A new year? Here's Edition 15
Embracing the joys of Lockdown Number 3.
Hello. Hurray.
Under anything approaching normal service we would be approximately at the half way point of the 20/21 season, my first as President of Bradford and Bingley RFC. but…we are not there and as an old musical had it - “fings aint wot they used to be”, although Lockdown 3 is not awfully dissimilar to the first go around.
The square root of beggar all has happened on the field of honour since everything went the way of the pear last March. So a snappy summary of where we have been since September is not really required and does not really have any content anyway…but, I will endeavour to bring you up to speed with where the Club is in general and where we sit in the Rugby Landscape as we peep out from the oubliette of lockdown.
Oh, and a happy New Year to all.
A digression - The Grocer
Before I get down to the main body of this waffle, I feel a need to digress somewhat.
As we have been in one version of purgatory or another for most of the last nine months, I have exhausted all forms of uplifting entertainment, box sets and catch up telly. I have side stepped all forms of “the real housewives of…”, (although one version or another seems to be on chez moi at any given moment) and I’ve not watched Tiger King. Having exhausted all forms of escaping to the Chateau, I found myself reading the website of that marvellous publication, The Grocer, just now. And what did I learn, whilst perusing this august website?
Well, my little cauliflowers, the biggest increase in sales of any grocery product by percentage, in 2020, was that popular Spanish tipple, San Miguel. I believe those of a younger and less politically correct generation than mine know this beer as “Señorita Beater”, but stepping away from that discussion, it rocketed up the charts with 63% increase in sales in 2020. careening up in to second place was the Mexican favourite, , Corona. Surely its not that easy to flog a product to the British public? We have a Corona virus lockdown, hmmm, what beer should I buy?
Anyway, tagging along behind Corona’s 40%. improvement were Budweiser then Stella Artois, but unfortunately, the Grocer did not reveal how much these old favourites shot up in sales. Moving away from the Off Licence aisle, the biggest sales increases were in Sausages and Bacon - who had a barbecue? surely not you.
On the other side of the ledger the biggest collapse in sales were in Cosmetics, bottled water and chewing gum. It seems working from home had a major impact on what we might see as essential. I would have thought that sales of Pyjamas and associated wear must have increased as lockdown increased as everyone could not be bothered even getting dressed for the interminable conference calls - I must admit to letting standards slip myself, as the lockdown lard increased, I was forced to discard a whalebone or two from my corset… I noticed on many people’s Xmas pics on Fbook and Instathingy, whole households had matching jammies on. Classy.
A further gem of information the Grocer has thrown my way was that Rough Diamond Sales fell by a third in 2020; no doubt those rough diamonds were also in their nightwear.
Having digressed somewhat, I will return to Rugby Club matters.
100 Club - Andy Collis
Obviously as we are not trading, there is not much brass landing in our coffers at the moment, other than the odd pound thrown our way by the very generous Mr Sunak.
In an attempt to revive an old income stream, Andy Collis has stepped up to the oche to run a brand new 100 club. Just to clarify, it is called the 100 club because we had to call it something; its not limited to 100 participants or anything like that. Any old how, Mr Collis provided me with the following instructions:
The cost of the entry to the draw will be £5.00 per month by standing order.
Players most have paid into the lottery for two months to be entered into the draw. The 1st draw will be February 2021 and every 2 months after this.
The 100 club is only available to members of Bradford and Bingley RFC and is not limited to 100 members.
Winners will be contacted by text message/WhatsApp/email and monies will be transferred into their account.
The account to send the money to is
Sort Code: - 05-01-66
Bank Account Number:- 37316145
Please use your name and 100 club as the reference for the payment and can you text Andy Collis – 07 960 961 92 to ensure your participation is noted. Please include your preferred contact details in that text message (e.g. your email address).
The split of the money will be 50% to the winner of the draw, the remaining 50% to be kept by Bradford and Bingley Rugby Club.
The draw will take place every two months at either a home 1st team game or at a committee meeting, which usually takes place on the first Thursday of a month.
Latest from the RFU/Yorkshire
As we are once more plunged into the darkest depths of lockdown, HM Government’s guidance has put a stop to any thoughts of a return to Rugby temporarily.
This means that the proposed “clusters” that the RFU pulled together to try and put a frame around any on field competition have now been crossed off. I received an email from the RFU which stated the following (their exact words in italics):
Due to the additional restrictions announced yesterday to combat the spread of Covid-19, the RFU has regrettably decided to cancel both the adult male & female Cluster Fixtures (for teams that play in RFU Leagues).
