A WARM WELCOME to Hungerford RFC, where we run thriving Mini’s Rugby teams for boys and girls aged 5 to 12, along with Junior teams for ages 13 to Colts (17). In addition we run U12s, U14s and U16s girls teams through our partnership with Thatcham RFC – the West Berks. Warriors. Lastly and most proudly, we are the first club in the area to offer mixed ability rugby through our wonder Tigers team.
Our committed coaches are all fully DBS-checked and many of them have significant playing experience, including from our own seniors team. They are led by RFU-qualified experienced head coaches, ensuring an unrivalled quality of coaching and nurturing for your children.
At Hungerford RFC we are steadfast in being kids-first. We welcome children of all ability and offer playing time and access to rugby for all.
We live to rugby’s core values and use them in our coaching and in discussions with children and volunteers alike. As a club, we are passionate about developing fine young people as well as top-tier rugby players. Our Minis and Juniors is about the children and for the children.
Key things to know:
WHEN DO WE PLAY?
The playing season runs from the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in May. Training takes place on Sundays for all age groups (weather and pitch conditions permitting). For our U7s onwards, we play both home and away fixtures. Our Juniors, U13s onward also compete in league and cup competitions throughout Berkshire.
Minis training (Under 6s to Under 12s) is held on Sunday mornings between 10am and 11.30pm.
Juniors training (Under 13s to Under 16s boys) takes place normally on Wednesday evenings, with matches or additional training on Sundays.
Our West Berks Warriors Girls train on Thursday evenings with home and away matches or additional training on Sundays. The venue for training alternates between our home ground or Thatcham RFC’s Henwick pitches.
WHERE DO WE PLAY?
The club is located to the south of Hungerford’s town centre at the Triangle Field in Priory Road. There is free parking on site, but this is limited and can become busy on Sunday matchdays.
Our full address is:
Hungerford RFC
Triangle Field
Priory Road
Hungerford
RG17 0AN
To maintain the safety and cleanliness of our pitches and clubhouse, no dogs are permitted on site. Please respect this when visiting us.
Parents and carers are expected to remain on-site during training sessions or matches to support their children and to be available in the event you're needed. You are very welcome to make use of the clubhouse and our world famous The Sin Bin food and hot drink catering.
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HOW TO JOIN
We offer free taster sessions to new players for their first few sessions. This is an excellent way of letting your child decide if rugby is for them. They'll be immediately welcomed by the team and the coaches and integrated fast into our game-play. Absolutely no experience is necessary and everyone is welcome. Simply come along and join in (although always a good idea to get in touch with the coaches or Team Managers in the week before in case the team is away). Our Team Managers will guide you through the membership process and discuss fees and kit requirements.
Hungerford RFC is proud to offer its pioneering Play4All scheme which offers membership and kit to those who need it. This ensures that no one who wants to play rugby will ever miss out. A discrete conversation with the Team Manager is all that's needed.
WHAT TO BRING
Make sure your child brings a water bottle and sportswear appropriate to the weather. We recommend layers for colder days. There is no expectation to purchase club kit immediately.
Studded rugby (or football) boots are essential footwear for playing on the pitch. (We have a boot exchange at the club to help keep costs down and reduce waste. Feel free to bring an old pair and swap them as your child's feet grows). In warmer months, trainers with grip may be permissble given the ground can get quite hard. Studded boots are a requirement for matches. We strongly recommend the use of a gumshield during contact training or matches for players aged Under 9 and above. Limited quanitites of gumshields are available to purchase at the Clubhouse. Some players may also choose to wear a scrum cap.
If your child has asthma, inhalers should be labeled with their name and brought to every session. You should declare any medical conditions when you sign-up.
Since rugby is primarily a winter sport, consider providing waterproofs and warm clothing for both players and parents. In line with rugby's core value of RESPECT, boots are not allowed in the Clubhouse, so having a clean pair of shoes is a good idea.
During summer training, focus is primarily on fitness and conditioning. Trainers are fine. Consider a hat and sun-cream for warmer days.
