WELCOME
Welcome back to the 23/24 rugby season, I hope you’ve had a fabulous summer and are looking forward to the season ahead. We’d also like to extend a warm welcome to the new parents and players joining us for the first time. The purpose of this note is to convey all salient details for the season ahead – in the instance that you have any queries or request, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

REGISTRATION & COMMUNICATION
Returning players will be familiar with payment via GMS and Pitchero for communications. If you need a refresher, please see below. Returning players do have two critical actions to take…
1. Re affiliate (this links you to the club)
2. Pay your membership
You can do both by clicking on the GMS site

I’ve shown on the screengrab where you need to affiliate and buy membership. Membership this year has been restricted to age – you should only see those categories which are applicable to your player(s). Please note that sibling memberships are offered to provide a discount for second and subsequent memberships. You should not select this membership option for single memberships.
Payments for memberships can be made now. Please don’t wait until start of season.

New Players
All players (and parents) need to be registered on the RFU GMS system (bit.ly/3so77Fl). Subs and memberships are also paid via this portal.
Additionally, all parents will need pitchero and players. Step by step guides for both systems are available from your team managers – it is as easy as 1-2-3. You can click here for a simple click through with QR code to make things simple.
1. Register on GMS as a parent, then add players
2. Register on Pitchero as a parent, and add your children players
3. Pay your membership / subs via GMS
All communication from the club (central and team) will be through Pitchero. Fixtures and availability is set via pitchero – so if you’ve got any issues at all, please get in touch.

This year we have also setup a club app which can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/3ACiizW . Please download to your phone and get familiar. If you would like your business featured on the app, please get in touch.

MANAGING PLAYING TIME
We take player welfare very seriously – and strongly encourage physical activity away from players Club Rugby, but we need to manage training and game time to ensure players are not at risk through insufficient recovery time. Please let your lead coach know if your child is involved in physical activity away from the Club, and if this changes over the season.

HALF GAME TIME
A reminder that we support the Half Game Rule – in short any player selected for a fixture will have the opportunity to play for at least half the game. This means Coaches will be carefully considering team selection, alongside our Team Selection Policy that requires equal game play for all the squad.
Please let your Head Coach or a member of committee know if you have any questions or concerns, or search ‘England Rugby Half Game’ for more information.

VALUES
We expect all players and related parties to respect the values of the game – Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship, whether on or beside the pitch. Please be a positive example to your children by always demonstrating these values.
The Club will take seriously any behaviours that don’t support the values of Rugby.

GIRLS RUGBY
Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports for women and girls in the UK. At Shrewsbury, we have a growing girls rugby section at the club, who play Sunday afternoons. They cater for ages 12 to 18. Please contact Simon Wait (simonwait@gmail.com) for more information.

TOUCH RUGBY
Whether an ex-player or mid-life novice, we’ve got a vibrant touch rugby group which play on Wednesday evenings at the club. This is a brilliant way of getting involved, getting fit or just making some new friends. Participation is free for club members, get in touch with team managers for info.

VOLUNTEERS
This is a community club run by volunteers, generating its own income. If you’ve got any interest in assisting with coaching, refereeing, organising events we’d love to help you get involved. Just get in touch with your team manager or drop me a mail at SRUFC.mjchair@gmail.com

All age groups will be required to undertake volunteer activity to support a fundraising event, run the car-park and support in the kitchen. Your team manager will let you know when it is your turn, please support these requests willingly!

KIT SHOP
Our kit shop has moved online. Please order playing wear etc at https://seaton-sports-limited.myshopify.com/collections/shrewsbury-rugby-club

ADULT MEMBERSHIP
We invite all parents and guardians to join the club themselves – you will have access to the squash club, the ability to use the club house at 50% rate for events, and voting rights at the AGM. And you will be further supporting the Club and have a say in the way we run. Social (VP) membership is £80 for the year and can be selected as a membership option for you when you sign your children up.

ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP
We have bought on board several new sponsors this season and offer both digital and traditional signage sponsorship opportunities. If you’d like to support the club, please get let your team manager know or contact me directly.

CONTINUALLY IMPROVING
We continually strive to improve our club – if you have any ideas on how we can improve please let us know.

THANK YOU for supporting our club this season. We look forward to a fun-filled, enjoyable and safe season ahead.

James Russell
Mini & Junior Chairman
SRUFC.mjchair@gmail.com
07846 949560