Mini's Rugby
It’s been a busy season for the rapidly expanding Minis section at the club, with more boys (and girls) turning up week after week swelling the ranks to over 70 players.
Sunday mornings in Colley Lane are becoming something of a tradition, with some great tag rugby action on the pitches and some stunning views, a great atmosphere (not to mention cracking bacon sandwiches!) inside and outside the club house.
The traditional end of season April/May period saw the Reigate Minis in action both at home and away: 11 boys and Dads took part in the massive Ventnor Minis Rugby Festival on the Isle of Wight in late April, ending up narrow runners-up in the Plate competition in a tightly fought final where they lost 5-6. This was an extremely creditable performance, given that, for many players, this was their first season playing rugby.
Minis chairman Julian Griffiths said: “The Isle of Wight festival showed how far the U7s have come in a short space of time. To finish runners-up in the Plate competition, out of 16 very capable teams, bodes well for the future and sets a standard for us to aim for next year. And it was great fun, too, of course!”
Three weeks later, on Sunday 5 May, the entire Minis section participated in the Reigate Priory Sports Festival in Priory Park where their usual 10am-11.30am practice session was held, impressing the hundreds of people attending the multi-sport event. Parents were on hand to tell other Mums and Dads about the club and recruit new members.
As if 90 minutes of tag rugby wasn’t enough, many club members lined up at midday for the annual YMCA Fun Run around Priory Park with a number of boys haring round the 1 mile course in a little over 8 minutes. Congratulations to all those who represented their club so well, notably Sam Howell who was right up with the leaders and the first of ‘our boys’ to cross the line, followed by Adam Garcia and Tom Hill.
Unlike many clubs, our Mini section will continue training beyond the end of the ‘normal’ season right up to the end of the Summer school term at the end of July.
Just three weeks later, we are holding our annual Minis Summer Rugby Camp – at Colley Lane – over three day from Wednesday 15th to Friday 17th August inclusive. Anyone who is interested in their son or daughter taking part should contact Julian Griffiths on 0775 499 2868. The course will cover the entire range of skills and be run by RFC trained coaches – the cost for the three days is £50 (or £20 a day).
For the grown-ups, there are plenty of excuses to get involved either by helping out on Sunday mornings or by helping in the running of the Minis section. The next committee meeting takes place at the Club House on the 17th May.
July 13th sees another annual fixture in the Club’s calendar: The Reigate Rugby Golf Day, which is being held this year at Reigate & Redhill Golf Club. Contact Julian Griffiths (above) or Andrew Rammage on 07973 175497 for more details of what promises to be a great day’s golf.