CLUB KIT
Hungerford RFC proudly play in their famed porter-and-claret vertical striped kits, black shorts and porter-and-claret socks.
A selection of Minis and Juniors kit (and accessories) is available from the Clubhouse each Sunday morning via our kit team Luisa and Hannah. Additionally, our club kit website has items available to order. If there is something you need that is not carried by the online store, please ask Luisa or Hannah.
For our Juniors and West Berks. Warriors Girls teams, match kit is provided for playing matches. This should be returned at the end of each match and we will seek volunteers from the parents and carers to launder it ready for when we go again. After matches or for club special events, in line with our RESPECT and DISCIPLINE values, junior boys are expected to wear their number 1s - white shirt, club tie and smart trousers/shorts. Club ties are provided on joining the club at the first time they're needed and are kept by the players. Lost ties will need to be replaced at parent or carer (or player!) cost. Our girls are expected to wear their WBW black polo shirts.
BEING WEATHER-READY
Our season runs from September to May and therefore we have to accommodate the Great British weather. We're fortunate to have resilient pitches to help keep disruptions minimal. We love rain and we encourage our young players to embrace the conditions. Rain makes the ground softer, which in turn makes things more fun and provides a nice cushion during contact. Of course, this also means getting very muddy and often very cold. We ask parents and carers to ensure your child is dressed in a suitable manner to avoid disruption to sessions. We find children being cold one of the lead reasons for disengaging with the sport - happily, there's a very easy solution to this. Layers. Easier to take off something you do have than put on something you don't.
You may wish to bring a spare change of clothes - changing facilities can be made available to all players. And note that boots and overly muddy kit is not allowed in the Clubhouse.
If the weather is such that training is untenable, we will do our best to communicate via Team Managers as quickly as possible. However, decisions on this are always taken by the committee the morning of the event so as to minimise unnecessary cancellation. Please be patient and please keep close to our communication platforms.
Additionally, we run summer training sessions. Please be prepared therefore for the impacts of heat and bring water bottles and plenty of water (refillable at taps at the Clubhouse). You may also wish to include a sun hat or cap to your child's kit and some suncream.
TEAM COMMUNICATIONS
Organising any team sport requires a lot of support and we welcome the help of of volunteers. We need to rely on parents to meet us halfway with using the club communications channels.
As a Minis and Juniors club, we use WhatsApp for primary communications and Spond for training and fixture attendance monitoring. Important club-wide communications will be sent via WhatsApp through Parent groups administered by your Team Manager and Coaches. Additionally, we are active on social media and you should be sure to follow our feeds to stay up-to-date:
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HungerfordRugbyFootballClub |
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Hungerford_RFC |
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@hungerfordrfc |
CLUB FACILITIES
Our club is your club. We have four changing rooms available for use (normally reserved for matchdays), plus accessible toilets inside and out of the clubhouse. You are free to enjoy the club's facilities including its well stocked bar (unofficially the best Guinness this side of Dublin). Our legendary Sin Bin hot food and drink outlet is available on all matchdays with barista-style coffees and luxury hot chocolates available to compliment the best burgers money can buy.
FIXTURES & TOURS
All of our teams (with the exception of our foundational Under 6s) should expect to play regular training matches against other clubs from the local area. For Juniors (U13s onward) and Girls (U14s) onward, competitive matches are scheduled as part of participation in league and cup competitions. The season's fixtures are arranged in advance by Gareth our fixtures secretary. All information will be loaded to Spond at the start of each season by your Team Manager. You will be asked to confirm attendance about ten days prior to the event to help our club (or the club we're visiting) plan sessions and catering.
In addition to matches, the Minis section typically expect to enter two festivals a season. These are always excellent days of fun rugby against teams from far and wide and give the opportunity to put skills and match practice to the test. There are normally awards given for the teams who best demonstrate the core values of rugby, although there is no score kept, nor outright winner declared. Hungerford RFC encourage big travelling support at these events and love to revel in each others' successes through our communications channels.
Juniors age groups are also able to organise tours, which are always great fun and an excellent way to galvanise team spirit and forge life-long bonds. Your team manager will keep you informed of any tour plans, however it is expected that teams fund-raise to be able to go. This is an opportunity anchored in purpose to give back to the community and have fun raising money for what will be unforgettable events.
