THE Salisbury Women’s Team has gone from strength to strength over the last year and has grown from having five women on the books to now having 12.

The team is led by the coach, Greg Leadsham and the team manager, Laura Nicholson.

The aspiration is for the team to develop fully to be able to play 15s over the winter, but the team has already started to establish itself as a credible 7s team over the summer season.

The next big event for the women is a recruiting day on Saturday, September 8 with an Inner Warrior event on Hudson’s Field.

The team hope to recruit some new players, either with experience or without.

The event starts at 2pm and will last a couple of hours, and include a free meal and pint afterwards.

The Juniors

As a nursery for excellent rugby players, Salisbury Rugby Club punches well above its weight.

We are well known for our former mini players Richard Hill and Mike Brown, who started playing at Hudsons Field from the age of six, going on to represent England and for Richard a starring role in the British Lions.

But every year a number of our young players will leave the Colts (18 year olds) and join the senior ranks.

In recent years, especially with the popularity of gap years before and after university, a number of players have represented and starred for the 1st XV, playing alongside former junior players such as local legends Richard West and Tom Pottage.

Last season’s Players’ Player award was won by David Tonge, a former Wyvern College and Bishops pupil who regularly tops the try-scoring charts, summed up the importance of his mini and junior years: “Salisbury RFC, all the coaches and all the great people have given me my love of rugby, a host of great times and lifetime friends.”

We are looking forward to the class of 2018 following in his footsteps.

Hub for the community

SALISBURY Rugby Club consider themselves to be at the hub of the local community. They are dedicated supporters of many local charities, The Salisbury District Hospital Stars Appeal, The Joe Landon Foundation, The Men’s Group@Salisbury Rugby Club and The Lynne Futcher Memorial Fund to name but a few. Over the Bank Holiday we were pleased to host the T1 Festival in support of Type 1 Diabetes.

The club is also gaining a reputation as one of Salisbury’s better live music venues, regularly hosting live bands and is now a mainstay of the Salisbury Live Festival both during fundraising and as a major player during the event itself. There is also a well attended Beer and Cider Festival held annually.