News update from Ventnor Rugby Club 27 July 2023

Pre-Season Training

The pre-season training has been up and running since Thursday 6th July and has seen some excellent numbers on both Tuesday and Thursday sessions.

Head coach Jason Evans is concentrating on passing skills, space perception, support play and patience while Clive Cardwell-Hill – in his capacity of one of the RFU’s Tackle Champions – has been drilling into the guys the new tackle height laws which are bound to cause a few issues when the season starts!

Ventnor RFC pre-season Training 6 July 2023

Image: James Morton

Over fifty different players have attended so far with a session average of twenty-five so we’ve been able to get a great deal done and the spirit has been excellent. Those we have seen so far are:

Ventnor RFC pre-season Training 11 July 2023

Image: James Morton

Sam Anderson (Wight Wolves), Jayden Batchelor, Ed Blake, Emile Bleriot, Josh Braham, Bobby Byrne (youth player), Chris Cardwell-Hill, Clive Cardwell-Hill (coach), Ewan Castle, Jo Coghlan, George Collett, Harry Colson, Jason Coltham, Ben Cooper, Tom Crews, Kyran Elliott, Tommy Engelgardt, Jason Evans (coach), Neil Evans (coach), Fred Fairman, George Finan, Alan Fox, Nathan Frampton, Sam Frampton, Bradley Frances, Dylan Gray, Will Harrison, Jewy Jones (1st XV skipper), Fergus Kenny (coach), Sam Lines, Dan Lythgoe, Hayden Lythgoe (youth player), Charlie Magnurson, Dean Magnurson, Louis Malkin, Callum Martin, Lewy Morton, Ben Mumford (youth player), Claire Mumford (Wight Wolves), Bruce Penny, Alfie Porter (youth player), Tristan (Beast) Price, Todd Riches, Jack Rushton (2nd XV skipper), Ben Savill, Ben Souter, Jac Stemmet, Andy Teague, Cory Turner, Fin Vickers (youth player), Harvey Wheeler and Max Wheeler.

Ventnor RFC pre-season Training 13 July 2023

Image: James Morton

New players – Jayden Batchelor, Ewen Castle, Kyran Elliott, Sam Frampton, Dylan Gray, Bruce Penny – have fitted in seamlessly and have shown great skills and attitude while it’s been great to have been able to include some youth players and a couple of Wight Wolves (Sam Anderson and Wight Wolves skipper, Claire Mumford) in the non-contact aspects of training.

Ventnor RFC pre-season Training 20 July 2023

Image: James Morton

It is also good to welcome back Josh Braham and Will Harrison after injury lay-offs although the news about Harvey Wheeler is less promising since his damaged wrist is still playing up (stop playing golf Harvey!)

Ventnor RFC pre-season Training 25 July 2023

Image: James Morton

There was a great turnout last Thursday with new players – Jake Frampton, Sam Frampton, Bruce Penny and Dylan Gray – showing great promise.

Sadly Jac Stemmet and Neil Evans have decided to hang up their boots but we sincerely hope that they stay close since they both have so much to offer the squad and the club.

Please remember, all are welcome to pre-season training, so – if you want to come along and / or bring a friend – NOW is the time to get involved!

Ventnor Rugby Club donates £250 to the The Better Days Café Ventnor

Roly Toombs of Ventnor RFC with Kirsty Chapman Amy Byford and Karri Brice of Better Days Cafe during funds donation

Following another highly successful Randonnee in May, the hard-working Ventnor RFC volunteers were able to make a £250 donation to The Better Days Café, who occupy premises in the old Central Hotel (right next door to the old VRFC clubroom) and which provides a pathway to employment for people with mental health and learning disabilities as well as acting as a signpost for people to seek assistance for mental health issues and benefit advice. (see photo).

This is our second Randonnee donation, having already supported the Niton Telephone Box Information Centre. – more details here Ventnor Rugby Club donates £250 to the Niton Visitor Information Telephone Box

Ventnor RFC is entering into Ventnor Carnival 2023

News that Ventnor FC Ventnor RFC are entering into Ventnor Carnival 2023.

The club are taking part in the Ventnor Carnival on Wednesday 9th August 2023 (but not the illuminated one on the Saturday).

The theme is a beach one and we’re indebted to Bob Parker and his associates for the use of his transport and various props. It should be a great evening and a good opportunity to spread the word about what goes on at Watcombe – rugby, football and youth football.

If anyone wants to be part of it, please contact me.

Families welcome.

Ventnor Rugby Club Sponsorship

Rog Evans and I are now closing the books on sponsorship so that we can give Andrew Cooper of Gamson Gray a decent chance to get the fixture list ready for print.

If you know anyone who may be interested in Becoming a Club Sponsor, please contact me. We currently have three ‘packages’ to Become a Club Sponsor but time is limited for the forthcoming season sponsorship.

It should be available in mid-August and all sponsors, life members and VPs will receive a copy in the post.

There will also be stock behind the bar. Rog and I would like to thank the sponsors who have once more stepped up to support the club. The response has been simply amazing.

Luke Orton – Crowdfunding Appeal

I’m guessing that most of you have already heard about the dreadful accident suffered by Luke Orton at the South Island Sevens beach rugby tournament last Saturday, for Ryde Rhinos beach rugby team (Instagram).

On Saturday 22nd July Luke was playing in a beach rugby tournament and went in for tackle like any rugby player would. Unfortunately something went horribly wrong.
He has broken his neck (C5 vertebrae) which has pressed onto his spinal cord and left him currently unable to feel anything chest down.
A truly scarey situation for anyone to be in.
Like anyone Luke is just a normal guy with bills to pay, a family and friends worried sick about him and what the future holds.
We are looking to raise some money to help cover travel costs, time of work and anything else the family may need during this terrible time.
The page will be updated as and when there is more information on Lukes recovery and any money raised but not required to help will then be donated to a rugby injury charity or one to support others in similar situations.
Luke himself is just a larger then life character and the news has left everyone who knew him shocked and so worried. But we all know he is a fighter and won’t quit, so will do everything he can to be back to normal once able.
Michael Cooper