Skipper’s Review

We’ve had nearly a month of pre-season training and I’d like to reflect briefly on how it’s gone. Lawrence has given us the figures for attendance and in all honesty, every session bar one has been massive. Even on the one night where numbers were slightly down, Lawrence was contacted by 14 guys who had a reason why they couldn’t make it (they heard it was a sprint session and so on!). I think everyone now realises how important communication is to a squad and that without it, we can’t progress.

As last nights players meeting demonstrates, progress is what we all want and you will be fined for standing in its way - even for wearing cheap white boots!  It’s great to see so many new faces at the club and likewise development squad players stepping up to senior rugby.

I think, as I hope you all agree, the structure of the training sessions so far has been fantastic. They are fun but hard work, short but intensive and they are already showing us what we can achieve if we remain committed and focussed. There will be no team fitter or better prepared than us come late August. We are going to be a force this season - from 1st XV through to the Development XV - of this I have no doubt.

On the social side, we’ve set up a Players Social Committee which had its first meeting last Thursday, 26th June. Our next meeting is at the end of July after which we will be announcing some events and dates for the coming season. Lawrence has already mentioned the training session followed by BBQ on 23rd August and please make your best efforts to attend. Watch this space for there are numerous things on the cards…!

The important thing now is to keep our levels of effort and morale as high as they are. This has to run right through pre-season and into the season proper through to April next year. We will reap the rewards.

I am proud to have the opportunity of captaining a great bunch of lads and I want to thank you for your support and effort to date.  We must continue to take advantage of the opportunity we’ve been given and take great pride in Ripon RUFC because, the fact is, we are it and it is us.