Fixtures:
The 1st XV travel to Portobello (Cavalry Park) for a 3 p.m kick-off, hoping to replicate last season’s 35-7 away victory. Travelling support as always welcomed, though we could understand why some of you might prefer the shorter hop to watch our 2nd XV take on Inverleith at home.

Availabilities:
We all love the Inverleith derby (aptly named El Botanico by Paul Holland some seasons ago), but in order to ensure we get our two best sides out on Saturday, it’s important we get our availabilities into Calum Miller and Michael Mawdsley promptly. It only takes 2 minutes on here (if you’re reading this, go do it now!) or if you’re feeling lazy, post it on one of our numerous Facebook messages -seriously though, go do it now.

Training:
On Tuesday and Thursday, from 6.30 p.m training is taking place as usual at the Bunker and this is the last month where we’ll have full daylight to operate in. Will is going to be down once more to take the sessions with Chris, so it’s important to get the numbers out to make it worth everyone’s while! Session details not certain at the moment, but there’ll be contact involved (remember your gum shields) and we’ll be looking to work on some things that didn’t quite click on Saturday ahead of the weekend.

Thursday Specific:
It’d be brilliant if we could have as many bodies down ahead of the fixture against Portobello and Inverleith so we can get a full team run against a significant amount of opposition. Even if your injured or unavailable come Saturday, you can still hold a pad! There’s no underestimating how effective it can be running against opposition, for both 1st and 2nd XVs, and we’ll look to take the boost from a big Thursday session into the opening fixtures of our league campaign.

Den Haag 10’s:
For those who didn’t see it on Facebook, whilst the 1st XV went down valiantly to Leith, the Gents side triumphed at the second time of asking at the Den Haag 10’s tournament. Credit to all who travelled, and we’ve now got a massive (seriously it’s huge) trophy to put somewhere in our new bar. Thankfully, we've now got the space. Well done chaps!

Committee:
Tonight (Monday, 29/08/2016) sees the monthly committee meeting. For any member of the club not on committee but wanting to bring something to its attention, feel free to approach the appropriate member (Drew, Wilson, Callum, Michael etc) with your suggestion, be it post-match food, events suggestions or even beer selection!

Gossip:
A quiet one was had by all (in a Northern sense), with Saturdays afternoon exertions along with Fringe activities taking a toll on the off-field playing numbers. Nicknames were handed out to new playing members Adam Ozay (Donner), Alan Burns (MacAuley) and Euan Stirling (Sinky), who nobly - with the exception of the latter - saw off their boots in a respectable time. Sunday morning saw an in depth discussion on feet in the Whatsapp group.

Hopefully more exciting things to come at the weekend, on all fronts!

Yours in rugby,

ENRFC