Socially, the club organise regular trips to professional matches, including trips to Twickenham to see England Men and Women. The women's game has been very well supported by our club members with regular turn-outs at Red Roses matches.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Hungerford RFC take health and safety seriously at our club, with trained first aiders available each week to address on-field injuries. Parents are expected to remain on-site during training sessions or matches to support their children and be available in case of any such injury, even though these are quite rare.
Our coaches are also qualified first aiders, and during the season, we run courses in First Aid and Safeguarding. As a parent, if you are interested in attending these courses or volunteering to assist the club, please contact our Juniors' Chair, Helen Daunton.
If your child is ill or injured, please inform your Coaches or Team Manager so that they can tailor their session accordingly. A copy of all of our Safeguarding Policies can be found on our website, which aligns with the current RFU Safeguarding policies and procedures. For any questions or concerns, contact in the first instance Helen
DISCIPLINE
An integral part of rugby's core values is DISCIPLINE. Playing rugby involves some risks, and we maintain a firm but fair approach to conduct. If a child's conduct becomes unacceptable or dangerous, they will receive an explanation and be asked to refrain from the behaviour. If the behaviour persists, they may be instructed to sit out the session for ten minutes. In case of continued misbehaviour, your Team Manager or Coach will discuss the matter with the child's parent or carer.
The club operate a zero tolerance approach to any form of abuse levelled at players, officials, volunteers and supporters. We strive for a safe and welcoming environment and will not compromise on this.
PARENTAL SUPPORT
Your support as parents is essential for your child's rugby journey. We believe the time spent travelling to and from rugby sessions can be a valuable bonding opportunity. When offering feedback to your child, focus on their progress and effort rather than the outcome, as outcomes are often beyond their control. Words of encouragement like 'Play hard!' and 'Enjoy yourself!' before a game, or 'How did you play?' and 'Did you enjoy yourself?' after a game, can make a significant difference. Above all, the best six words a child can hear after playing are 'I love to watch you play.'
VOLUNTEERING AT HUNGERFORD RFC
Our club is entirely run by volunteers, and we rely on our members to lend a hand when needed. There may be weeks when we are short on volunteers for various tasks, and we appreciate your willingness to step up when asked. If you are interested in getting more involved with training, team management, or general administration, we would very much welcome your contribution! Please talk to your Team Manager or Coaches or Chair to learn more about how you can use your talents to help.
REGISTRATION AND FEES
For new players, we offer free training taster sessions to allow them to experience rugby and determine if they enjoy the game before committing. However, once they decide to join, it is a club requirement for all participating adults and children to become fully paid-up and registered members. This ensures that players under our care are protected by our Minis & Juniors section rules and covered by relevant insurance. You can find more information and fees at the Membership part of our website
Once membership is processed, club members can request an HRFC Membership Card. This enables cashless payments for drinks at the bar with a 10% discount on purchases. You can add funds to the card over the bar upon which your 10% rebate is added to your balance. Full details can be found here.
Members are eligible to vote on committee appointments at AGMs. They can also join the ballot for international tickets for the Guinness Six Nations and Autumn Nations Series matches.
WHO'S WHO AT THE CLUB?
In addition to your team's Manager and Coaches, you will likely meet officials and committee members from the wider club. Our Chair, Helen is supported by her Secretary, Matt and Treasurer, Kerry. Lou is our Membership Secretary and likely your first port of call. Other members of the committee look after Safeguarding, First Aid, Coaching, Matchday fixtures and Social elements.
We pride ourselves on our safe and inclusive environment catering for all ages, all abilities and all backgrounds.
And then our parents and carers. We do what we do because we share an ambition to make rugby accessible to all. And we can only do that with your commitment to keep bringing your sons and daughters. We're thrilled you would choose us to start your child's rugby journey and we commit to doing all that we can to live to our values and give them the best start to rugby we can. We look forward to creating lasting core memories for and with them.
If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to talk to one of our team.
