Parents v Players 10.30am 9th Jan @ Bish

Happy New Year - All meet @ Bishopston School - 10.30am on Sunday 9th Jan' for the much awaited re-scheduled Parents v Players match.

Snow go for rugby - let's just party instead !

The snow has postponed the annual Parents v Players match until Sunday 9th January - 10.30am at Bishopston.

For those hardy souls that still fancy a Xmas Party with some games and presents, the club will open for us at 12pm Sunday 19th December.

Hope to see you there but if you are unable to make it, then have a great Xmas break and a Happy New Year.

Parents v Players 'Xmas Special' 10.45am Caswell Beach

It's that time of year again for the Mums and Dad's to don the santa hats and show the kids how it's really supposed to be done. (Please wear red of some description playing for the Parent's team)- old rugby players never die, they just pass away.

With the forecast likely to mean the pitches are unplayable once more, we aim to convene at our old haunt Caswell Beach. Meet in time to tag up (10.45am) and K.O for around 11.00am and back to the Rugby Club for festivities afterwards.

NEATH CANCELLED - BRING ON THE PARENTS!

Pitches are still frozen in Neath, so the game has been cancelled.

With the school term coming to a close this Friday 17th December , training at the School Gym is suspended until further notice in the New Year, as are games against other clubs over the festive break. We aim to hold a parents v players game on Sunday 19th though (more details on time and location to follow in the week).

With Tonna struggling to raise a team on the 9th Jan', the first training session back is likely to be on Friday 14th January at 5.30pm - but keep an eye on the blog for any further changes.

Neath Athletic Away 12th December

We have a chance of a repeat fixture of the Liberty Stadium match last Saturday (but this time for a full length game) to play Neath Athletic 10.30am AWAY this Sunday 12th December, with training in advance at Oystermouth Gym as usual on Friday 5.30pm to hone our skills and fitness.

Uplands game cancelled

Swansea Uplands RFC game is cancelled due to a frozen pitch.

Training ; LIBERTY STADIUM ; Uplands Away

Friday 3rd Dec': Training 5.3pm @ Oystermouth Gym
Saturday 4th Dec' : Meet Phil Jones and Lee Thomas at the club 4.30pm for the Bus leaving the club at 5pm or alternatively meet them outside the Liberty Stadium ticket office at 6pm.

Team to play Neath Athletic on Saturday:-

Price, Adam
(coming to MUMBLES RFC bus leaves 5pm for 6pm at Liberty)

Wood, Willis
(meeting at Liberty)

Draper Jones, Iestyn
(coming to MUMBLES RFC bus leaves 5pm for 6pm at Liberty)

Caplin, Luca
(coming to MUMBLES RFC bus leaves 5pm for 6pm at Liberty)

Lewis, Alex
(meeting at Liberty)

Trubey, Oliver
(coming to MUMBLES RFC bus leaves 5pm for 6pm at Liberty)

Jones, Ioan
(coming to MUMBLES RFC bus leaves 5pm for 6pm at Liberty)

Jenkins, Jamie
(coming to MUMBLES RFC bus leaves 5pm for 6pm at Liberty)

Rees, Alexander
(coming to LIBERTY STADIUM OUTSIDE CLUB SHOP)

Naylor, Josh
(coming to MUMBLES RFC bus leaves 5pm for 6pm at Liberty)


Sunday 5th Dec' : Swansea Uplands R.F.C. (AWAY) - meet 10.30am

Training Fridays Oystermouth Gym 5.30pm

Training will continue in Oystermouth Scool gym on Fridays 5.30pm until further notice.

This Sunday 28th November with no opposition available, we will have a training game amoungst ourselves at Bishopston - meet 10.30am as usual.

ST HELENS HERE WE COME !

I'm pleased to confirm that we play Swansea Uplands RFC at half time of the Swansea v Pontypridd match on Saturday. Meet at 10.30am by the Car Park entrance on Mumbles Rd.

I will provide discounted tickets at £5 per family which includes 2 Adult tickets, free entry for all U16's and also includes a free meal for each player (chicken nuggets and chips) after the Whites v Ponty game at the St Helens Clubhouse. Any further adults will need to purchase tickets at the usual price of £10 each on the gate (£8 for concessionary OAP/STUDENT). I will collect money and distribute the tickets during/after training 5.30pm-6.30pm this Friday at Oystermouth School gym - (or between 10.30-10.45am Saturday at the designated meeting point shown above).

