Volume 3 Episode 1
The 2022/23 Season beckons
Never Look Back?
Traditionally the new Rugby Season starts to come into focus as pre-season training starts in early July. However, after the difficult season we have just endured I believe everyone associated with Bradford and Bingley Rugby Football Club, cannot wait to get going on a new season and get the benighted season just past condemned to the darker reaches of our history.
I cannot fault the spirit of the players who crossed the whitewash week in and week out last season, knowing the odds of a positive outcome were never going to be good. The whole squad stuck together and the collective will in the changing room was as good as as I have ever known it, despite the lack of success out on the paddock. I won’t discuss our preparations for this season in this post as I do not want to pre-empt any messages that the new coaching and management team will want to get out there as we start to prepare for the first weekend in September and a new season.
AGM for 2021/22 etc
As part of our off-field preparations for the coming season, part of the process of putting last season to bed and setting up for the new season is the Club AGM. The AGM will be held on Thursday 30th June at 7pm in the Club house.
As a Rugby Committee we have talked about getting a better structure in place to manage all aspects of the Club. Our Club Chair, Mr Andy Watts, has really grabbed the bull by the horns on this one and is in the final stages of producing a proposed new structure to take us forward and a business plan for the next 5 years. Andy is circulating these proposals around the Committee over the next few days and hopes to share his suggestions with all the Club’s membership before the AGM.
Please look out for these documents landing in your inbox in the coming weeks and please make your best effort to attend the AGM.
Regional 2 North East
You will no doubt be aware that the RFU has finally published its reformed structure for League Rugby in England. The RFU aimed to reduce travelling for clubs and has flattened the League structure with the following four key principles driving its strategy:
Putting player welfare/needs at the forefront of decisions
Ensuring a high quality of player experience
Supporting club sustainability
Minimising travel
This reform means that from the start of season 2022/23, the English Clubs Championship at Level 3 and below will consist of:
a. One league at Level 3
b. Three leagues at Level 4
c. Six leagues at Level 5
d. Twelve leagues at Level 6
e. Approximately sixteen leagues at Level 7*
f. Approximately 20 leagues at Level 8*
g. At Level 9 and below will be determined by the relevant organising committee*
*Exact number of leagues to be determined by final size of leagues, number of team entries and local need.
For the avoidance of doubt, we, The Bees, remain at Level 6, but our league has been renamed Regional 2 North East and reduced to 12 teams from 14.
Another new innovation for this season is the introduction of Cup Rugby. A cup competition with mid-season, optional, entry will be introduced per level from Level 5 and below to provide a varied diet of rugby with final league position determining the competition entered (e.g. Cup, Plate, or Bowl at respective levels).
Cup competitions will take place upon completion of the league season to avoid fixture clashes. The cup competition provides an opportunity for additional home games to compensate for lost home fixtures from the reduction in the league size.
The competition format will be determined such that pools will operate at Level 5 and top tier of Level 6, and with regional knockout waterfall competitions at the bottom tier of Level 6 and for Level 7 and below.
So who do we play?
With the introduction of the new Regional 2 North East league, The Bees will still face some very familiar opposition, but will also be taking the charabanc along roads less travelled.
The other 11 teams in our division are:
Bridlington (promoted from Yorkshire One)
Dronfield (joining us from Midlands 1 East)
Malton and Norton (finished 9th in North One East)
Moortown (finished 8th in North One East)
Morley (finished 11th in North One East)
Old Brodleians (finished 5th in North One East)
Old Crossleyans (promoted from Yorkshire One)
Pocklington (finished 10th in North One East)
Pontefract (promoted from Yorkshire One)
Scarborough (finished 7th in North One east)
Selby (promoted from Yorkshire One)