New season looms for Stratford touch rugby team - The Stratford Observer

New season looms for Stratford touch rugby team

Stratford Editorial 24th Jan, 2017   0

AFTER a well earned Christmas break, Stratford Ladies touch rugby team begin training on Tuesday in preparation for the 2017 Midlands Touch League running from March to October.

The team will start the new season with a new coach – former Stratford 1st and 2nd team captain Richard Pepperell – and a fresh focus.

The ladies’ touch team at Stratford RFC has been running for four years and the last couple of those have been extremely successful.

The team set themselves targets at the beginning of last season – to retain the North East League and to win one Super Sunday (where the two sides of the Midlands League come together).




Team selection throughout the year was made to best achieve these goals and both were realised.

Over the past year the squad has been made up of players from complete beginners to England players, from 16 years old to around 40.


A number of players were recruited during the year, with the last ones joining in September only a month before the end of the season, and it was a baptism of fire for these players as their first tournament ended up being the league finale.

This good, deep player base proved invaluable in tournaments but some of those players were not available for the whole season nor were they always able to train with the Stratford team due to training elsewhere, as some play in contact teams and England representative touch rugby.

This season Stratford are looking to maintain their excellent standards whilst developing their player base to ensure long-term sustainability.

Stratford have set themselves the target of developing their current pool of players and recruiting new players so they are able to maintain a second team by the end of the season.

Therefore, if you fancy a new challenge, love playing a team sport and like the idea of developing new skills whilst meeting new friends, contact the club for more details or attend training on Tuesday, January 31.

Search Stratford-upon-Avon RFC Touch Rugby on Facebook or visit www.pitchero.com/clubs/stratforduponavon, click on ‘teams’ and then ‘ladies’ rugby’.

Training takes place at Pearcecroft, Loxley Road, between 6.30-8pm.

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