All parents and children are also all cordially invited by Swansea RFC to stay on at the clubhouse to watch the Wales v South Africa game on the big screen (Kick Off 2.30pm). A servery providing food for purchase for all parents and siblings is also available within the clubhouse.

Directions for the ground

Any further queries or problems, then please don't hestitate to give me a ring or drop me a line.

Indoor training starts this week

Training resumes Friday 12th November and all Fridays thereafter until further notice, we will train indoors at OYSTERMOUTH SCHOOL GYM (it's the building on 'stilts' - entry underneath)- 5.30pm start.

This Saturday 13th November we play at St Helens against Swansea Uplands. Meet at 10.30am for half time kick off.

'Red Team' - PHIL & (Steve / Koert)
17 Mats
22 Georgia (c)
16 Josh
11 Iestyn
12 Harry
9 Sam
4 Oliver D
3 Jack


'Blue Team' - GRANT & (Tim / Gareth)
10 Joseph
13 Adam
8 Jamie (c)
14 Cameron
24 Morgan
23 Alex
15 Willis
25 Harrison


'Yellow Team' - LEE & (Sarah /Scott)
20 Ruben
7 Evan
1 Luca
2 Oliver T (c)
21 Kieran
5 Alexander
19 Ewan


We also host Morriston RFC at Bishopston School on Sunday 14th November - 10.30am meet up.

Predators (U7's) Fundraising night @ 'Charlies Bar'

Here's a message from the under 7s, who are coached by one of our sponsors Jon Price (Charlies Bar & Fitkitchens). Anyone interested contact Jon, Tracey or me asap.

The Mumbles Predators (U7's) are holding a fundraising "parent's night" on the Friday 12th November. The venue is Charlie's Bar & Dinning (www.charliesdining.co.uk), near Morgans Hotel in Swansea. Charlies has had some close sponsorship links with the minis at the club. Rachel at Charlies has kindly agree to give us the basement restaurant for the night, offering a quality three course hot buffet meal and music for £25 per head. Each £25 ticket sold will generate £5 for the Predators. Please text Tracy on 0777 303 5414 for ticket requests.

No training this week - Bonfire Night !

With the clocks having moved back and the winter nights drawing in we are taking this week off training to enjoy Bonfire night.

Training resumes on 12th November and all Fridays thereafter until further notice, we will train indoors at OYSTERMOUTH SCHOOL GYM 5.30pm start.

Next Saturday 13th November we play at St Helens against Swansea Uplands. Meet at 10.30am for half time kick off.

This Sunday 7th November we are away to Pontarddulais. Click HERE for directions. Meet 10.30am.

Oakfield Street
Pontarddulais
Swansea, SA4 8LW
Phone: (01792) 882489

Mumbles Vikings v South Gower 24th October 2010

Pontardawe RFC (Away) 31/10/10

We are away at Pontardawe RFC this Sunday. Ynisderw Road, Pontardawe, Swansea. SA8 4EG. 01792 864811. Meeting time is 10:30.

Directions are a little tricky (players often end up in the nearby Pontardawe Leisure Centre playing fields by accident). Take the A4067 out of Swansea, straight to Pontardawe. On the first roundabout at Ponty, take the second exit (still on A4067) then at the next roundabout (A474) take the exit on the right. This is a straight road, and a dead end, that takes you directly to the playing fields.

Map here, see green arrow for pitches.

Mumbles Vikings v Fall Bay 17th Oct 2010

Mumbles Vikings v Cwmtwrch

Mumbles Vikings v Gorseinon 10th Oct 2010

FALL BAY AWAY 17/10/10

Training this week is again Friday 5pm at Underhill, with an away fixture organised at Scurlage on Sunday to follow against FALL BAY RFC (since Bonymaen U8's have folded).

For directions click: http://www.fallbayrfc.co.uk/find-us/.

Meet at 10.30am for an 11am Kick Off.

Gorseinon Review

Some good skills on display today with good support of the ball carrier and quick passing when tagged. In defence there was also evidence of some determination to spread out and line up 'onside' to face the opposition at the point where each tag was made.

Especially well done to all 10 players who volunteered to play for Gorseinon to make up their numbers from 6 to 7, and to Evan and Jack who both played a man of the match performance for them! Well done to Cameron, Josh and Jack who all marshalled their respective teams very well in their roles as captains today to reinforce the above objectives.

A big thanks to Nigel Truby for assisting with the coaching today of one of our 3 teams from the squad of 21 players that turned out, and to Ginny for carrying on our 'Magic Sponge' and Sara for organising the lottery this week. Thanks to Kevin for volunteering to set up the flags and cones, and if I've forgotten to thank anyone apologies, - I know everyone helps in some way to set up and then pack up.

