The 2014-15 season at Wimbledon Rugby Football Club kicks off at 10am, Sunday 7th September 2014. This coming season sees not only our own 150th anniversary celebrations kick in but it's the big lead up to the Rugby World Cup as well. It's going to be a brilliant year to play rugby at Wimbledon Rugby Club!

If you are a bit uncertain about joining a rugby club, no need to worry! Wimbledon RFC welcomes everyone wanting to play mini and youth rugby and caters for all abilities from age 5 to 18. Newcomers are invited to try it out for a couple of weeks to see if they enjoy it before signing up for the season – you can always bring a friend as well. You can read all about the aims and history of our minis and youth section here.

We're looking forward to seeing our players back from last year (the photo above is last year's U11s having enjoyed a great Shield Final at OE's development festival), anyone looking to take up the game (whether Under 6 or at an older age), kids new to the area (Wimbledon, Raynes Park, North Surrey etc) or those thinking about trying out a new club. Last season saw record numbers of minis and youth enjoy rugby at the club and we're hoping to have even more with us in the year of our sesquicentennial (yes word geeks, that means 150th) celebrations.

So if you're new to the club/area come on down and give us a go - here's how to find us. Boys and girls equally welcome - girls can play in mixed squads up to and including U14s. We start training every Sunday (from 7 September 2014) at 10am sharp (until 12 noon). Contacts for each age group are here. Our child protection officer, Georgina, has her page updated for the season here: http://wmrfc.co.uk/childprot or she can be contacted by email (childprot@wmrfc.co.uk) if you have any questions. Shiny new Wimbledon kit can be purchased anytime online from Serious Stuff, the links are here. Also, to make it as easy as possible to buy kit, Serious Stuff will definitely be bringing their mobile shop on the 7th AND 14th of September to the clubhouse.

Once you've decided the club's for you, to become a mini (U6 to U12) or youth (U13 to U18) player at Wimbledon RFC you need to become a member of the club. Here are the fees for the 2014-15 season:

Individual Membership – £110 – Membership for 1 adult / parent and 1 child
Family Membership - £185 – Membership for 2 adults / parents and more than 1 child
There will be a subs desk running at the clubhouse on Sundays 7th/14th/21st/28th September from 09:30 - 13:00.
At the desk will will take cash/credit or Debit cards and Cheques for payment. This is by far the easiest way to take away your administrative pain for the whole of the season! Online payment is also available see here

All Minis members (up to U12s / School Year 7) are classed as full members and enjoy free access to all the home main club games (first XV etc). We also have social membership - full details on memberships are here

We're a proudly inclusive club and welcome kids of all ages and abilities who want to try out and enjoy the great game of rugby. We fully subscribe to the RFU's Core Values - Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship - see http://wmrfc.co.uk/rfucorevalues - so if you live in South West London and this sounds like your kind of club, come and play rugby at Wimbledon!

Support England this August as the women's team aims to overturn three finals defeats on the bounce to the Black Ferns and win the Women's World Cup in France. 1st to 17th August are the dates. So this Friday night you've got a cracking excuse to crack open a Kronenbourg or two whilst you watch the first game.

All the games are on Sky TV and you can follow what's happening on these Twitter accounts @EnglandRugby, @RFU_Surrey and @SurreyRugby and by using these hashtags #CarryThemHome and #WRWC2014

The dates of the games are on the attached poster

A big family day is being organised to raise funds for Jack Fishwick, a Wimbledon RFC 1st XV player, tragically injured last season. Starting at 11am, there will be lots of rugby, a BBQ and no doubt a few beers. A live band will top off the day.

If you want to enter a team it's just £200. More details from Anna: Annayeardley@yahoo.co.uk

And there's details on the senior club's site here

Craig Hunter's boxing at Silvermere Fighting Academy (behind the golf club), Redhill Road, Cobham this Saturday (21 June 2014). He's raising money for Jack Fishwick, a senior club player, who had a tragic accident whilst playing for the 1st XV (see more here). The event runs from 6 to 8pm; Craig's due on around 7pm. Beers being poured in the golf club afterwards. If you want more info or, even better, to sponsor Craig email him at cra1g.hunter@btinternet.com

Kids need to burn off energy during the long summer break? Then sign them up to the Harlequins rugby camp at Wimbledon RFC, Barham Road, SW20 from Monday 28 July to Wednesday 30 July 2014. There's a flyer attached and you can find more info or book at: www.quins.co.uk/community

Flyer here

A jam-packed clubhouse saw the Minis (U6 to U12s) celebrate a great end of season today, 11 May 2014. Almost all of the 450 kids were there to celebrate our achievements. Big thanks to Una Deed and all her volunteers for making the day both fun and successful.

The most improved and players of the year were:

U6
Most improved player - Finlay Todd
Player of the season - Lucas Luckin

U7
Most improved player - Thomas Poynter
Player of the season - Kieran O'Connell

U8
Most improved player - Matty Corkum
Player of the season - Max Carsosi

U9
Most Improved Player of the year - Trae Barns
Player of the Season – Harry Hocking

U10
Most improved player - Noah Stevens.
Player of the season - Edward Ellis

U11
Most improved player - Nathan Hinds
Player of the season - Ed Volley

U12
Most improved player - Max Smeby
Players player of year Tom Wooldridge

Two weekends of rugby left: 4 and 11 May. The end-of-season family day is on the 11th. Join us to celebrate a great season's action from 12 noon to 4pm (ie after training). Food, tombola, 200ft inflatable assault course (suitable for adults & children), human table football (also for adults & children) and a 12ft bouncy castle (up to 12 years old) should help the afternoon fly by. The bar will also have beverages on offer!

Donations of sweets and gifts for the tombola appreciated. Please get in touch with Una Deed (social@wmrfc.co.uk) if you can help.

This Sunday (4 May 2014) Daniel Laventure, a lad who has played all the way from U7 to U18 at our club, turns out for Northumberland in the U20 County Championship final at Twickenham. The match featuring Daniel, against Yorkshire, kicks off at 5pm but the day starts at 11am with four games to be played on the day. With tickets only a fiver for the day on sale on the gate it's well worth a trip to Twickers.

Northumberland's semi final match report is here

His dad, Steph, sent the following pic to celebrate the moment/embarrass his son (you decide which)

See the attached brilliant document showing us all how newsletters should be done.

This weekend saw the U18s play their last ever game (a 40-10 friendly win), having secured the Division 2 championship a couple of weeks ago.

The U17s went one better by winning the Division 1 championship, the first time ever for a Wimbledon side. They also have a National Cup final to come!