The focus will now switch to the following:
Facilitating fixtures through local organising committees as and when conditions allow a return to playing rugby which could extend into the summer months.
Ensuring any extension does not encroach on the 2021/22 season start date.
Providing information and options to increase participation. For example Ready 4 Rugby and the application of Game On principles in line with Government advice on return to play.
Following on from that email, I received another from RFU North. Again, I have cut n pasted their exact words:
Effectively the proposed series of Club Cluster Fixtures has now been cancelled following the Government's decision to impose a Lockdown in the country.
After discussion with DT and DC, it is proposed that any organisation and administration of either Club Cluster Fixtures and or other fixtures, such as County Cups be handed over to the CB Competitions Committee's. Subject of course to permission being received at some point from the Government which would allow such fixtures to go ahead.
The North DOC will not be responsible for arranging any fixtures, but would be available to help if required.
Any queries, please contact Mike Smith, DT or DC.
Unfortunately, dearest reader, I am not 100% sure who or what DT or DC are - District Team or District Committee?? - but anyway, I think its clear that there is not a lot going to be happening in the next few weeks - even if full lockdown is lifted in mid-February, which Tier will follow?
You will no doubt be aware that Mr Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson has set out a nominal target of ending lockdown by mid-February, in fact Feb 17th rings a bell - but that date is contingent on that most vulnerable 13.5 million citizens getting the jab.
Mr Johnson has set a target of 1000 sites offering vaccinations across the country by next week, (week ending Friday 15th January), so in very simple terms that is 2000 vaccinations per site before February 17th. Let’s hope its a roaring success and we are some way down the road to righteousness by mid-feb.
Junior Rugby update
The chaps who organise and coach our Juniors have been doing a blinking marvellous job keeping their show on the road this season, but obviously Lockdown 3 has also pulled the rug from under them too.
The joint Chair of Junior Rugby, Andy Watts sent out a message to all his coaches and managers which rather superbly sums up their situation, so rather than paraphrase or burgle bits of Andy’s message, I thought I might share it in full with you all here (the italicised bit):
We are suspending all age grade training and activities until further notice.
I can’t reiterate it enough but a massive thanks to you all, coaches, parents and players for all your support this season. Please be reassured and to parents and players that we are a local family rugby club, proud of its foundations and amazing work we have achieved in recent years and know only too well that working together - we can and will get through this. And its with much hope that come the end of February our nation is in a better place that we can resume back to that great club that we are and can be proud of and play some great rugby.
In the meantime continue to connect with your teams through WhatsApp; encourage exercise; set challenges within their own living space to keep your teams fun, active and engaged!
If anyone needs any support over the next coming months lets support one and other and keep the talking going. Mentally these lockdowns are challenging for all and every one of us, so if you want to share an idea; or simply chat; or look for that extra support give me a call.
Let’s keep communicating via social media – take care everyone and stay safe!
Great Stuff, Mr Watts!
Lions Tour/Six Nations
One of the absolute highlights of everyone’s Rugby Calendar is the quadrennial Lions Tour, which this year is scheduled to run around South Africa. However, the mutterings are that the tour may now be in danger of being called off due to the Pandemic and the discovery of the new “South African variant”.
There have been discussions about playing all ten Lions fixtures “behind closed doors”, but surely the whole point of the Lions Tour is that about 30,000 folk from these islands go on a holiday of a lifetime and generally enjoy a shandy with like minded folk from the host country or other parts of the British Isles?
There has emerged a new contingency plan to play the test matches over here using Old Trafford, Wembley, St James Park etc, rather than using just Twickenham and Murrayfield and the like, so at least it is different to normal British Test Rugby, but none of that has been formally aired, but I believe it has been discussed at Lions Board meetings.
If the Lions Tour is off, there is also a thought that this year’s Six Nations could be moved to that July-ish time slot, so that it could be played in front of crowds rather than empty seats in February/March. At the moment the 6N is still scheduled to start on Saturday 6th February with Italy v France, England v Scotland and Wales v Ireland forming the first set of matches.
COVID help
The club has volunteered to help with the Testing and Vaccination efforts in our area in any way we can. I am in dialogue with Primary Care representatives in the area, so will update everyone as soon as I know what the club might be doing.