This is my first update since the Big Lift on May 2nd, so it is crammed full of bits and bobs about Barnes RFC and rugby generally. Time seems to have taken on a new pace since lockdown, I don’t know about you, but to me it feels like we have had 6 years of experiences in 2020 and not just 6 months.

There is a lot to read here so do persevere to the end if you are able!

So, masses of stuff to talk about. Let’s, of course, start with the Big Lift!

The Big Lift

In April we were looking for ways for the club to stay in touch during the lockdown, and Adam Libbey, came up with the Big Lift, where we would try and lift 1 million kgs above our head, in memory of Garry Garrett, and also look to raise £10,000 for the NHS. A week later, as a club, we mobilised a small team and on 2nd May thousands of people all over the world took part and we not only lifted over 8 million kgs and raised over £155,000. It was an amazing moment in time and a fitting tribute to Garry Garrett. Thank you to all of you from Barnes RFC, other rugby clubs in the UK and to those all over the world that helped make this event so fantastic. We are busy making a film to remember this so watch this space.

Paul Hagan, Barnes fly-half legend from the 1990s, battled his own significant challenges from several massive heart attacks over the last few years to also do his bit for the Big Lift, read his story in his wife Kate’s words here:

https://www.barnesrfc.org/news/paul-hagan--barnes-rfc-1st-legend-from-the-1990s-does-the-big-lift-2541677.html

What about the rugby I hear you ask?

Barnes RFC and National League 2 South

With the National League 2 season finishing prematurely, we now are looking forward to next season, whenever it may start. The smart money is that we don’t think we will have much national league rugby played at Barn Elms until after Christmas. The landscape is changing almost daily, and there is hope for an earlier start (even last week with Premiership Rugby confirming a restart behind closed doors on 12th August) so fingers crossed.

Here is are some of the changes in teams in National League 2 that we know about:
• Hinckley are confirmed to join Leicester Lions in our league - the second level 2 transfer side from the Midlands
• These two join newly promoted, and old friends, Barnstaple, and Guernsey, along with big-spending Essex side Rochford Hundred (basically Southend in disguise)
• We say goodbye to Nat 1 promotees TJs and Taunton Titans, whist Sutton and Epsom, Old Redcliffians and Bournemouth were all relegated from Nat 2.

The league is completed by the rump of last year's Nat 2 sides: Bury St Edmunds, Clifton, Dings Crusaders, Esher, Henley, Old Albanians, Redruth, Westcliff and Worthing, we also have Canterbury returning to Nat 2 after there one-season stay in Nat 1.

Bring on the rugby I say!

Back to training for Barnes RFC?

The professionals have been training for a couple of weeks now, as they target an August playing return. At Barnes RFC we are talking now to both BEST and Barn Elms about how we can get back to at least playing asap. Our aim is for all sections of the club, from Under 5’s, Colts and all adult teams to get back to training ASAP.

Our first step on this journey starts next week on Tuesday 16th June when we will be running several booked sessions for the Under 12's to Colts at the BEST pitches (opposite the clubhouse) form 5pm to 8:30pm. We are obviously restricted on numbers so if you want to book a slot then please email Jack Heald now: jack@jhealdcoaching.com

Zoe, her mum and a tale of hot food and happy front liners at Queen Marys in Roehampton
Whilst The Big Lift was grabbing all of the headlines, Zoe Rand, and her mum Abby, have been going about preparing 50 hot meals, twice a week, for the resident front line health care workers at Queen Mary’s in Roehampton. Dan Murray from Queen Mary’s commented:

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude on behalf of all at Queen Mary’s Hospital for the joy and pleasure that you have given the staff by delivering scrumptious food. During these unprecedented times it is heartening to see such kindness being shown and to the NHS and our key worker colleagues.”

The picture that accompanies this posting shows Abby, Zoe’s mum, dishing out the yummy food to the happy Queen Mary’s team.

And on the fitness front…

Joe Gray is running two Zoom sessions a week for the 1st XV squad, and Andy Beaver launched a Zoom core strength and flexibility hour-long session on Sundays for 20 boys.

Greg Watson is doing with his Under 16 age group, his goals: to keep the U16’s fit and healthy at home, build deeper links to club and build team unity/culture #Oneclub.

AGM

Ae had our first-ever virtual AGM on 12th May, and 79 people attended, at least double the amount who have turned up in the clubhouse each year previously, and I actually felt people were more engaged, and asked far more questions than ever before. It is the way forward clearly, although we do of course want to be able to have human interaction too (and of course beer and pizza!).

If you want to listen to a recording of the AGM, or would like to see the written notes from it, please just drop me a WhatsApp or email, and I will send you the link.

And finally….#OneClub #OneBarnow - what’s that all about?

I have been Chairman of Barnes RFC for a long old time now, some would say too long!

One of the things I have always strived for is to make sure that Barnes RFC is always about the club, and not one team, that is the basis of our #OneClub philosophy, the club is bigger than any team or player, and we play for the privilege of wearing the green and gold shirt.

Over the last few years, there have been further significant developments at Barnes which have helped shape who we are, and where we are going, including:

• Investing in our coaching and medial professionals for the benefit of all players;
• The massive growth in our Minis and Juniors section - now 650 in number;
• Our growth of Women’s and Girls rugby;
• Cementing our roots back to Ebenezer Cobb Morley in 1862, freeing us to play our rugby in the original spirit.

At the same time as these brilliant things were all bubbling up, the 1st XV squad were continuing to bond closely, and when supporting the 1st or 2nd XV players from the sidelines, players would cheer on their team by yelling: “Go Barnow”. The chant was built on by varying the subject of the footy song: “Will Grigg’s on fire” so it became “Barnow’s on fire” - now sung in the changing room after significant wins, and also the Colts side when they won the Under 18’s Surrey competition at London Irish recently.

Over the years our #OneClub philosophy has ebbed and flowed, but it has always been the aspiration and passion to achieve this goal.

One of the key successes of the Big Lift, is that we went overnight from being a club that aspired to have a #OneClub philosophy to the reality of it being real in big neon lights, cast in stone, rock solid and vibrantly alive.

It is the responsibility of all of us together to maintain the brilliant openness that we now have created together. It is a legacy to lockdown, a legacy to Garry Garrett and it will underpin our future success.

#OneClub #OneBarnow.

It’s your Club!

That’s all for now folks, please let me know your Barnes RFC lockdown stories so that I can include them in the next Barnes RFC update.

In the interim, please stay safe out there, and I look forward to seeing you in the flesh as soon as possible.

Much Rhino and Barnow Love!

Rhino x

Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - Chairman Barnes RFC