NEWS FROM THE CHAIR.....End of Season 2026

“Here Comes the Sun”

This weekend marked the end of another excellent season at Vees as the mini and junior age groups travelled to Havant RFC on the south coast for the annual end of season tour.

As I reflect on the season past, it occurs to me how this club has grown in such as small space of time. Where once, we hosted senior men’s teams, we are now proud to be a home to Rugby Tots, Minis, Juniors, Mini and Senior Warriors, Mens, Vets, and touch rugby teams. All of the squads benefit from the hard work, experience and skills of our coaching team and volunteers without which, this club would not be as successful as it is, and on behalf of the club, I thank them all for their dedication.  

3 members of that team have been nominated as valued volunteers for the annual Honda, RFU Volunteer of the year award.  Chung, Bruce Wilson and Nicola Diplock have all been invited to a dinner hosted by Herts RFU at the end of May, where they will discover if any have made it through to the national final at the Allianz Twickenham Stadium.  

I would also like to announce that the last “Volunteer of the Month” for the season is Juliette Warren for sterling work on the Sunday Volunteers rota every week, always being around to promote raffles, and a top Quiz Mistress.

We also say goodbye to Arlette, who has worked at the club for 28 years. Ross has been working on a new bar team who have hit the ground running, and if anyone is able to help him manage some of the busier evenings please contact him directly.

Congratulations should also be extended to two of our junior teams who have both reached the Herts County Plate finals for their respective age groups.  The U15s fought well, but lost their respective final to the joint Nomads team of St. Alban’s and Welwyn, whilst the U16s beat Camelot 41-21to take home the Plate. There was some strong support for both teams and despite not all results going our way, it was a great experience for all.

The Senior teams have had a decent season, with the highlight of the squads being the transition of some of the ex minis and juniors stepping into the senior teams. This is a testament to the work done at transition level over the last few years to ensure that Vees feels like ‘#OneClub for all players and setting up the future of the club.

The Senior Mens also went on tour at Easter…..we will leave it there I think……

Our pitches are being well looked after, and we are continuing to improve them through the summer. You will notice that the top right has been cordoned off after being weeded and seeded at the end of April. This is to give it maximum time to grow and establish before the start of training less than 3 months away.  

It is advisable to rest all pitches as much as we can during the off-season, with exception of course to the Warriors and Touch Rugby sessions which will continue to run through the summer months. Recovery is essential given the amount of use they get from training and matches in our 10-month season.

Although the contact season is over, the club is still as busy as always.

End of season age group parties, coaches and player award presentations and our usual weekday hires will continues over the next few weeks. We also hope to arrange the usual two workdays in the summer to tidy and spruce up many areas of the club in preparation for the new season.

Inside the clubhouse, the clubroom floor is to be sanded and resealed and various electrical improvements are being made to save power and reduce costs. Repair work has also been completed on the ridge tiles over the changing rooms, the gullies and we are continuing to develop the outside social area as the fundraising allows.  If anyone is able to donate 4 metre bags of mini 10mm aggregate (or similar) to fill the grooves in the entrance to the field before they get too deep and harm car undercarriages, it would be much appreciated!

Lastly, from a club upkeep perspective, please keep saving your empty aluminium cans.   We are nearly at our first target of £2000!

And finally….

Joan Hobbs wishes to thank all who attended the funeral of Doug Hobbs  - past player, grounds maintainer, and former President..   Doug did much to establish the club in the late 50s and 60s. He will be fondly remembered for all he did and the donation of the Honours Boards.  His memory was recognised with good attendance from members of the club. Once a Vee, Always a Vee.

 Have a good summer

Ian “Shank” Graham,

Chair