Our biggest thanks is reserved for Sam Ward-Jones and Rhian Broad who again braved the M.R.F.C kitchen for the second time this season to provide the players with our usual top quality post match sustinence. It's often a thankless task which can be taken for granted, but I've no doubt it's also very much appreciated by all players and parents. If you would like to actively show your appreciation and share the burden, then to contibute to the team's kitchen rota this season, please contact Tracy Price on 406221.

Rain stops play

Despite our best efforts the
rain has managed to put a stop to this week's training

and match. Fingers crossed

for dry weather next week

before I make a call to the Chinese air force.

Mumbles Vikings at the Liberty

Training 5pm @ Underhill ; Fall Bay (AWAY) Sunday 10.30am

A great result at the Liberty Stadium with a 5:2 win. With another ref taking charge in a more competative type tournament, it wasn't just rugby that was the winner this time! We are through to the next round and more details will be posted in due course for round 2.


Thanks to Matthew Gumpter and Steve Ace today for acting as a referee and coach respectively when we hosted Dunvant. The team really showed signs of development and improvement. It was great to see them dropping and spreading across the field after each tag, with a readiness to tag again and put Dunvant under pressure. When in possession it was also really pleasing to see the team supporting the ball carrier, and a number of great team tries were scored with quick passing as soon as they were tagged, (passing to their nearest team-mate in support and not just their best pals).


Training this week is again on Friday 01/10/10 at 5pm at Underhill - (and shall remain so from now on until advised otherwised).


Sunday 03/10/10 - we are AWAY to Fall Bay RFC with Phil and Lee as coaches. Directions for Fall Bay RFC - http://www.fallbayrfc.co.uk/find-us/

Training, Cwmtwch & Dunvant

Friday training 5pm @ Underhill ;

Match v Cwmtwch for those named below - Saturday 4.30pm @ MRFC for 5pm bus for those booked in below - or meet @ Liberty - 6pm (meet between club shop/ticket office);

Sunday - Bishopston @ 10.30am to play Dunvant RFC.

LIBERTY BUS FROM MRFC 25/09/10 - meet 4.30pm

Meet at MRFC at 4.30pm for the Liberty bus leaving at 5.00pm. (£1 / head as a possible contribution). We are now up to our max of 49. More people have asked for places, so if you need to pull out, please let me know as soon as possible to permit them a place instead.
Places are currently booked for :-
1. Jospeh Broad (4 seats)
5. Luca Caplin (2 seats)
7. Sam Ace (4 seats)
11. Andrew Rees (1 seat)
12. Oliver Truby (4 seats)
16. Georgia Davies (3 seats)
19. Evan Thomas (4 seats)
23. Ruben Vincent (5 seats)
28. JAck CW (3 seats)
31. Ewan Rees (4 seats)
35. John Price(6 seats)
41. Mats Pelders (8 seats).

LIBERTY STADIUM 25/09/10 - (meet outside the Osprey shop at 6.00pm - K.O. 6.30pm)

The team (picked on attendance from last season) to face Cwmtwch at the Liberty Stadium is:-

1. Mats Pelders

2. Georgia Davies

3. Ruben Vincent

4. Joseph Broad

5. Sam Ace

6. Ewan Rees

7. Kieran O'Shea

8. Evan Thomas

9. Jack Cawsey Williams

10. Harrison Ward

A curtain raiser at St Helens for Swansea v Pontypridd will be played on 12/11/10 for those not named above.

TICKETS:- An unlimited number of discounted tickets have been ordered for all Mumbles RFC members to purchase either in person at the Liberty Stadium ticket office or by telephone on 01792 616508. They will be reserved for you to collect until 2 days before the match to guarantee being with the team in the ground. Please ask for Rhodri Wells and make him aware you are with Mumbles RFC and would like the discounted tickets: Adults (£10), Children (£1) - (players named above will be permitted entrance for free.) Tickets can also be purchased on the day for this discounted price, however your location adjacent to the team in the ground cannot be guaranteed.

DIRECTIONS:-

http://www.liberty-stadium.com/stadium_information_swansea.php

Despite being a competative knock out tounament, the event is primarily about having fun and enjoying the atmosphere (irrespective of the result) - please emphasise this and not the importance of winning to your children. The game will last 7 mins in total, so don't blink !

