Season’s Greetings from Hailey Road!
We are ending 2025 in style at Witney RFC, with fantastic things happening both on and off the pitch. And I warn you, this message is going to be filled with rugby themed Christmas puns…
Our Third team were unbeaten in November and, as winners of Tribute Ale’s Team of the Month, will be presented with a drinkable prize on Saturday. For a team that plays for fun and for the love of the game this is a great achievement and we look forward to celebrating their success with them at the weekend.
Last weekend we had no less than four squads out in action representing Witney, with some outstanding results. The 1st XV were victorious on Saturday, winning 43-31 against Longlevens. And on Sunday, the Academy boys romped to victory against Shipston 57-3, while the Angels went off to face the Banbury Belles, coming home with a stunning 56-5 scoreline. What a weekend!
It’s great to be able to report that three Academy players have made senior debuts for the Men’s teams in the lead up to Christmas, as well as four girls for the Senior Ladies. In addition three of the Academy boys have been called up to play for the County this season (George Boswell, Leon Young and Zack Gold) and eight more U17’s have been nominated for county trials starting in February. That is all home grown Witney talent, and shows that we have much to look forward to in 2026 and beyond.
At the other end of the spectrum, our oldest senior Men’s player is currently Ben McPherson at 44 years of age, while the oldest senior Lady is Captain Sarah Pentecost, who is still propping at 48! And Olly Topley has just played his first vets game at the grand age of 55! And then of course there are the Walkers…!
Away from the pitch, Matt Clarke (2nd team coach and player) took on a huge challenge, covering 70 miles carrying 42kg in 24 hours from London to Witney Rugby Club to raise money for Movember, the charity that raises both money and awareness for Men’s health. Great work Matt.
Across the club there have been Christmas parties and get-together galore, and festive themed fundraising on many of our pitches. The Cherubs enjoyed a pizza party night, and the U16 boys went off to RAF Brize Norton to try out some Dismounted Close Combat Training on the base! The parents of the littlest players at the club enjoyed festive mince pies and mulled wine on Sunday after training, while the U13’s were selling some amazing festive bakes and the U8’s made Christmas cards to raise money for their tours. The U16 boys will also be joining the Wolves on the final training day of the year for some festive Touch. Santa hats will be mandatory.
The clubhouse is sparkling in black and blue decorations, and we will all be ‘Rucking around the Christmas tree’ as we enjoy the Christmas Chairman’s Lunch this coming Saturday. So, ‘Oh scrum all ye faithful’ to watch Witney First’s take on North Dorset, and the mighty Three’s against Gosford All Blacks II, while the Second team will be away at Faringdon - hopefully us Witney fans will be both ‘joyful and triumphant’! As if that wasn’t enough, we will all be digging out our festive knitwear for our annual Christmas jumper night in the evening.
As always we want to thank our sponsors players, coaches, clubhouse staff and members and for all that they do to make Witney RFC the place it is. A place of friendship and community, and at this time of year what more can you ask for than that?
From all of us at Hailey Road, may we wish you a Try-mendous Christmas, and we look forward to more mud, more fun, more friendship and more wins in 2026. See you all there.
Andy
We are ending 2025 in style at Witney RFC, with fantastic things happening both on and off the pitch. And I warn you, this message is going to be filled with rugby themed Christmas puns…
Our Third team were unbeaten in November and, as winners of Tribute Ale’s Team of the Month, will be presented with a drinkable prize on Saturday. For a team that plays for fun and for the love of the game this is a great achievement and we look forward to celebrating their success with them at the weekend.
Last weekend we had no less than four squads out in action representing Witney, with some outstanding results. The 1st XV were victorious on Saturday, winning 43-31 against Longlevens. And on Sunday, the Academy boys romped to victory against Shipston 57-3, while the Angels went off to face the Banbury Belles, coming home with a stunning 56-5 scoreline. What a weekend!
It’s great to be able to report that three Academy players have made senior debuts for the Men’s teams in the lead up to Christmas, as well as four girls for the Senior Ladies. In addition three of the Academy boys have been called up to play for the County this season (George Boswell, Leon Young and Zack Gold) and eight more U17’s have been nominated for county trials starting in February. That is all home grown Witney talent, and shows that we have much to look forward to in 2026 and beyond.
At the other end of the spectrum, our oldest senior Men’s player is currently Ben McPherson at 44 years of age, while the oldest senior Lady is Captain Sarah Pentecost, who is still propping at 48! And Olly Topley has just played his first vets game at the grand age of 55! And then of course there are the Walkers…!
Away from the pitch, Matt Clarke (2nd team coach and player) took on a huge challenge, covering 70 miles carrying 42kg in 24 hours from London to Witney Rugby Club to raise money for Movember, the charity that raises both money and awareness for Men’s health. Great work Matt.
Across the club there have been Christmas parties and get-together galore, and festive themed fundraising on many of our pitches. The Cherubs enjoyed a pizza party night, and the U16 boys went off to RAF Brize Norton to try out some Dismounted Close Combat Training on the base! The parents of the littlest players at the club enjoyed festive mince pies and mulled wine on Sunday after training, while the U13’s were selling some amazing festive bakes and the U8’s made Christmas cards to raise money for their tours. The U16 boys will also be joining the Wolves on the final training day of the year for some festive Touch. Santa hats will be mandatory.
The clubhouse is sparkling in black and blue decorations, and we will all be ‘Rucking around the Christmas tree’ as we enjoy the Christmas Chairman’s Lunch this coming Saturday. So, ‘Oh scrum all ye faithful’ to watch Witney First’s take on North Dorset, and the mighty Three’s against Gosford All Blacks II, while the Second team will be away at Faringdon - hopefully us Witney fans will be both ‘joyful and triumphant’! As if that wasn’t enough, we will all be digging out our festive knitwear for our annual Christmas jumper night in the evening.
As always we want to thank our sponsors players, coaches, clubhouse staff and members and for all that they do to make Witney RFC the place it is. A place of friendship and community, and at this time of year what more can you ask for than that?
From all of us at Hailey Road, may we wish you a Try-mendous Christmas, and we look forward to more mud, more fun, more friendship and more wins in 2026. See you all there.
Andy
Witney RFC Chairman
07585 114092
The Club will be closed for the Christmas Holidays from Monday 22nd December and reopening on Tuesday 6th January 2026.
