Rugby is back with a bang this weekend, our first taste of competitive games in 2025.
The Men’s and Women’s 1st XVs are both back in the saddle - the Men away against Colchester on Saturday, and the Women away to Hove on Sunday.

The Men’s 2nd XV is away to Blackheath 2nd XV and the Occies complete the nomadic nature of our first fixtures in 2025, travelling to Old Ruts, all games kick off at 2pm, apart from the Men at Colchester, which kicks off at 3pm, where presumably they have floodlights!

In the same fixtures earlier in the season, the Men won 36-20 in a scrappy, but spirited home encounter at Barn Elms, with hooker Josh Archer scoring an extraordinary 4 tries on the day. This away fixture first up is not to be taken lightly, despite their lowly position in the table, Colchester are a nuggety side who have deserved more from several of their close losses this season, we will need to hit the ground running and give them nothing!

In their earlier fixture, the Women also emerged victorious 34-29 at Barn Elms against Hove in what was their first win of the season, whilst the Men’s 2nd XV were less lucky, going down 26-10 in their early encounter.

All the teams will be look for a winning start to the year, particularly the Men’s 1st XV, who will be still smarting after the debacle of a game against Dorking, which we lost 7-14 and in the process suffered 6 yellow cards and two red cards (one of those from two yellow cards). Yes, we are still seething from this match, not Dorking’s fault at all that they had no card sanctions at all but it ruined my Christmas, and left a very bad taste in my mouth, which wasn’t just dodgy turkey!

Here’s to getting back in the saddle this weekend, and to a big Barnow weekend of rugby ahead!

Onwards and Upwards!

For Rugby! For Friendship! For Life!

Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - President Barnes RFC