Gowerton (AWAY) 19/09/10

A 3 way round robin of matches today with Penclawdd and Dunvant was a great success enabling everyone to have plenty of time and opportunity to get stuck in.

Next week it's our old friend Gowerton (AWAY).

Click on this link for directions - (meet at 10.30am for an 11.oo K.O). http://www.gowertonrfc.co.uk/contactus/

Lougher & Neath played and Penclawdd 'Donkeys' next up

A fantastic job was done by Phil and Lee today (no doubt ably assisted by our ever growing coaching team) in satisfying our equally ever expanding and sizeable squad by playing a triangular set of matches with Lougher and Neath. Training will be 5pm at Underhill again this week with Penclawydd hosted at Bishopston on Sunday 12th - 10.30am. Back to the Rugby Club for hot dogs at 12pm.

A massive thank you also to Sam Ward-Jones and Tracy Caplin who along with Tracy Price (from the Predators) faced the trials and tribulations of the Mumbles RFC kitchen. We hope to have catering volunteers from the Wildcats next week when we host Penclawdd at the rugby club(12pm), but there will be plenty of further opportunity through the remainder of the season for other Vikings parents to put up their hands and be counted in the kitchen, so please don't be shy - our hot dogs need you!

WANTED - volunteers required for the new seasons catering rota.

Would the first willing parents who are back to the club please empty a tin of 50 (club supplied) hot dogs into a pan to warm. If you feel you also have the necessarily skills and experience to purchase and cut open a few bread rolls then please put yourself forward to me for entry on our rota (see page to the right of blog).

If those named on the rota can please purchase bread rolls themselves in advance, then all monies can be refunded on presentation of a receipt. Usually 48 rolls will feed our players, opposition (but please double check in each instance since we may share the rota with other teams).

September 3rd & 5th

Friday 3rd Sept - Training 5pm with Phil 'Teach' Jones at Underhill.

We then host Lougher RFC at Bishopston School on Sunday 5th Sept' - meet in time to kit up and sort out teams for a 10.30 k.o. Back to the Rugby Club for hot dogs at 12pm.

Volunteers are needed again this season to purchase the bread rolls and warm up the club supplied hot dogs. I can reimburse the cost of the rolls on presentation of a receipt.

Inaugural Family Funday a resounding success !

A big thank you must go to Gowerton RFC and to Jonathan Thomas and Alun Wyn Jones for attending our first ever Mumbles RFC Family Funday to make it such a success. The day was very well attended and proved that it has a big future in years to come. Mark it in your diary for next year!

VIKINGS MEMBERSHIP NOW DUE

Please ensure your £42 Vikings membership is paid a.s.a.p. (this includes a £25 players membership and a discounted £30 family membership of Mumbles RFC).

We are limited by the WRU to a maximum of 25 registered players.

Please therefore be aware that if your membership remains unpaid on 15th Ocotber 2010, then your registered playing place may be offered to others in waiting and only a non-playing family membership of Mumbles RFC will then be available.

SATURDAY 28th AUG' FUNDAY TIMETABLE

Just to confirm what is happening this Saturday 28th August Family Fun Day starts 2.00 p.m. with a likely finish at 5.00 p.m. (with any assistance gratefully accepted from 12.30pm onwards).

There will be a Mini Rugby Festival with
* Under 6's & Under 7's (session 1) say 2.30 p.m.
* Under 8's & Under 9's (session 2) say 3.30 p.m. with Gowerton RFC U8's also invited
* Under 14's & Under 15's (session 3) say 4.15 p.m.

There will be 2 Ospreys players doing a mini coaching session and signing autographs in between these games. Alun Wyn Jones & Jonathan Thomas

Also Siany from the Wave will be coming along to kick off a match and sign some autographs.

Alongside these games there will be side shows and competitions as follows:
* Kicking/Conversion competition
* Stocks - with children throwing sponges at the Chairman
* Tug of War
* A bouncy castle
* Ice Cream Van
* There will be a B B Q run by the 1st team squad
* Merchandise stall - selling club shirts etc
* A beer tent

Marquees will be erected Saturday morning, portable loos delivered Saturday morning and general work like fencing off areas etc will also need to be done Saturday morning.

Any query please get back to me. Please let everybody know about this day and of course the Cracker 7's on Sunday 29th August starting 12.00 Noon with BBQ and Beer Tent. Let's hope for some sunny weather all weekend.

