Well done to the entire squad for the vast improvement in performance which was delivered at Windsor. Everyone played their part in a good showing at this tournament and some valuable lessons learned about backs defence and dealing with opposition players at the breakdown.

Let's take all that forward into the next League fixture at Gosport and again the week after when the development squad tackle Gosport's B team.

It has been a tough start to the season, not least because we've picked some tough opponents for our fixture list. Having raised the performance bar over recent seasons we will not learn much by playing weaker and familiar opposition. If we wish to improve we must test ourselves agains the best we can find. also making it tough is that we have so many away fixtures due to our changing facility being rebuilt. The second half of the season will see far more games at home, including 3 league fixtures in the season run in.

Thanks go to Gary Brench, Dave Gwyther, Andy Lockie, Tom Rands, Martin Andrews and Peter Benn for their help in the kitchen, serving RWC breakfasts at the club before the world cup matches. 3 early mornings have been sacrificed in order to raise over £400 towards the Italy tour fund. Watch this space for news on further fundraising activity - it is hoped that all parents will put some effort into this. The more we raise the less it will cost to tour.

On the tour itself, Gary Brench has done a great job organising the flights, hotel and fixtures. It is going to be a belter, perhaps the best tour of all. Get behind the fundraising effort!