Hello everyone and welcome to our Spring 2025 newsletter. There is a lot of good stuff happening but first up is huge congratulations to Nick and his partner Jade on the birth of their son Edward Charles Parrott. Weighing in at 9lbs 3oz, we may have a potential front rower for the future.

1. Playing Update

On the playing front the fantastic news is that second team the Wyverns are champions of Group 1 Automotive Merit Table Division 3 West, winning 12 games, scoring 450 points with 35 different players getting on the scoresheet. Even better news is that a league and Cup double is still on after a semi-final win over Campion 2s.

The 2s will be joined by the 3s, the Thirsty Thirds, at Merit Tables Finals Day on April 5 at Rochford RFC. We are the only club in Essex County to have two teams in action on the day with the Wyverns facing Ilford Wanderers and the 3s playing Ravens in their respective finals. The Thirds finished second in Group 1 Automotive Merit Table Division 4 West with seven victories. Good luck to both teams on finals day.

More good news is that five of our Vixens, Sorcha Caudery, Freya Challis, Ella David, Steph Smith and Lucy Thomas, have been called into the Essex squad for the Gill Burns County Championship. Their first game is against Sussex at Thurrock RFC on May 17. Go well Vixens.

Talking of call-ups, a massive well done to 1st XV hooker Senad Kurtaj who made his debut for the Albanian national side on March 15 against Kosovo. Senna scored two tries in an 88-0 win in Istog, western Kosovo. We hope this is just the start of his international career.

2. Finance Update

Fire Dynamics Group Ltd has become our latest club sponsor, supporting our Titans juniors. They are an independent fire engineering consultancy with extensive experience in fire strategy design across all sectors of the building industry here and abroad. We welcome them to the East London family.

This season, to keep the club afloat, we have had to increasingly rely on sponsors. The membership subscriptions and match fees we collect does not cover what we have to pay out on a monthly basis – rent, matchday food, laundry, coach travel, physiotherapy and referees to name but a few. If you are asked, please pay any match and coach fees and kit debts promptly. Always remember though, talk to your captains or a member of the management committee if you are having difficulty paying.

3. Socials Update

The quiz night earlier this month was a great laugh and raised some much-needed funds for the club. There’s a number of gatherings taking place around the Women’s Six Nations matches (see the dates on our networking channels and groups), but the next big date on the calendar is May 31 with the end of season awards and dinner. The Hog Roast Company (non-meat options will be available) is booked once again so watch out for details of how to purchase your tickets.

4. Bits and Pieces

a. Those of you who were at the club on Saturday (22 March) would have seen an interested spectator on the sidelines. Former England international Steffon Armitage who is now playing and running coaching academies in France was on hand to watch his brother-in-law Dan Bracken plays for the 1s, but he also watched the 2s in action. Steffon was impressed by the quality of the rugby from both teams, which is great feedback from a top player.

b. Hopefully you will have seen on the What’s App groups a link to a questionnaire as part of a research project on concussion management being carried out by Maliha Rahman, vice-captain of the Vixens Cubs. Maliha is part of the RFU’s Young Leader programme and her project is looking at whether the gender and size of rugby players is effectively reflected in current concussion protocols. Please help by completing the survey: https://forms.gle/b5UqZA1wHzM7THkPA

c. The club recently had a visit from RFU Chief Executive Bill Sweeney and chief officers from Allianz, the insurance partner of England RFU and who Twickenham Stadium, the home of England Rugby, is now named after. Allianz wanted to see a club at the coalface of community grassroots rugby where culture and diversity play a part. After meeting representatives of our Vixens Cubs and Titans Juniors, we hope they left us realising that rugby is a sport for everyone across all ages and backgrounds, not just the elite.

d. You may have heard that RFU Chief Executive Bill Sweeney survived a vote of no confidence at a Special General Meeting of the RFU on Thursday (March 27). A collective of clubs had forced the vote claiming the RFU had lost touch with the grassroots game. East London RFC voted against the motion and in favour of Mr Sweeney remaining in post. We accept there is much that can be changed at our level of the game, but the RFU have been very supportive of us as a club in so many areas. A second motion calling for the speeding up of planned reforms to devolve more power to the community game was agreed, which is good news.

Sic parvis magna!

Nick and Kat (Co-Chairs).