Cheers,

Martin Rodwell
(Vice Chairman M.R.F.C)

FUNDAY WARM UP SESSION 5pm FRIDAY 27/08/10

Due to the seasonally inclement weather we have come to expect now in August, the pre-season funday warm up session on offer has been re-scheduled at Underhill Park on FRIDAY 27/08/10 evening starting at 5pm.

Family Funday 28/08/10 2pm

Following Monday's meeting at the club volunteers will now not be needed at Underhill until shortly before the 2pm start in the afternoon (say 12.30pm - 1.00pm) but all are welcome to offer their assistance in any capacity on the day at any time.

Ospreys Kids Camps 2010

The Ospreys Players once again invite you to come and join them and the Ospreys Rugby Development Coaches at one of our 4 Ospreys Summer Camps.

Camps are being held at:-

Week 1 – Camp 1 – Pencoed College (U6-U11)Monday 2nd & Tuesday 3rd August.

Week 2 – Camp 2 – Llandarcy Academy of Sport (U6-U11)Thursday 5th & Friday 6th August .

Week 2– Camp 3 – Pencoed College (U6-U11) Thursday 19th & Friday 20th August .

Cost - £40.00 for 2 days (kids club members 10% discount)

*Due to the nature of regional rugby, Ospreys players are requested but not always available.

Forms may be downloaded from the Ospreys rugby website or you may click on the link below:-

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/3924.php

If you have any enquiries you may contact Ospreys on 01792 616500 or Ioan Cunningham on 07968 820 596.

M.R.F.C. Annual General Meeting Monday 5/7/10 - 7.15pm

Hi all - The Club A.G.M. will take place on Monday 5th july, 7.15 for 7.30 start. Please make every effort to attend, and can you pass the invitation to all.

Last year we lost a large number of sponsors , the club needs your help . You can advertise for as little as £25.00 plus Vat upwards in the membership book, fixture list, Jimmy Cracker 7's and match day programmes. We will put up match day banners, balls can be sponsored or games with hospitality provided arterwards at the club. Larger corporate deals are also available, together with packages for international tickets. If each side could find 2 new sponsors for the main club funds (aswell as its junior team) this would be a great help.

Please can you talk to all your contacts and ask them to contact me for more details.

Thanks,

Robin Bonham (Junior Chairman) tel:- 01792 405169

New Sponsored Shirts

We are pleased to announce that support has been pledged by several sponsors towards the provision of brand new kit for the Vikings next season. Our sincere thanks go to Chris Davies of Estate Capital Financial Management (Main Sponsor), John Price of Charlies Dining, Neil Wood of Cell Communications, Dickie Harper of Brynymor Digital Press, David Holland of Salix & Gower Wildflower, Gregg Fabb & Lee Thomas of Swansea Punk Rock & Roll and Carl Lewis of Elite Tiling & Property Services. If you or someone you know also wish to pledge support then please contact me on gbroad@live.co.uk or 07974747993 before the end of May before an order is placed. Cheques can either be made directly to "Picton Sports" or to "Mumbles RFC Juniors".

Tag Certificates

For all recently qualified WRU Tag coaches, please be advised that your Certificates and brochures are available for collection at the Club in the downstairs Members Lounge behind the bar.

Tag Finale BBQ Review (Please also see Photo Gallery page on right)

Well what can I say , great rugby played in great spirit with great weather and great company - what a day. A big thank you to everyone who has helped in whatever capacity throughout the season and on our final day, however big or small a contribution, it has all combined to provide a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable experience. I apologise for not being able to name everyone in person who has played a part this year, (no doubt we would still be there now if I had). Needless to say everyone's efforts are really very much appreciated in building our teams and club ever stronger.

For the record it's 123 yrs (not 113 yrs as I stated) that the club has been bringing people together to enjoy rugby football and each others company. Talking of figures, we managed to raise a clear profit of £246.55 (11/12 new Jerseys) even after the cost of all medals for both Vikings and Predator teams - Alan Sugar would be chuffed to bits!

We will pass on 25 jerseys to the Predators, currently leaving 4 for the Vikings. I am however aware of at least 8 jerseys that are still to be returned, so if everyone can make a big effort to return as many jerseys as possible by the end of May, then we should easily achieve our min' target of 25 by September.

I will be looking into printing new sponsors on the jerseys over the summer, so to ensure your jersey matches that of the rest of the team, please can you make every effort to get yours back to me as soon as you can if you still have one?

Have a great summer, take a well earned rest, and I look forward to seeing you at the Family Funday on 28/08/10 (or at any of the meetings to help organise it from now until then - first one is next Thursday 29/04/10 @ M.R.F.C. 7pm in the downstairs members lounge).

