TGIF at Washington
Washington RFC were really struggling in recent seasons, with only four players turning up to training but, with RFU support, they have emerged from a period when they needed to add to the committee and were unable to fulfil matches to a much more optimistic time.
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There is now lots of positivity around the club as they have opted for Friday night floodlit fixtures as those were the most popular last season. To hang on to players who want to continue playing Saturday games, Washington has joined with Gateshead RFC, just five miles away. Gateshead’s 3rd team will now include players from both clubs, while matches at Washington will be the Friday night offer.
Recently Washington, having sent five players to Gateshead the week before, had five Gateshead players featuring for them the following Friday. Where possible they keep the two clubs’ fixtures a week apart and many of the Gateshead players were on the side lines to support Washington as they played away at Ryton. Washington have also hosted their first Touch Union session to offer their members touch rugby. Ten people turned up for the inaugural session and the club is promoting their Tuesday sessions locally.
Friday night games take place at home and away, and having travelled to Gosforth, the visitors won an exciting match with the last kick of the game. In this game, the team featured four players who came through the 'beginners return to rugby' programme in the summer and two centres new to the club and game. Six new players also signed on as full annual members thanks to the return to rugby initiative.
This was also Gosforth’s first second team game in years and Washington enjoyed both their win and the hosts’ fine hospitality. “This is what rugby is all about!” said one player.
The rebuilding of Washington RFC continues in year two of their determination to grow numbers and, working with the RFU, they are gaining volunteers, recruiting players and pursuing local funding opportunities for player recruitment projects.
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