We are all adjusting to new ways of living which may be presenting lots of different challenges for each of us. I just want to say that whatever your connection to the club, don’t sit indoors worrying or feeling down. Pick up the phone, drop an email or respond to something on our website, Twitter or Facebook sites. If not me, then someone else from around the club will happily have a chat, share a story or have a laugh with you.

Hummers has started the Bracknell RFC Former Players site on Facebook and this has lots of nostalgic stories and reminders of good times in the past.

Carl Mauger has started a virtual bingo session which brings people together for some fun and laughter.

We will continue to look at ways we can keep in touch with everyone over the coming weeks and let you all know.

In terms of what is happening around the club I want to give you a further update since my last on the 30 March.

The clubs Executive Committee continue to meet on a regular basis via the use of technology. The purpose of these meetings is to make sure we are dealing with the here and now, but also ensuring we are focusing on the future.

Our main focus is the balance sheet and ensuring we keep the club solvent and ready to start operating again as soon as we are able too. Whilst we have a number of invoices we are liable for we have done all we can in ensuring all unnecessary spend is stopped or where it is needed that it is essential.

Financially we are okay at the moment but like many many business this position can quickly and easily change if the current situation continues. The committee will be looking at ways of how we can bring revenue into the club at this time and as soon as we start operating again.

We are reviewing the various options of financial support available through government, The RFU, Berkshire RFU and Sport England. We will look at all of these carefully and decide if we need to apply for any of this help.

We have taken the decision to furlough all but 1 or 2 people at the club. This may mean that any correspondence to and from the club will take longer than usual. If you do need to contact someone at the club please email Louise at louiseward@bracknellrugbyclub.com or you can still call the main club telephone number.

On the playing side you may have seen that the RFU have now published the final league positions for the 2019/2020 season which was brought to a premature end due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sadly after the maths on how the season would end was completed our 1XV have been relegated from the SW Premier league and will now play at level 6 in the SW 1 East league. Whilst it was still mathematically possible to have survived we will brush ourselves down and press the reset button and return when we can with a highly competitive squad looking to bounce straight back up.

Our 3XV & 4XV finished in disappointing positions and we will look at how to get the best out of these teams for next season.

The ladies finished 3rd in their first season in the National Challenge 2 South East (West). Well done ladies and I look forward to developing female rugby at Bracknell in the coming season and beyond.

The clubs 2XV (The Stags) finished in 5th position in the Raging Bull Clothing merit table (Zoo League). This was a massively competitive league and the final position justifies our decision at the end of last season to give this group more competitive rugby. The team was regularly playing teams who would not look out of place in our 1XVs league.

Our new Head of Rugby Matt Heeks continues on building the new coaching set up for next season.

Its now more important than ever that we focus on next season across all of our teams. In pressing the reset button we will being making changes in how as a club we go about things. More on this to follow soon.

In the meantime I again want to praise the work of all our wonderful NHS staff and all the emergency services and key workers who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe and well.
Please take good care of yourselves and your families and keep a look out for further updates.

Ian Wilson
Chairman Bracknell RFC