Chiswick Rugby Club is recruiting

Image above: Chiswick Rugby Club

Over 18s needed

Chiswick Rugby Club is looking for new members. Since the pandemic they have dropped from three teams to two as older members have not gone back.

“28 – 32 year olds who may have played for another couple of years haven’t come back” Club Chairman Kelvin Campbell told The Chiswick Calendar.

Once people get out of the habit of playing and move on to other, less exacting, interests it is hard to get them back, he told us. The club is looking to interest over 18s to come and join them.

Contact: players@chiswickrugbyclub.co.uk

The season has seen a rather ragged start, as adult teams did not start back on time in September because of injuries. The club is lucky that it has an all-weather pitch, installed in 2018, but other clubs started the season with grounds too hard to play on because of the hot summer and lack of rain, so the RFU has started the season a week later than usual.

Image above: Chiswick Rugby Club juniors

Fireworks night

They are holding a fireworks night celebration on Saturday 5 November – a good opportunity for potential new members to check out the club.

The club is a perfect place for a fireworks celebration, since there is plenty of space and a well-stocked bar at the clubhouse. They may find they are busier than usual, since the big annual fireworks show at Ravenscourt Park has been scrapped and the free show at Chiswick Business Park is now ticketed.

Chiswick Rugby Club fireworks night in on Saturday 5 November, tickets £10 or £25 for a family ticket. The club house will be serving food and drink all night (please no alcohol to be brought in). Doors open 6.30pm. Book tickets through the club’s website: Fireworks night.

It is very much a family night as members come with their partners and children, many of whom belong to the flourishing minis (under 11) and junior (under 14) sections.

Image above: Fundraising for CRY

Raising awareness of CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young

Chiswick Rugby Club is hoping to raise money for children’s charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), after a member’s close relative died and another member was diagnosed with heart-related illness.

Former youth coach Alastair Pickering has been raising money for the charity since 2018 in memory of his sister who died suddenly while studying drama at Warwick University. Another club member, Josh Hoyle recently suffered from a heart related illness which caused him regular chest pains.

After being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and finally being allowed to play rugby again after a year out, Josh and the club are eager to make sure those who might have an underlying heart condition discover it sooner rather than later.

CRY offer checks for young people to see if they have any signs of heart disease or whether they have potential to develop heart disease. These check-ups give young people an opportunity to take steps which could prevent potentially fatal heart-related illnesses which might otherwise go unnoticed.

The minis will be wearing the CRY logo on their shirts this season and the club hopes to raise money to enable them to provide a heart check service at the rugby club.

Read more about CRY here: Cardiac Risk in the Young

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