OK it might be an adapted form for now, but this is a huge step forward for all of us in rugby.
We look forward to welcoming back our existing players, as well as encouraging new players to give us a try at training tomorrow night.
COVID has been a difficult period for all of us at the club. It certainly was not what we had planned for our 50 year celebration. However as always we choose to focus on the positives and give thanks to those valuable players, volunteers, committee members and sponsors of our club that have helped us to adapt and overcome.
Despite being unable to play and compete on the pitch, thanks to the people we have, we were still able to make unbelievable strides off it.
With social distancing in place during the first lockdown, the senior players found ways to be together through various online challenges on their WhatsApp groups.
When restrictions eased, they took ownership of moving & painting the goalposts in what was an unbelievable team effort!
A small group adhering to government guidelines managed to plant 600 laurels around the perimeter of our field to improve the environment.
Saturday Man Club was born (and adjusted as needed, pending rules at the time) in order to help and preserve players physical and mental well-being.
It would be wrong to say we on this one… Kevin Cooper increased our online presence with a wonderful website, youtube channel and production of the clubs first podcast. He has now enabled our members for the first time to be able to pay membership online!
Brett Smith’s podcast ‘Over the Bar’ has been a great way for us to look back, reflect and get back in contact with members of the past, to make sure those old stories get heard and people can remain part of our community and history George Walker has worked tirelessly throughout, meeting and securing valuable sponsorship through some very tough times, as well as putting together the members discount packages.
Our new treasurer Rob Huntley not only led the partnership with our new clothing line supplied SRG Elite and the online club shop. He has spent many hours looking at figures, balances, furlough requirements, meeting with brewery & utility suppliers, all in a bid to find the best solutions at a very bleak time.
In the first lockdown our club made the papers with our “Hakas & Haircuts” initiative, where members would post their videos of them either doing the Haka or getting their haircut, all in a bid to raise money for the NHS.
In the second lockdown our lads went further again, this time raising money for Movember.
Yes COVID is rubbish… but it has brought us all closer together and made us focus on the areas we could improve.
We are still not out of the woods yet, but moving to a form of 15 man rugby is great news for all of us at Canvey Rugby Club! Thanks to everyone that has supported us in getting to this point!
Senior training tomorrow night, get along and join a very special club!
Alex Breading
Director of Rugby
Canvey Island Rugby Club
Dovervelt Road
SS8 8EJ
7:30pm
