ECCLES JUNIORS Welcome to this week’s Mini and Junior ‘Rugby Soap Box View’! There’s plenty to ponder over with the corona virus developments affecting international fixtures down to grass roots games. (For those who saw the England v Wales battle, it appears COVID-19 effects prop forwards in a different way! Cheeky Joe!) Last Saturday, the club hosted our sponsors with hospitality on the balcony, as the U7s braved the cold on the pitch as mascots! The previous Sunday saw the club open its doors to over 300 juniors and their supporting parents/carers who at last overcame the recent weather to enjoy some rugby! The kitchen was stretched to the max, but, Marie and her band of volunteers did it without any self-isolation! My point is this - we rallied as a collective to provide players young and old with an opportunity to enjoy the sport we love. Junior rugby now underpins many established clubs who have, sadly, suffered the loss of several of their senior teams and are now reliant on their youth and ladies sections with Sunday sessions propping up clubs across the country. To see at first-hand how this relates to the future of Eccles provides mixed emotions as an ex-first team player but, with such a vibrant junior section the emphasis to continue to nurture our future senior players remains more important than ever. Our U14s who are set to Tour Worcester in April have just secured a new team sponsor, and are also in the quarter final of the Lancs Plate this Sunday away at Littleborough - Good Luck lads. The U16s have two Lancashire representatives and are also set to compete in their own Lancs Cup quarter final this Sunday. Our other age groups are growing in numbers and strength and are fortunate to have some wonderful coaches and managers with some amazing support from our administrative staff. So, can a rugby club survive on a successful junior section alone? Some say of course it can. Enjoy your rugby this weekend! Paul Fleming, M&J Chairman, Eccles RFC
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