It's been great to see our members joining in activities, improving & maintaining their fitness. We continue to open the club house facilities only for social use on a Thursday & Saturday or by arrangement at other times. All lower floor facilities remain closed at all times.

We are not quite there as far being able to affect a pre-season and the RFU community game update confirmed Tuesday somewhat predictively this would not be September. We remain in ‘2b’ which is strictly small groups of up to 6 who then maintain social distancing within that group. To make it clear they used these terms: “we currently remain at Stage B on our Return to Community Roadmap. This means the only activity permitted is socially distanced non-contact activity in maximum group sizes of 6. For avoidance of doubt, this means no scrum training, tackle training or any other form of contact rugby and also means that touch and tag activity is not permitted”
The full Community game update is found here

Returning to Rugby has started being formulated by those who look after key areas. Although meaningful rugby activity may be some weeks away and competitive rugby even further, making sure we are compliant, ready for return is important so we can get going with it just as soon as we can. Look out for updates in the coming weeks!

Many have remained independently active which is superb. Phillip Tosh from one of our age grade teams is currently raising money for teenage cancer charity, having previously been affected by this himself running 100 miles, if you would like to know more or contribute you can here.

We would like to thank some key volunteers who have helped us reach where we are I able to open for activity and socially. Socially distanced practical assistance, cleaning, maintenance/ painting by Bob Carnell, Xander Collins, Ben Howard, Aisha Robinson & Isla Collins. Len Taylor on top of helping with this has helped implement guidance and forged a way that the club entered fitness activity and now helping age grade coaches, team at a time return to activity. There will be plenty more opportunities to help as rugby returns and the increased focus around cleaning equipment. This will include new roles as such as ball washers before, during and after training/ games! If you are a supporter/ parent and can help with these roles, please let your team manager or contact Chris Tosh as Rugby Safe Lead 07504903487 or email by clicking here

A date for your diary is Rugbyforce weekend which we can now announce as September the 5th & 6th! We hope to make the most of this opportunity with some work to enhance pitch 4 with the hope this will be utilised more for evening games and should also provide an asset for training. Alongside this we should be engaging in more meaningful rugby activity and use it as an opportunity to promote the club to returning & new players as well as the community. Let us know if your available via Aisha Robinson our volunteer coordinator 07403149678 or email by clicking here

The news was also shared this week that the RFU are drastically restructuring their Rugby development support. We are unsure what the new model will be, but it will include more online learning rather than courses. Richie Young has been known in the club by many over the years for his support and delivery. The redundancies do affect him, and we would like to thank him for his help and wish him well in his future career whichever form that takes. Thanks Richie!

Social we continue to have people using the lounge and enjoying each other’s company. Thursday & Saturdays are currently busiest times and Fridays are open by arrangement. We are looking at some table-based activities which may engage people when they are here. We have successfully trailed the use of televised sport and of low background music whilst maintaining the government guidance. These can now be used as appropriate. Our bar trade although drastically reduced is a primary source of income – and your support is vital!

Last week’s update was extensive in reviewing what we can do and not. These all remain the same ( Last weeks update). Let’s maintain the spirit of compliance. Use friendly reminders to each other. Don’t diminish the fact these precautions are in everyone’s health interest and have not been lightly implemented. We all agree the current measures are not our preference but are in ours, our family and communities’ interest! Katie Fox has been making some face masks which have the Acklam crest on, if you would like to contact her on 07516945660

Financially we have been managing our monies, making the most of schemes such as furlough/ part furlough and reduced our outgoings where possible. Additional external support has been difficult to secure as in many ways we do not achieve the criteria, how ever continue to seek it where possible.

The suspension of rugby and trading at a premium time of year financially not just hindered any improvements and projects we all anticipated but also means we have a reduced capacity to invest in the upcoming resumption of playing.

Continued payment or renewal of membership fees being paid is vital to the club and a keyway for us to take responsibility for our club, as is maintaining the supporters draw subscriptions – thank you! Congratulations to last months winners Alan Francis & Claire Freemantle. We look forward to the big draw at the end of this month.

Sponsorship arrangements were in many cases part of a 2 year agreement, and with a reduced footfall currently it is difficult to negotiate repeat or renewal till we reach the stage where we resume meaningful rugby or improved footfall which will come when we reach other phases in returning to normality. If you have sponsored previously and are able to do so, it would be gratefully appreciated if you renewed, even if you are within an agreed term possibly extending it! If you are aware of anyone who potentially would sponsor, please let us know. Mark Collins coordinates this so please let him know, as at this time it even more appreciated. 07519433539 email here

We are reviewing our shirt (number within a team) & potentially player sponsorships and will be releasing details of this soon. Shirt sponsorship is always a vital sponsorship for us and potentially critical in our return due to the proposals of shirt changes during a match. Although this has revolved around the 1st XV squad, we will consider how this can be expanded. We would like to thank Howard Thompson (club captain 83-85) who has been the first, pledging shirt sponsorship during lockdown. We are sure many of our loyal sponsors will also and hopefully some new ones.

One way in which you could further support is loading your membership card. Rather than just giving money this purely means its there for you to use when you are here or return. A number of members have already pledged to do this around the figure of £50. This further relieves pressure on cash flow. We are also exploring the viability of crowdfunding and hope to update everyone soon.

With many aspects of the running of the club on pause during the current climate, being unable to host our AGM at our usual time in May has had minor impact due to being inactive. A feasible AGM should when the majority who are eligible to vote can discuss and elect officials & captains. If a relaxation in gatherings does not happen soon it may mean other ways to achieve maintaining the rules governed by incorporation are taken. We will be considered all ways of adhering to these including reviewing new legislation governing incorporation introduced due to the current situation. We hope to clarify this over the coming weeks as we know it's in our members minds.

Our intrepid charity bike riders set out again on the 14th of August. Stephen Elsworth (President) is raising money via sponsorship for his Grandsons (Leo) school who specialise in working with children who are autistic (Beaumont Hill). If you would like to sponsor him, you can contact him on 07714473336. You may have heard that Paul Coxon, who organises the ride had a fall on his bike and was hospitalised whilst doing the Yorkshire beast. If things go well, he is hoping to be home soon. Given the injuries Paul sustained this is great news, but if that was the state of him, we’d hate to see how the beast looked! – we wish him well and swift recovery!

Take care and hope to see you soon!

#UTA #Thebestwecanbe #goodclubgoodatrugby

If you have any news to share along with our weekly updates, please let us know via Mark 07519733539 email