As Head of Rugby, I wanted to share a club-wide update reflecting on where we are at the moment. It is a mixed message, with both positives to celebrate and challenges to be open about across the club.

The Women’s section continues to establish itself as a real force in the area. With new faces joining, the squad is in a very strong position as the second half of the season progresses. Winning is becoming a habit, and the progress being made in both league and cup competitions has been brilliant to see.

This success is, of course, down to the players’ attitude and aptitude, but it is also in no small part due to the drive and commitment of the coaching team led by Kyle. Kyle has been at the forefront of this squad for several seasons and, with family and work now demanding more of his attention, he is taking a well-earned break - leaving the squad in excellent stead. I am sure everyone across the club joins me in thanking Kyle and his family for their outstanding contribution.

Work is also ongoing to grow our Mini and Youth sections. To support this, we have formed partnerships with both the Northampton Saints and Bedford Blues Foundations, who are actively representing the club in local schools to increase participation and, ultimately, encourage local youngsters to join our club. While this work is still in its infancy, it will continue to develop over the coming seasons, and we have already welcomed several new youngsters into our age groups.

We cannot shy away from the fact that the Men’s section has been going through a very difficult period in terms of results, and the past five or six weeks have not been easy. We all know that when we get our ducks in a row, we are capable of competing towards the top of the league. However, at the last count, we have had up to 17 players unavailable through injury. While every club faces injury challenges, losing several senior players at the same time has had a significant impact, as it would at most clubs at this level.

There is light ahead, however, as we hope several of those long-term injury issues will soon be coming to an end.

The whole club truly appreciates the support from the sidelines - perhaps even more so when times are tough - so whenever you can, please continue to support all our squads. Together, as one club, we will continue to push forward and build on the strong foundations already in place.

Paul Allen
Head of Rugby