Lots of rugby on this Sunday with most at home following a few weeks of festivals and matches. Welcome to Old Emanuel for your match.

We've updated our website banner and content to make it clearer that we welcome kids to come to Wimbledon Rugby Club from reception (under 5s) onwards. Please spread this message to your network.

Pitch Plan

More information: http://wmrfc.co.uk/inclusiverugby. Spread the word.

Apologies for the late posting.

Our adult boot camps are on (and growing in popularity). Sessions start at 9.45 and 11: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-class.

Half term camps start next week with booking encouraged to avoid disappointment: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-camp/summer-multi-sports-...

Following the huge success if last Sunday's minis festival it's all a bit calmer at Barham Road this week. That said, a number of age groups are on different pitches this week so check the pitch plan below.

Some of our U7 to U9s are away at Esher and some of our youth squads are away as well.

U6s (not U7s as per the map) are on cake-making and selling and the U9s are on parking.

Half-term sports camps
Don't forget our very popular half term sports camps are now available to book: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-camp/summer-multi-sports-...

Keep fit on Sunday mornings
Boot Camps back on again this Sunday. There are two sessions: 9.45-10.45 and 11-12. To book: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-class (turn up and pay is also available)

The pitch plan for Sunday

We're very excited to welcome over 1,000 kids to Wimbledon Rugby Football Club for our minis rugby festival this Sunday.

A big welcome to the 114 (!) teams playing this Sunday - another record-breaker.

We'll be open from 8.30am with bacon butties and coffees to kick-start your day. Referee briefings take pace by the relevant age group control tents at 9.30am and matches kick-off at 10am sharp. Please arrive early as we must start on time!

Parking

In short, you'll need to be an early-arriver to park in one of the two club carparks. A few permits have been issued for Inclusive Rugby players and visiting head coaches (only - and once the spaces are gone, they're gone, sorry). If you have a blue badge there will also be parking at the club, please show yours to the marshalls at the junction of Copse Hill and Barham Road.

Once the club's carparks are full you will need to park on the public roads (marked green on the map). The later you arrive the longer your walk will be to the club. When walking you might find Google Maps helpful to navigate your way to the clubhouse (type in Wimbledon Rugby Club or postcode SW20 0ET).

There will be parent volunteers in hi-viz to help make the parking as stress-free as possible. Please listen to any parking instructions you are given - and respect that everyone marshalling the parking are parent volunteers. 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.

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 - note: a larger copy of the pitch plan is in the programme, downloadable above.

A key message from Sophie Castle, Wimbledon's child safeguarding officer

Remember, everyone (parents, 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.

Bad behaviour by players will not be tolerated
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. I like this quote 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

Great weather! Great rugby!

Second-hand kit
The second-hand kit stall is going great guns, but still needs more kit. Please search cupboards and bring in any old club kit and boots. Do also come and buy kit!

October half term camps now available for booking
Our ever-popular half terms camps: 19 October to 4 November are now available to book. Details are here: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-camp/summer-multi-sports-...

Get fit whilst your kids play rugby
Our community outreach team - Wimbledon in the Community - are running Boot Camps for adults on Sunday mornings at 9.45-10.45 and 11-12. More info here: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-class

Come and watch our 1st XV on Saturday Out 1st team are at home against Westcombe Park on Saturday, kick off is 3.00pm. Our U13s are on ball boy duties and there is always a decent crowd and it’s great for our kids to see where they could end up. Try highlights below from last week’s frustrating draw:

https://www.wimbledonrfc.co.uk/videos/highlights-vs-hertford-rfc-170864....

To buy a Wimbledon RFC-branded Opro mouthguard see details of how to order here.

The pitch plan for Sunday

Mouthguards

We've worked with world-leaders in gum shields, Opro, to design our own mouthguard.

Opro are the leading supplier of fitted mouthguards used by the NZ All Blacks, Wales RFU and England RFU.

Order your Wimbledon RFC gum shield here on the Opro website. There are sizes for all adults and youth/minis and remember, everyone from U9s upwards need mouthguards.

Use the discount code WimbledonRFC10 to receive 10% off.

As we get back into full stride we are starting to see matches and joint training fixtures taking place. How wonderful!

Second-hand kit
The second-hand kit stall is going great guns, but needs more kit. Please search cupboards and bring in any old club kit and boots. Do also come and buy kit!

