I would like to extend a personal welcome to you all for our new season. I look forward to seeing members old and new at Silver Leys for what promises to be an exciting season for Bishop’s Stortford RFC.
As always we will have our challenges, such as a very dry summer impacting pitches and of course the unavoidable cost increases we face, as you will all be facing at home. None will be as difficult to manage as the pandemic. It is a credit to the team at BSRFC that we have come through 2020-2022 ready and able to be playing rugby and enjoy socialising at the club fully once more.
There are changes that you will see. Our major project to improve services to the club house and to create new and extensive changing facilities has commenced. There will be some disruption early in the season but we will keep this to a minimum.
Thank you to all who supported our Centenary fund raising which has contributed greatly to the overall cost. The club will continue to look to raise additional funds to complete the overall project.
We also have some new (or not so new) faces taking on significant roles.
Len Lindop who many of you know as our Honorary Treasurer has become our new President. He has held many roles at the club from Youth Coach to Trustee. Len has taken over the President’s role from Mick Coleman who did a fine job (hard act to follow Len).
Nikky Wilkins has become Chair of Mini rugby, Ian Simpson has been confirmed as Lead forwards coach for the new season following a successful return last year.
And of course we have had some changes in playing staff with several notable retirees and 10 new players signing on for our 1st XV for whom we wish every success, and we have a number of Colts making the transition to 1st XV/Blues squads. We will all be looking forward to cheering you on.
One of the great successes of recent seasons has been our growth in Girls and Ladies Rugby. Carly Poyser and her team ably supported by my predecessor Colin Tilley have made fantastic progress and we look forward to more growth and success this season.
We are rightly proud that we can field 5 Senior Men’s teams plus Ladies, Colts, Boys and Girls Youth at every age level, and a huge Mini section. It does not stop there as our Touch rugby group keeps growing. No wonder with over 850 playing members one of our challenges is pitch space at weekends. Thank you to our Sponsors who support us to ensure we can play competitive rugby at all levels and ages.
As you will no doubt have seen in the national press, head injuries and concussion in rugby have been brought in to focus by some high-profile cases. Please be assured we are taking this very seriously and fully supporting the RFU drive for greater awareness and training plus compliance with rest periods following injury. The “Headcase” campaign launched last year is gathering pace. I would urge all players, Parents, Coaches, Parent helpers and all types of volunteer and official to take the short “Headcase” course which is accessible via the RFU website. Let’s all be safe in Rugby.
The National League 1 kicks off for us with a home match against Hull (newly promoted) on 3rd September. Please come along and support. As ever our match day team will be hosting the fabulous “match day lunches” in the marquee. If you fancy lunch before the games contact bsrfclunches@gmail.com
Have a great season with us at BSRFC.

Steve Dunkley
Chairman