By Tracey Spuyman
At Haywards Heath Rugby Club not only are the senior squad back training and enjoying the competitive element that 10-man touch rugby allows, but most junior age groups have also been enjoying weekly fitness training interspersed with rugby skills as allowed under the recently updated stage D of the RFU roadmap. The Club has been a trailblazer in the way it has adopted and publicised its return with evolving Covid-19 protocols and a series of videos posted on the Club’s social media channels and website which show how the senior squad has been able to enjoy a return to rugby, albeit in a new, previously unfamiliar, environment.
Commenting on the Club’s position, Mark Newey, HHRFC Chairman, said: “I am proud of the way all of our coaching teams from the seniors right down through the junior age groups have adopted the new protocols as specified by the Board, and it has been fabulous to see so many age groups back enjoying rugby in its current form. Of course following promotion to London 1 South we are all hoping that the new season will be able to start for real in the not too distant future but, however far off that may be at the moment, the main thing is to make sure that the values of rugby continue to thrive and players of all ages and abilities can reconnect with rugby and the Club. Rugby is a great way to get fit and stay fit while making new friends, and I would encourage anyone interested in playing to come along to Heath and find out more.”
Junior rugby for ages U12 to U16 and Colts (U17-18) returned to regular Sunday training on 6th September with all remaining mini age groups returning the following week, allowing all coaches time to gain from the experience of their colleagues as to how best to adapt the latest protocols for the younger age groups. Although competitive matches will be limited initially, the Club will endeavour to make sure that regular rugby continues to be the sport that promotes fitness and well-being and benefits from the values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship for all those who choose to play.
Despite the hiatus caused by Covid-19, HHRFC’s mission to build a new multi-sports clubhouse at Whitemans Green has not diminished, instead emerging as even more urgent during these times of the pandemic, and the team behind the Clubhouse Fund continues to work towards the earliest possible start date for this invaluable asset for the Mid Sussex area.
With the ongoing commitment and involvement of Fairfax as Heath’s Main Club Sponsor and the guiding light behind the new build clubhouse plans, it is hoped other commercial and public partners and political goodwill will help our local grassroots rugby club drive this project to a successful completion, benefitting many different sports and social clubs across the local community and the future health and well-being of all in the area for years to come.