Ampthill Rugby Club

Please note that the gates to the Rugby Club have been closed on the advice of the Police.
We politely remind you that the club and it’s pitches are private land and should not be used for exercising or walking dogs!
Stay safe and please #StayATHome

If you're bored at home and need something to read then downloads of all of our programmes from this season are now available on the website!
Stay safe and please #StayAtHome
https://www.ampthillrufc.com/about/progra mmes/

Everybody at the club was saddened to hear of the passing of ex-1st XV player, Geoff Bailey this week.
Mark Bailey would like to organize a pub crawl around Ampthill in Geoff's memory as soon as this is possible. Mark can be contacted via his Facebook page.

Some of you may have missed the Director of Rugby's appearance on Sky Sports News on Monday morning:
https://youtu.be/LbsF12_gDc4

The Clubhouse is now fully closed until further notice. Please remember that the club and its pitches are private land and should not be used for exercising or walking dogs. Stay safe everyone and please #StayAtHome

Thanks to @lukxpics (give him a follow on Instagram) for putting this together for us - six of our best tries this season in Greene King IPA Championship Rugby
Which is your favourite?
https://youtu.be/V3tdDFLGTw0

Further to our statement on Saturday 21st March (https://www.ampthillrufc.com/ampthill-st atement-regarding-…/) the Committee of Ampthill & District Community RUFC have given consideration to arrangements for pre-purchased 1st XV Match Tickets and Hospitality.
Given that there is every likelihood that the RFU will confirm Newcastle Falcons promotion to the Gallagher Premiership, we will be refunding all pre-purchased tickets and hospitality for the fixture that should have tak...en place on 2nd May 2020. Ticket holders can expect an email and a refund via their purchase method in the next seven days.
Tickets and hospitality bookings for all other fixtures will be valid for the equivalent fixture in the 2020/21 season.
The Committee would appreciate the support of the clubs members, corporate partners and supporters at this difficult and unprecedented time for the club, our sport and our nation as a whole. If anybody is experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 and would prefer a refund, the club will understand and will work with individuals to facilitate these. Please email marketing@ampthillrufc.com.
Again, we thank you for your ongoing support and wish you all the very best of health.
Bill Warfield Treasurer Ampthill & District Community RUFC
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Membership fees for the season 2019/20
The membership rate imposed by the club at the AGM is an annual membership to a private members club (Ampthill RUFC). The benefit to members is, like other clubs and societies, that we allow them to pay it over eight months rather than all at once at the beginning of the season, however, the fee is set to take account of the expenditure to run the club for a year. Clearly the costs run throughout the twelve-month period and the club tr...easurer budgets for the quiet/out of season summer period throughout the year based on, for example, membership fees, sponsorship, bar sales and shop sales.
The cost of running the club still exists. We will still need to pay for contracts such as electricity (to keep the cellar and food stocks maintained, keep the alarms, phones and internet running). We will need to pay for water and other services. Last but not least we will need to pay staff to maintain the site, plan for next year and keep the premises and club ticking over.
We understand that this is a difficult and unprecedented time worldwide and our planning has been reviewed daily, following guidance from the Government and RFU directives. Based on this advice we have now had to suspend access to the club for our member's own safety and that of the wider community.
Our current position is that based on the above club needs we would ask that any member who approaches the club to request a cancellation of club funds is reminded of payment terms and the need to maintain the club and staff over the twelve-month period. Therefore at this stage we believe that we should not cancel the remaining fees owed by members.
As always, the committee has an overriding ability to look at individual cases. If a member is suffering extreme hardship then of course we will look at the individual case and try to support and assist them regarding fees.
Alex Radley Chairman Ampthill and District Community RUFC
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DRAFT BEER SALE!!!
As the rugby season is now over and the clubhouse is closed for the indefinite future, we are selling off all remaining draft beer tomorrow AM (Sunday)
We’ll be there from 10am to 1pm. £1/pint - please bring your own container to takeaway!
... We also have a number of bottles of gin to clear - £10-20.
Note: Beer is for Takeaway Only and not to be consumed in the clubhouse!
Cash or Debit/Credit Card only - no members cards.
When It’s Gone, It’s Gone!
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Following the RFU announcement yesterday morning that the 2019/20 season would end with immediate effect, the Committee of Ampthill & District RFC have issued the following statement:
‘These are difficult times for the whole rugby family and we understand the RFU’s decision that the 2019/20 season will be ending immediately. These are unchartered waters for all of us, with no clear indication as to how long this pandemic will affect us.
The club only found out about the RFU a...nnouncement yesterday morning, and about 20 minutes before it was released to the public. We requested a short delay so that we could communicate with our players, members and corporate partners but regret this did not happen.
The Committee appreciate that our members, supporters and corporate partners will have a variety of questions about the impact of this decision and we would appreciate all of your patience whilst we work through the implications of multiple pathways on the club. We are also waiting for advice as to any support that we can expect from both the Government and Twickenham.
Further announcements will follow as soon as we are able. In the interim, we again request your patience and we wish all members of the Ampthill Rugby community the very best of health at this time.”
📷 Prime Media Images
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RFU Confirms end of 2019/20 season!
My thoughts and those of all of us at the RFU are with everyone impacted by COVID-19 as well as recent flooding events, both across the country at large but also within our own rugby union community.
In order to provide clarity and to assist with immediate and longer term planning, the Rugby Football Union is today announcing the end of the 2019/20 rugby season for all league, cup and county rugby in England. The only exception to this is ...
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‪No rugby this week so we thought we’d run a Caption Competition. The comment with the most likes by 5pm on Sat 21st Mar will win a pair of tickets to our next home 1st XV fixture (obviously that date is TBC!) ‬

