Avon rising to challenge
Avon Rugby Club are upbeat despite the latest target for re-starting league matches now being postponed again, to January 2021.
But this hasn’t dampened their spirits too much as their regular training sessions continue to be well supported and enthusiastically received by the players.
These are being conducted by RFU qualified coaches in line with the RFU guidance on the Returnto-play protocols.
Head Coach Kai Harwood said “It’s certainly been a challenge to create rugby-related activities in the current environment and to keep the players interested with no games in sight.
“But that challenge has sparked the hunger in me again and it’s made it doubly fulfilling to get the positive feedback and obvious enjoyment from the players.”
Last Saturday proved a case in point as Avon held an internal club touch rugby tournament, following the RFU guidelines on Ready4rugby, when almost 30 players braved the rain and wind from Storm Alex to enjoy the touch rugby games – and all this despite being unable to have a shower afterwards as the changing rooms remain closed due to the restrictions!
Avon have been encouraged that several new players have joined the club, despite the absence of normal matches.
These include: George Jenkins, a former Cardiff Met and Welsh Students rugby league player who can play wing or centre; Leo Fetiveau, a French 2nd row forward from Saint Yrieix; Yerv Agobiani, a flanker from Devon who has previously been a 7s specialist but has now moved to Bath; Nick Ruddel, who can play anywhere across the backline and was previously at Hartpury College as part of the Gloucester Academy before a serious knee injury cut short his potential professional career.
Training sessions continue to take place at Hicks Field off the London Road at Batheaston on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm. More information from skipper Kane Book on 07817 220418.