Family Funday Meeting - 29/04/10 7pm @ MRFC

Following the Junior meeting on Monday, a proposal for an inaugral "Family Funday" to be staged on Sat' 28/08/10 was discussed. There is a further opportunity for anyone who would like to attend and contribute to this proposal on Thursday 29th April 7pm @ the Rugby Club.

LOOK OUT - THE PREDATORS ARE COMING THIS SATURDAY 24/04/10 @ 10.30am!

Due to the Gower Cup being held this Sunday we aim to celebrate the end of our first season together by giving the current beach team 'Mumbles Predators' (next season's U7's team) a big welcome to rugby on grass at Underhill Park this coming SATURDAY (not Sunday) the 24th April at 10.30am. We will aim to give everyone a game (including any willing parents at the end if we have time!) before a team photo and a short presentation.

Volunteers are welcome to offer their services - I will orginase the purchase and delivery of refreshments, but would really appreciate any assistance in the cooking and selling of food and drink on the day. Our aim is to raise funds towards providing a full compliment of jerseys for the Predators next season.

London Welsh are also visiting and will require the junior pitch at 12.30pm for a 1pm K.O. against Mumbles U10's so all are welcome to stay on and support this match too, and to return to the clubhouse afterwards to continue to enjoy the end of season festivities.

Sunday 18/04/10

Training is at Underhill Park this Sunday at 11.00am. It is likely to be busy with several other rugby and soccer teams this week, so we may find ourselves training 'over the hedge' near the park / playground.

Mumbles Vikings v Gorseinon Match Photos

11th April 2010 - Gowerton Away

Please meet at Gowerton RFC for 10.30am. Phil Jones will be running things this week - any queries please contact him on 07795802258 or 368848 and please provide him with as much support as you have kindy done for myself and Lee Thomas to date. Lee is also unavailable, so Phil will appreciate someone to organise sub's from the touchline, or to occupy the team not playing with some fun and games and watch over our kit, so don't be shy!
Link for directions:- http://www.gowertonrfc.co.uk/contactus/

WANTED - Team photographers

If anyone fancies bringing a digital camera to games and training on a regular basis then please let me know. My PC skills are developing all the time and I have now learned to provide blog access privilages and create a page to upload photos. (please see 'Photo Gallery' within the Pages to the right of the blog)

HAVE YOUR SAY AT THE JUNIOR MEETING April 19th 7pm

A junior meeting has been arranged for Monday April 19th - 7pm at the Rugby Club. If you would like to have your say on anything at all to do with the club then everyone is welcome to attend and contribute. If you can't make this meeting (or would prefer not to speak out yourself), then you can put any comments or suggestions through to me to raise on your behalf.

At this meeting the club would also like to discuss proposals for a Junior/Family Fun Day on Saturday 28th August followed by the "Jimmy Cracker 7's" senior's tournament on Sunday 29th August and Bank Holiday Monday 30th August (to recover!). If you can assist in any way on this proposed "FAMILY FUN DAY" e.g. catering, fundraising activities (facepainting etc?) selling programmes / lottery tickets, assisting with teams, or if you simply have any positive ideas for this inaugral event then please come forward and get involved in the meeting and assist your club.

EASTER HOLIDAYS

Sunday 4th April - Skewen have confirmed today that due to the holidays they can't raise a team. Together with waterlogged pitches after this week's rain, then we will take this weekend off as an opportunity to "carbo load" on chocolate in preperation for Gowerton away next week. The Rugby Club is holding a Champagne Party (£5/ticket commencing 12pm this Sunday).

Sunday 11th April. - match against Gowerton R.F.C. (Away) - please meet at 10.30am. Directions:-http://www.gowertonrfc.co.uk/contactus/

Use of Mumbles Rugby Club

A big thank you to all of you who regularly make the effort to return to the rugby club after matches and training - your attendance and support is really appreciated (especially given it's location away from the pitch and the difficulties parking etc). Generally, whilst I feel the behaviour of our players has been impeccable to date, can I please highlight to parents their obligations towards junior players at the club:-

1. Whilst no boots are permitted to be worn in the club, junior members are requested to wear clean shoes or trainers at all times since there can be small pieces of glass found on the floors.

2. Junior members are requested not to stand/walk on chairs or benches.
3. Junior members are requested not to run in the club and to keep general horseplay to the dancefloor and immediate surrounding area as tables and the bar area can be loaded with glasses.

4. Junior members are requested to refrain from convening at the window in the corner of the club on the raised platform. The glass in this window is not toughened.

