CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME A warm welcome to all our supporters and visitors at Eccles RFC today. We’re now into the second month of the new season and all our Mens, Ladies, Colts, Junior and Minis teams are in the full swing of competitive league games and cup competitions each weekend. Although the long suspension of activity during the Covid lockdown feels like a distant memory, around the Lancashire Rugby Community it still appears that Senior Rugby is still struggling to recover and find its feet with many players not returning to their previous regular weekly commitment. Here at Eccles, with enormous effort behind the scenes, we’ve succeeded so far in fielding two Mens teams (and occasionally three) to fulfil our Mens Rugby fixtures. This is not the case for all clubs in this region. Our original opponents today would have been Burnley RUFC who, as a result of player loss leaving them with a squad unable to compete, have been demoted from the ADM Premier to the ADM 1st Division to take over similarly demoted Broughton’s fixtures. So, as a replacement for the Burnley fixture, I am delighted that our visitors from across the border have been able to accept our invitation, at very short notice, for this international friendly fixture! "Helo a chroeso i chwaraewyr a swyddogion Clwb Rygbi Wrecsam" Wrexham RFC will arrive by bus and I assume they’ll be looking forward to a good drink after the match! So, it’s just as well we have a brewery next door! Perfectly timed, this weekend our clubhouse bar is hosting a 'Tap Take Over' for our sponsor First Chop. Although I predict it’ll be lively post match Saturday evening in the club I trust there will be some beer remaining on Sunday when our Ladies welcome Sale 1861 to Gorton Street and our Junior Colts will be entertaining Clitheroe. I hope everyone enjoys the variety of First Chop ales on offer and, as always, I encourage you to share your opinions and photos on social media. The coronavirus pandemic has hit community rugby hard and many clubs across Britain are suffering from missing names from team sheets and facing uncertain prospects. Here at Eccles we will continue to believe in cultivating our own Homegrown talent and look to our well established thriving mini & junior section to provide our future 1XV players. This would not be possible of course without the continued dedicated commitment of our volunteers. Donating your time to support the club's growth can be very rewarding so if you’d like to get involved and put something back in to your community please do step forward. Whichever team you’re supporting this weekend, I hope you enjoy your match experience at Eccles and you keep returning throughout the season. All things prosper with effort. Let’s get stuck in! Chris Gaffey // Eccles RFC Chairman
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