Job opportunity for our youth players
Our Club Steward, Simon, is looking to employ a couple of youth members to manage the parking from about 1-5pm every other weekend (i.e. when the 1st XV are at home). He is paying £9 per hour. Enquiries direct to Simon at the clubhouse or simon040396@gmail.com.

Big second win for our 1st XV
Another commanding bonus point win for the 1st XV at home against Maidenhead last Saturday with the team sitting top of the table!. Try highlights: https://www.wimbledonrfc.co.uk/videos/highlights-vs-maidenhead-rfc-17062.... Next home game is 25th September at 3pm against Westcombe Park.

Mouthguards
Don't miss this opportunity to get perfectly-fitted mouthguards at the club! - You need to book your slot before Sunday (see below) to secure your slot. You can't just turn up on the day...

Particularly relevant for older kids in youth squads, Matt Pickin (U15 girls head coach) has arranged for Opro to visit the club THIS Sunday, 19 September, to take impressions etc. Note there's a 20% discount being offered to club members (Promo code = WIMRFC20). To benefit from this fitting at the club you need to go to https://www.opro.com/Catalogue/Mouthguard-Designs/School-and-Club-Design... and choose Wimbledon RFC, then choose "Impression Visit" amongst the other options, and then checkout. Don't forget to use the promo code! Remember, all kids from U9s upwards need mouthguards.

The pitch plan for Sunday

It was fantastic to see so many people back playing rugby last Sunday; the weather played its part too! Lots of news this week...

Pic credit: RFU Collection via Getty Images

Pay your subs!
Please get your annual subs paid asap. Should all be easy enough online via England Rugby (RFU) Game Management System (GMS) - click here but Nick Wright the Treasurer will be on hand on Sunday at the clubhouse to help anyone that wants to do it in person. By the end of the month: no pay – no play.

Mouthguards
Particularly relevant for older kids in youth squads, Matt Pickin (U15 girls head coach) has arranged for Opro to visit the club NEXT Sunday, 19 September, to take impressions etc. Note there's a 20% discount being offered to club members (Promo code = WIMRFC20). To benefit from this fitting at the club you need to go to https://www.opro.com/Catalogue/Mouthguard-Designs/School-and-Club-Design... and choose Wimbledon RFC, then choose "Impression Visit" amongst the other options, and then checkout. Don't forget to use the promo code! Remember, all kids from U9s upwards need mouthguards.

Get fit whilst your kids play rugby
Our community outreach team - Wimbledon in the Community - are running Boot Camps for adults starting this Sunday. There are two sessions: 9.45-10.45 and 11-12. More info here: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-class

If your kids are new to rugby? No problem
We run a Tag-only group for older boys and girls U10s-U13s who are new(er) to rugby and would like more support in learning tackling and other aspects of the game. Just turn up to the Tag Group shown on the pitch plan at 9.30 to find out more or email kidstag@wmrfc.co.uk

Touch rugby on Wednesday evenings for youth kids
Mark Essex, an U13 coach and Youth Director of Rugby, is running touch rugby training sessions from 6pm at the club for 1 hour. It is aimed at those kids that don’t play much or any school rugby. It is free of charge and aimed at U12-U15s but I’m sure anyone will be welcome. More info via dor@wmrfc.co.uk

Welcome to our new physio
There is a new physio at the club, Luke Bowen (07583 947466). He'll be building a team over the coming weeks. Welcome, Luke.

Parking
The car parks will be full by 9.20am - probably earlier. If you know you are arriving after this please park off-site and not on the private roads around the club. Here's our parking policy.

Great start for the 1st XV
Big win on the opening weekend for the 1st XV away at Tring. The link below has all of the tries and the club welcomes all parents and kids to come down and watch home games on Saturday afternoons. The next home game is this Saturday (11 September) against Maidenhead, 3pm kick off.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CTdLMKaHEsd/

DBS checks for new coaches and those with expired DBSs
Our Child Safeguarding team - Sophie Castle and Kate Singleton - will be at the club this Sunday from 9am to do DBS checks for new coaches/anyone needing to renew. Details about which documents you need to bring are here: http://wmrfc.co.uk/childprot

The pitch plan for Sunday

As part of the Pitch up for Rugby campaign to start the new season, Wimbledon RFC welcomed Eddie Jones to the club on Saturday 4th September. More on Twitter #PitchupforRugby.

Over 200 kids and coaches enjoyed a brilliant morning of coaching tips, bacon butties and selfies.

Best wishes to the 1st XV in their first game of the season away at Tring and to the Womens XV who are celebrating their 30th anniversary today