5. Junior members are requested to refrain from playing on the stairs or within the toilets

6. Please ensure all rubbish including unfinished food is placed in the black bins provided. If no bins are apparent, please ask behind the bar.

7. The Fire Escape is only to be used in the event of an emergency, not for ventilation or access. Please report it if you see it open.

8. No junior members are permitted within the kitchen or behind the bar areas.

With everyones co-operation we can look forward to building on the already proud history of our club with our own generation of players.

Gorseinon match report

Well done to both the Gorseinon and Mumbles teams today who both played with good spirit and with no little display of determination and skill. A big thank you also goes to Gorseinon for continuously fielding a team to give both our teams a good game each, and also for making the effort to return to our clubhouse where Sara and Carol fed the masses with aplomb.

28th March 2010 - Bishopston 10.30am

Match against Gorseinon this week is at Bishopston at 10.30am.

DONT FORGET THE CLOCKS GO FORWARD 1 HR.

(With recent heavy rain be sure to check the blog again at 0930hrs for any cancellation update on Sunday before heading out.)

South Gower Review and Sunday 21st March Arrangements

A big thank you to Lee and everyone else who helped contribute to what I understand was a most enjoyable day at South Gower RFC. You will no doubt be glad to hear that my iron count is fully restored to normal levels following my prescribed course of Guinness in Ireland, so (weather permitting - rain is forecast so please check blog Sunday @10am) training will resume this weekend at 11am at Underhill Park. A big thanks also go to Jan and Emma for organising the hot dogs last time, and to Sara for volunteering this week - unfortunately the Rugby Club have a prior booking and the Cricket Club are not opening, so there will be no after match function.

Tag Leaders Course 21/04/10 6-9pm @ Underhill Park

The Ospreys will be holding a Tag coaching course on 21/04/10. The course provides a WRU Tag Leader Award qualification to enable formal participation in all aspects of training and Tag rugby matches aswell as providing a usefull general introduction for the uninitiated into the game of rugby. If you wish to attend please contact me (if you haven't already done so) to register your interest.

Sunday 14th March - South Gower Away 10.30am

South Gower R.F.C. (Pwll Du Lane, Bishopston, Swansea SA3 3AG ) http://www.southgowerrfc.com/directions.html are hosting us this Sunday at 10.30am - Lee Thomas has once again very kindly offered to hold the fort while I experience the delights of Croke Park in Dublin, so for any queries he can be contacted on (01792) 517422 or 07702887129. Your offer of support (e.g. helping with tag belts / water/ substitutions / occupying the spare team on the sidelines while Lee is running with the team playing / lottery tickets / keeping an eye on our kit & eqp't etc etc ) as always would be most gratefully received.

Sunday 7th March - 10.30am @ Bishopston

Spring has sprung and to celebrate we are having another training session at Bishopston @ 10.30am followed by hot dogs at the Cricket Club with the catering kindly being provided this week by Jan Ward and Emma Vincent.

Catering Volunteers Required

For some lucky persons there is still an opportunity left to contribute to the catering at the Cricket Club following our home game at Bishopston against Vadre on 21/03/10. Please contact me on gbroad@live.co.uk to confirm your availability - (1st people to contact me get the job so hurry if you don't want to lose out)!

Sunday 28th Feb - Bishopston 10.30am

Bishopston at 10.30am for a training session this week then Cricket Club afterwards for hot dogs.

Message from Robin - Jnr Chairman

Hi all

Either Jerry Collins or Alun Wyn Jones have agreed to visit the club, with other Ospreys, perhaps from the coaching staff, a referee and hopefully a rep from the Swans. This will take place on Thursday 25th feb from 7.30 onwards at a cost of £7.50 and include a quiz, buffet, and q and a session. Tickets are on a first come basis from Skinny 368989 or Martin Rodwell 360080. Please support your club. Thanks, Robin.

Sunday 21 February - Training @ Underhill 11.30am

We will commence training later than usual at 11.30am at Underhill this week with hot dogs at the Rugby Club at around 1pm (can the first back to the club please empty a tin into a pan and put on the hob? - I'll bring the rolls). The club is also organising a fund raising walk to Blackpill and back for the Haiti earthquake appeal commencing at 2pm from the Rugby Club and all are invited to attend. Collections and contributions (£5/family) can be given to Rhys Davies (aka 'Ravers') or Matthew Reeves who have also organised food & refreshments to be made available at the club for all.

