I’m really looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the start of a brand-new rugby season at Vandals. The RFU has delayed the formal regional and community season by two weeks. That does not stop us getting started at Vandals.

Our season begins this Sunday, 6 September , with a soft launch and a chance for everyone to get back to the club, catch up after the summer, meet coaches and teammates, and get back into rugby.

Given the current condition of the pitches, we will need to limit physical contact for the time being. Training over the next couple of weeks will focus on age-appropriate skills, fitness, handling and rugby activities, with tackling and heavier contact kept to a minimum until conditions improve.

The full Vandals season gets underway the following Sunday, 13 September, when all age groups will be back and we properly get the new season started.

So, in simple terms:

* Sunday 6 September, soft launch and welcome back to rugby. Please check with your respective team admins to your respective start times. (Some maybe earlier than the advertised 10am)
* Sunday 13 September, full start of the Vandals rugby season across the age groups.
* Contact and tackling will be limited initially because of pitch conditions.
* We will continue with lighter summer-style training while the grounds recover.

And for anyone attending the Summer Ball on Saturday night, Sunday morning should be an interesting test of fitness!

It will be great to see the club busy again and everyone back playing rugby.

Welcome back to Vandals. Welcome back to rugby.

See you Sunday.

Mark and the Team of Coaches