Yesterday morning, Manor Fields played host to something a little different as Bletchley Academy welcomed Milton Keynes RUFC for a joint training fixture. Instead of the traditional local derby rivalry, players from both clubs were mixed together to form two ‘Barbarian’ teams – creating an excellent opportunity for the boys to step out of their comfort zones and experience rugby from a fresh perspective.

What followed was a fiercely contested and exciting encounter, with both sides giving their all in a match that ended 27–28. While the scoreline shows just how evenly matched the game was, the true victory came in the way the boys integrated, worked hard for each other, and enjoyed their very first real taste of playing together.

Ron Henry, Bletchley Academy Director, summed up the afternoon perfectly:
“Whilst this fixture is usually a local derby, this interaction proved a huge success. The players all played well, learned lots, and had a really competitive match.”

The aim of sessions like this is clear – to ensure that young players continue to play rugby, to nurture their love and passion for the game, and to build a pathway that keeps them engaged in the sport and developing as players and young men - something that was reinforced by Bletchley’s Chief Rugby Officer, Paul Allen, who spoke to the players at the end of the match.

Yesterday’s game showed exactly what can be achieved when two clubs come together with shared values and a commitment to their players. As ever, rugby is about more than just the score; it’s about creating opportunities, friendships, and memories that will last well beyond the final whistle.

To any prospective players who are interested in joining our Academy setup, we’d love to welcome you into the Bletchley RUFC family. Please get in touch with Ron Henry at academy@bletchleyrugby.com to find out more. If you are keen to join us, the Academy Train Thursdays at 6:30PM and Sunday Morning at 11:00AM when there are no fixtures.

We also have thriving Minis and Juniors sections across an number of different age groups – so if you’d like to get your child involved in rugby at Bletchley, please email our Mini & Juniors Director, Dave Clark, at MiniandJuniorsDirector@bletchleyrugby.com for more details.

Finally, the whole club sends its best wishes to Bletchley Academy Captain, Ivan. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the pitch, leading from the front again soon.