Swansea Uplands Report & Sunday 14/02/10

A big thank you to Swansea Uplands RFC, who once again provided a spirited and spotsmanlike performance, and many thanks also to Phil and Matthew for helping to develop our squad of 14 players today. It was especially pleasing to see the evidence of the handling skills of our players improving as a direct result of Matthew organising several games of 'Rugby Netball' at the side of the pitch, with the boys also commenting afterwards at the Cricket Club that they very much enjoyed this new game.

Both Phil and Myself will be away next weekend (though not together, even though it is valentines day!), but Lee, Matthew and Darren have very kindly offered to hold a training session at Bishopston commencing at 10.30am (since Vadre do not have an U7's team).

After training hot dogs have very kindly been offered to be provided at the Cricket Club by Shereen, who I'm sure would accept any more support if it is offered since she is catering for the Vikings, Wilcats and Vadre U8's.

Many thanks also go to all our inaugral 'lotttery champions', Sara, Carole and Lauren (Josh's big sister) who were all instrumental today in raising funds for our junior section's future. In the words of Alan Sugar - 'You're Hired!', although I'm sure any more budding apprentices who wanted to join their flegdling team would be accepted with open arms.

Well done to Alexander and Willis in leading both our teams today, (if anyone has any 'captain of the day' photos they can email them to me at gbroad@live.co.uk for posting on the blog).

There is also the opportunity in the near future for anyone wanting to assist more formally to attend a 2-3 hour evening TAG rugby course (funded by the club) at a local sports centre. Both Lee, Ginny and Matthew have offered to attend this, and it would be very pleasing if any more 'hands on deck' could be found. If you would like to offer yourself for this, you can contact me on gbroad@live.co.uk or on 07974747993 or 361870.

Sunday Feb 7th 10.30am - Uplands at Bishopston

We are hosting Uplands RFC at Bishopston, please meet at 10.30am. Hot Dogs at the Cricket Club afterwards.

Training Cancelled 31/01/10

Our old friend Jack Frost has been up to his old tricks once again and convinced the ground staff at Underhill that the surface is not safe to be played upon. Fingers crossed for mild dry weather for the rest of the season.

Sunday 31st Jan' training at Underhill (by swings)

Training 10.30 am at Underhill Park (next to the childrens play area / swings over otherside of the hedge away from the main car park). Hot Dogs at rugby club afterwards.

How can you assist?

Your many offers of support and assistance are gratefully welcome.

LOTTERY - The first junior section weekly lotto tickets will be on sale for £1 pitchside this Sunday 31st with the inaugral draw at the Rugby Club at 1pm. I will be looking for volunteers (parents of the captains each week?) to please share the burden of selling these tickets around the park during the session, so please don't be shy in 'shaking the bucket' together for a couple of laps of the pitch. If there are any budding Alan Sugar apprentices out there who also fancy the challenge of taking more tickets away to sell through the week, then the proceeds and the completed tickets must be returned by the vendor to the rugby club by 1pm the following Sunday. (i.e. please don't bring proceeds to myself the following Sunday, since we may be playing away that week or have made other plans).

TRAINING - I will be trying to plan more sessions into smaller groups to benefit the players and include more parents in a supervisory capacity, so please bring your old shoes or boots!

CATERING - Claire Rees has already kindly organised a rota for hosting pre-organised home matches, (usually at the Cricket Club when all teams are at home at once). When we have an impromptu game or training at home though, (usually when the other teams are playing away at a club with no U7's) then we will return to the rugby club. No food is required to be purchased for the rugby club, but it would help if the first back to the club could empty a tin of 50 hot dogs into a pan to warm - just ask Julie or Skinny for any assistance (e.g. opening the tin with the contraption in the kitchen!). I will be as quick as I can bringing the bread rolls!

Gowerton Match Report

Thanks go to Gowerton for bringing enough players (and a spare ref)and to both our Dads Gareth Jenkins and Tim Ward for their assistance to enable two full games to be played simultaneously. Given the monsoon conditions in November, the frost through December, and the snow in January preventing regular rugby sessions of late, I think we can forgive a little rustiness from us on Sunday. This was more than made up for by a great effort all round however. Following some aftermatch reports, I have checked and there is nothing to say that a penalty should be given for not carrying the ball in two hands (although it is a coaching aspiration). Whilst it may be confusing for the players, it should nonetheless serve as an important lesson for them in the future to think on their feet and adapt to play by the laws by which the ref abides without dissent - (even if they feel he is wrong). I can guarantee that there will be many more instances through their playing of the game!