Rugby Club Issue 74 | Page 17

Old Cranleighan Fe Wood took the time to tell us more about Pilates and the long term benefits taking part can have on your health, saying, “Pilates works on your core, providing a great base before adding layers to that foundation. It is great for developing balance, posture, strength and movement – it is all there!” Pilates and Barre In Esher, Thames Ditton & Molesey Functional Movement “Many athletes, particularly rugby players, are practiced in working their muscles in a certain way. The good thing about Pilates is that it can teach you to stretch, release and condition your muscles correctly. This makes it a great way to complement other training by developing functional movement and teaching core principles.” Avoiding Injury “Pilates can also play a key role in injury prevention and injury rehabilitation. Within rugby, the neck of a player can be put under serious strain and it is not an area that is covered by regular training drills. Pilates can build strength in and around the ligaments and tendons reducing the risk of injury and helping players to stay in the game.” Proud sponsors of Old Cranleighan RC We offer barre classes, matwork classes and small groups using various studio equipment, all at affordable prices. Get Involved “Even attending one or two sessions can teach you the basics and once you have developed your core and have that knowledge it is something that can be applied to provide long term health benefits for people of all ages and fitness levels.” Exciting times lie ahead, with the acquisition of neighbouring pitches to double the number of pitches at the club for this coming season. A new and expansive patio across the face of the clubhouse has hugely improved the facility, officially opened at one of the clubs regular Golden Oldie past players lunches. With Minis participation set to top 400 this season, and with genuine aspirations for the 1st XV, the club is vibrant, progressive, and lies at the heart of the local community. A first Minis Festival is scheduled for early November, a substantial car park expansion is underway, and as the club looks towards its centenary celebration in 2019, news that Old Cranleighan Will Collier was capped and scored for England in Argentina, providing Cranleigh with 07850 270 002 | www.accomplishpilates.co.uk Old Cranleighan Club, Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0HB its first international since 1959, only enhances the reflection that this is a club very much in the ascendancy. Player retention is a much debated topic in rugby currently, Old Cranleighans recent success, and expansion plans suggest that the coming years will prove fruitful, even before the first products of the OC Youth system start to enhance the senior club ranks. Founded in 1919, Old Cranleighans look to the future with confidence high. Article provided by Chairman Will Fawcett Club www.rugbyclubmag.com 17