On Saturday 27th December Buckingham Rugby Club are hosting the fourteenth year of Christmas Rugby and the eleventh year from when Matty Harper and the Pot Belly Farmers turned it into a fundraising opportunity for good causes. Last year we raised over £2,500 and we hope to do more of the same in 2014.

This year the nominated charities are Myeloma UK in memory of Adrian Barton and also the Cynthia Spencer Hospice in memory of club Vice President, past player and coach, Mike Dawson. Both Mike and Adrian lost battles to different forms of cancer and both well before their time. As always we support the Kirk Nokes memorial fund as it continues to give back to young rugby players.

The event has changed a number of times since its inception and it’s fair to say the tournament has become one of the big social events of the rugby season. This year we are fielding 8 “local” teams including Old Latins and Akeley Wood Old Boys and another new comer to the competition in the shape of Chinnor Vets. The rugby will be played as a two pool competition with a final and play-offs for 3rd and 4th place. The first games kick off at 1pm.

Whilst players pay to play we ask all spectators to buy a programme for a minimum £5 donation. Children under 16 are admitted free.

Huge thanks to our Referees, Graham Hain, Jeremy Stewart-Cox, Andrew Jackson and Pop Robinson. Finally our thanks also to Mark Gann of Fulwell Foods for donating some of the BBQ products and Ross Collins of James Ross Consulting for donating the IPad Air as our main raffle prize.

There will be a BBQ, hot soups and mulled wine through the day whilst later in evening local band “The Cantells” takes centre stage. Bar closes at midnight so leave your cars at home!