Portsmouth
The Juniors are the future of the
club and this season it is hoped that we
can bridge the gap and get closer to the
juniors by offering coaching from the
senior coaches and players which in
turn, it is hoped, will inspire the juniors
to stay at the club for their senior rugby.”
Integration
“This season, we hope to have more
senior players and coaches visible at the
club on a Sunday morning. They will
offer support when required and help
the coaches and players in their sessions.
There is also to be someone who will
work alongside the Director of Rugby as
a ‘liaise’ between the seniors and juniors
to help with the transition also through
age groups and into the Colts, then
seniors.”
Potential
“We have a
couple of guys in
our senior team
showing promise
and the coaching
team hope to help
them develop this
season so they may
be in a position to
play at a higher level
than our current league
position allows them too.
We have players in the Juniors
that are playing at county level and
our ladies team, the Valkyries, is thriving
under their coaches and management
and have a good representation in the
Ladies County side.”
Community
“We are a welcoming club and don’t
look to turn people away. No matter
what age, gender or ability we will
give people the opportunity
to try rugby and build a
network for their social
needs. We reach out
to the community,
especially in the
ladies and juniors
by
welcoming
them to the club.
Where
possible
we support our
club members and
we also support
local charities with
an annual Charity game
against a local
medic side.”
Challenges
“We would
like to have a 4G
pitch
installed.
If we get a 4G
pitch that means
we can open up
the club to other
sports to use it. This
becomes a challenge
because we wouldn’t
want to lose the ethos of
the rugby club but we would
have to open the club to other sports
for membership and provide them with
a facility they are happy to pay to use.
On the playing side, the biggest
challenge we face is that there is a small
player base with a number of clubs in
close proximity, playing a similar level.
We are not in a position to pay our
players so we offer them the best off
field assistance that we can. We are
lucky that we have ties with
Portsmouth
University
and their Sports Science
Department
has
recently been voted
the best in the
country.
Dr
Gemma
Milligan from this
department, along
with some of her
students, head up
the clubs strength
and
conditioning
which is a fantastic
resource for us to have.
They can do nutrition and
exercise programmes for individual
players, as well as warm them up, group
fitness exercises and work in conjunction
with the physio’s to work on players
rehab, when required.”
Ambitions
“Should we be successful in being
granted permission to have a 4G pitch
we would want to become the largest
community sports facility in the north of
the city without stopping the facility and
club primarily being at Rugby Club.”
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