Birmingham Moseley: It Means Everything
Glorious sunshine, the first home game of the club’s 150th season and England’s World Cup opening match with a homegrown talent in the squad. On Saturday, the stage was set for a special day at Birmingham Moseley rugby club.
Birmingham Moseley is a club that has produced many talented rugby players throughout its 150-year history, including England’s World Cup debutant Ollie Lawrence.
“It’s a matter of real pride that someone has started here and is in a World Cup. They are kind of our guys and they’ll always be welcome here, and they’ll always be a part of Moseley,” says Jeremy Summers, director and president elect.
Javan Bramhall, vice-chair of the mini and junior section, says: “Our job is to make people love rugby, that’s the first job. But to see that there is a path, from starting as a six-year-old at Moseley all the way through to the England set up and the World Cup in France is just absolutely fantastic.”
Ollie is not the only member of his family who has played for Birmingham Moseley. Ollie’s father, Mike Lawrence, also played for the club in the 1980s and was part of the team that won the John Player Cup in 1982. Pictures of Mike and the rest of the team are on display in the clubhouse and in the club’s 150th anniversary book.
Generational feel
Generations of rugby players are something the club is particularly proud of.
“It is the lovely thing about this club, the generational aspect of it. We have children whose fathers played here, their grandfathers played here, their great-grandfathers played here. The club has a lovely family feel, but a generational feel as well,” said Lynda Batchelor, director and head of the community foundation at the club.
“My father was a second World War Lancaster pilot and retrained as a schoolmaster. He came to Birmingham in 1947 and joined Moseley as a front-row forward. Years later, I joined Moseley as a front-row forward. My son still plays for the club as a centre so it’s a little bit of a family business, a family tradition. There are so many examples of it, it kind of gets in your DNA and you want your family, your legacy to be the same,” said John Richards, director and former president of the club.
Memories I’ll cherish
“I remember my first game in the age group playing tag rugby at one of the tournaments. Being there with my dad and some friends, definitely memories I’ll always cherish,” said Ollie Lawrence, reflecting on his time at the club.
The emotion heard in Mike Lawrence’s voice when he shouted “That’s my boy!” as Ollie ran onto the field in England’s opening victory in France shows what it means for the families of England’s players. And with a thriving age-grade section, newly created girls’ teams, walking rugby, as well as senior men’s and women’s teams and a crowd of over 600 for Saturday’s match, it’s clear to see that rugby means everything to this club too.
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