ACTONIANS
Few community clubs have a coaching team as experienced as Actonians. Florent Rossigneux, the former Racing 92, Stade Français, Richmond, Wasps and London Welsh flanker who was involved in the Canada high-performance programme, is head man. Ex-Wasps flanker Buster White is their forwards specialist and Simon Shaw, the England and Lions lock, helps with occasional sessions.
They were among myriad clubs unable to turn last year’s promotion into this season’s reality but will soon return to Herts-Middlesex One from which they were relegated in 2019. Actonians dropped ‘Old’ from their title recently and are part of an association of the same name that offers nine different sports all on site. Steve Partridge, who doubles as secretary and fixture secretary, said: “It’s a great club with an awesome bunch of lads all looking forward to playing again.”