able to park on the grass which will help with the parking challenges we always face. If you can avoid coming down Barham Road to the club please do - the volume of cars will make entry and exit pretty slow. Please 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.

Alternative parking locations

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

Come and play the A-Plan Insurance passing challenge up by the clubhouse for a chance to win prizes.

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.

Or if you prefer, a note on bad parental behaviour 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

Sadly the rain has been too much over the past 24 hours. No fun. See you all next week (Wimbledon Rugby Festival).

Our friends at Wimbledon in the Community are running a multi-sports camp at Wimbledon RFC in half term this Autumn. The clubs are aimed at u6s to u14s.

Primarily rugby based, the camps are three fun days of sporting activity, learning through games and skills with exercises for overall individual development. Activities that enhance agility, co-ordination, speed and balance will also be delivered.

Don't miss this brilliantly-run clubs. The clubs run 9am until 3.30pm each day with drop-off from 8.30am and an after-club option (for a small extra fee) until 5.30pm. £75 for the three days.

Find out more and book here: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-camp/october-half-term-ca...

This Sunday is the last day to register for the season to benefit from early-bird subs rates. They go up from Monday. Go to get he How to Join page and follow the links.

Apologies for the website outtage. Many thanks to Martin for sorting things out. Now the site is back up, here's the pitch plan. Given there's a match today (U15s), as well as everyone at home training, there's a few age groups moving around. U8s on parking, u7s on cakes.

Pitch plan

We had a fantastic season-opener last week. Lots and lots of kids, brilliant weather, lush grass.

The subs desks are in brilliant form, too, with over 180 families already signed up for the season. Please go and see Nick and team this Sunday in the clubhouse and get paid-up if you can. Full details of the new season and subs etc are below. Please respect our neighbours and follow our parking policy and all directions given by parents who are volunteering as parking marshalls.

There's a second-hand kit sale and the clubhouse (with lots of second-hand boots as well). You can also try on sample sizes of new kit and order new kit as well.

In other good news, the 1st XV rugby won their first match of the season against Tring last week.

Pitch plan

Welcome back all - new and old to the club. Full details of the new season and subs etc are below. There's a new shiny, tarmacked car park at the club house. When it's full... On the topic of parking, please respect the parents helping to manage this (U11s this week) and follow their instructions and our Parking policy: respect our neighbours and don't obstruct driveways, park on verges etc. Cake sales are the U10s.

Here's to a wonderful season. There's 1st XV rugby this Saturday at the club. Tring are the visitors, 3pm KO.

Pitch plan

Welcome to the new rugby season!

We look forward to welcoming all players back to Wimbledon RFC and hope to see some new recruits too. As South West London's biggest, friendliest rugby club, we welcome boys and girls from reception age all the way to U18. Boys and girls play together up to and including U11s, then we have boys squads to U18 and girls squads at U13, U15 and U18. We are proud to offer Inclusive Rugby for kids with SENs at no cost to play. Older rugby can be enjoyed at U21, four adult mens teams and a very successful womens team.

We're chuffed to be able to support kids and families in our area achieve their rugby dreams. We welcome kids of all abilities and support England Rugby's Quilter Kids First philosophy. We're not tied to a specific school like some other local clubs and are thrilled that we have kids from over 100 different schools playing their rugby with us on Sundays. Wimbledon RFC is particularly popular with kids and parents from Australia, NZ and South Africa.

Here's how you join the club

Complete this online-submitted Google doc. Full details about membership on this page.

How we organise the club, fixtures and links to the relevant age group regulations

You can see the regulations for each age group variations on this page. The full set of regulations on the England Rugby site are here.

Youth fixtures (U12-U18s) have been re-organised so there's more purpose to the friendlies, triangulars and then the Waterfall tournaments through the season. Minis fixtures (U7-U11s) are as brilliantly organised as ever. They will be updated on this site soon. The under 6s train at home all season as they get to learn and love our game.

Enjoyment is the main thing
Making sure our kids have fun is the key. We're big supporters of the RFU's TREDS initiative

We are now open for new season subs and are running early bird offer on membership until 24th September 2018, holding the fees from last year. Whether you sign up now or at the clubhouse at the subs desks in September, whether new to the club or a longtime player, we look forward to seeing you at 10am on 2nd September.

IMPORTANT: CAR PARKING
Please park according to our Parking policy. Specifically DO NOT BLOCK ACCESS TO RESIDENTS' PROPERTIES OR CAUSE BOTTLENECKS THAT COULD CAUSE AMBULANCES TO BE DELAYED.

Also
More details on how to join, about the club and links to England Rugby age grade information and coaching.