Auction’s truly scrum-ptious
Bath Rugby squad have teamed up with Thatchers Cider to create their own unique drink to auction off for charity.
The collaboration has branched out into creating Farleigh Cider – pressed from the apples grown pitchside at the club’s Farleigh House headquarters.
Cider fans can now enjoy this homegrown cider – with Bath’s own homegrown captain Charlie Ewels part of the picking team.
And recently the one-of-a-kind Farleigh Cider was delivered back to Farleigh House for players to take part in a labelling and signing session.
Each member of the Bath Rugby squad has signed a bottle of Farleigh Cider. They will be auctioned off in a charity raffle in aid of the Bath Rugby Foundation and the Thatchers Foundation, both of which support local communities throughout Somerset.
For captain Ewels and his teammates, the Bath Rugby Foundation is a cause very close to their hearts and the squad have been supporting the foundation in different ways during lockdown.
Thatchers, the family cider makers, are very much part of the Bath Rugby family, with the 2020/21 season marking the ninth year of partnership between the two brands deeply synonymous with the West Country.
The Farleigh apple trees were planted in 2011 and last autumn, the Farleigh House orchard produced apples which were picked by Bath Rugby players under the watchful eye of Thatchers’ farm manager Chris Muntz-torres.
Thatchers head cider maker, Richard Johnson, blended the Farleigh Cider and invited some of the squad to Myrtle Farm for a tasting in 2019.
He said: “At 5.5% abv, Farleigh Cider is a fantastic union of varieties. Like a scrum the apples used are a blend of strength and guile and all have their unique contribution. Pour this cider into your favourite cup and let it tackle your taste buds!”
Bath Rugby Club captain Ewels said: “We’re all very proud of our partnership with such an iconic West Country brand and I can attest Farleigh Cider really is a very special drink. I’d like to encourage all of our supporters to support the raffle and help raise funds for two hugely deserving causes.”
Tickets for the fundraising raffle are being sold via the Bath Rugby Foundation website for £3 each.
Winners will be selected on October 7. The 38 winners will receive a bottle of Farleigh Cider signed by one of the members of the squad, together with four cans of Thatchers Gold.
Fourth generation cider maker Martin Thatcher said: “Even though Thatchers is unable to be a part of the matchday experience at the Rec due to Covid restrictions, we’re delighted to take part in initiatives such as this fundraising raffle as the Club’s Official Cider Partner to raise money for local good causes.
“However, there’s no doubt we’re all looking forward to a resumption of business as usual for fans at the Rec!”