Romsey
Romsey
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RUGBY CLUB
Romsey Rugby Club is a fine example of the important role that a
club can play in their local community. Rugby Club Magazine recently
caught up with Club Representative Iain Messenger to find out more
about how they have been getting along lately.
Involvement
Iain told us, “I started with the club in 1989 as a player
when I moved to the area and throughout my time with
the club have held a number of administrative positions
across the committee while continuing to occasionally
play.
As chairman of a flourishing club, one must work with
all areas across the club. We have a devolved coaching
structure, under Richard Wood’s guidance, for the
senior players, and an age group driven regime for the
juniors and minis.
Amongst the rewarding aspects, apart from a WIN
across the board, is the pleasure in seeing some of
the youngsters who joined the club at age five now
representing the first team, indeed our recent first team
captain Dan Penn-Newman has managed that
feat.
Pre and post-match discussions with
other clubs’ senior management
are also a very useful way by
which we learn and adopt
new strategies and ideas to
achieve “best in class”, and
such attention to detail can
only help the club grow and
develop across all areas.”
Atmosphere
“The first XV produced a
topsy turvy season last time
out, very much dependent
upon player availability, but
Dan and the team have played
in purple patches and maintained
a good spirit throughout the year. We
have taken teams over to the Isle of Wight
twice and always enjoyed the ferry journeys back
to the mainland.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, many
requests for new equipment and training courses are
acknowledged and fulfilled which again helps with
morale across the club. We are always open to new
players joining and previous players re-joining the club
in the spirit of rugby.”
72 Issue 87
Last Season
“As highlighted, player availability in the senior ranks
has predetermined the performance for the 1st/2nd
and Vets, whilst our under 15s won the Hampshire
Bowl at the end of the season which is due to the
commitment not only of the squad itself,
but the management and volunteer
coaches associated therewith.
In terms of the juniors and
the minis, we have healthy
numbers and a suite of
dedicated managers and
coaches who generously
give of their time both at the
weekends and during the
week. A club like Romsey
could not survive without
such stalwart support.”
2019
“With a new 1st XV captain in
Josh Davies and a stable coaching
structure, the majority of the seniors
are looking forward to the introduction
of summer touch, in conjunction with
the former under 15s, as a prelude to another
competitive season in Snows Hampshire Division 1. We
are keen for the 2nd XV to fulfil more of the anticipated
fixtures when the new schedule is finally delivered given
the changes in the divisional structures across London
and the South West.”