Match report from the Jets v ON’s with added images and gallery from Actuance!
Thanks Iain!
... https://www.actuance.photo/…/20200315-a mpthill-jets-vs-old-…
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Following the RFU suspension of “all rugby activity until 14th April” yesterday, our home 1st XV fixtures with Bedford Blues (28th Mar) and Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club (11th Apr) have been postponed.
All tickets and hospitality booked for these fixtures will be valid for the re-arranged fixtures, once dates are known.
Any changes to the above will be communicated through our website and social media channels

‪The RFU has suspended “all rugby activity” until 14th April. Full statement here:
https://www.englandrugby.com/…/rugby-fo otball-union-suspend…

Ampthill RUFC U14’s – East Midlands Cup Winners!
In front of a very good crowd, Bedford Athletic Rugby Club played host on Sunday to the final of the under 14’s East Midlands Cup between Ampthill and Luton Rugby. The game started very equally with neither side making too much headway as the magnitude of the day was obviously weighing very heavily on all minds.
... Luton however were first to make a breakthrough on the back of a penalty conceded by Ampthill on the halfway line. A very good kick to touch gave Luton a lineout around the 5 metre mark which they took very well and moved the maul over the try line despite a good defensive effort by Ampthill. The conversion was short putting the score at Luton 5, Ampthill 0. Ampthill didn’t let their heads drop however and were quick to put the pressure back on Luton with several good phases of attack against a strong Luton defence.
The last play of the first half was the turning point seeing Ampthill’s James Litchfield pick the ball from the back of a ruck and run down the blindside breaking through multiple tackles to get Ampthill off the mark in the corner. Rafe Witheat then narrowly missed what was a difficult kick leaving it all square at 5-5 at half time. Ampthill carried the momentum from the late try into the second half and restarted with no less grit and determination. Ampthill’s second try came soon after with a scrum on Luton’s 22 picked by James Litchfield from the back and charging over the line. Rafe Witheat then converted to put Ampthill 12-5 up. Ampthill then continued to show an outstanding display of defence and were holding Luton to their own half until Luton found a gap shipping the ball to their inside center who broke through our line and the try for Luton looked on, William Wilkins and Rafe Witheat however put on a fantastic turn of pace for a double tackle into touch. Ampthill then retained possession until the clock ran out and they kicked the ball into touch to end the game and secure the cup. Every member of the squad gave everything they had and thoroughly deserved the win. It was also great to see several members of the Ampthill 1st XV squad and head coach, Paul Turner had made the trip to watch.
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Match Report: Ampthill Jets 35 v 19 Old Northamptonians
In front of a decent size crowd, including the Club Chairman and Director of Rugby, a Jets squad aided and abetted by players from the 5ths, Extras and Pisporians squads took on an ONs side on the championship pitch at Ampthill.
Now, Coronvirus permitting, we go through to play Peterborough Lions in the final at Goldington Road - Bedford Blues ground next month. Last season Peterborough Lions were playing National League... rugby, the Jets were playing Herts and Middlesex Merit tables rugby against 2nd and 3rd teams!
Fortunately, the government's planned stay at home and isolate policy for the older generation has not yet been introduced otherwise half the Jets forwards today would have been in quarantine!
Scrummaging though is what props Spavs 'the fridge' and Phil 'the immovable object' Donbavand love doing and they not only provided the platform for a domineering scrum they were also prominent in the loose, not bad seeing as their combined age nearly warrants a telegram from the Queen! Donbers found himself in space at one stage before his agoraphobia kicked in!
ONs started the game strong with good ball retention, leading to several Jets indiscretions and it was from a quick tap penalty that the opening try was scored by ONs for a 0-7 lead. This seemed to inspire the Jets though and soon after right-wing James Kearns (shirt sponsor Webb and Company) bagged the Jets first try converted by full-back Will Norford (shirt sponsor Castle Lane Garage) one of 5 successful conversions by Will for a 100% record on the day. All Jets towards the end of the first half and it was frustrating to be held up over the line in the last play of the half.
The second half saw a really dominating spell from the Jets, leading to Kearn's second try plus tries from Spavs (shirt sponsor Sky Line) and skipper Eric Edwin (shirt sponsored by RD Designs) and the Jets looked like they were coasting at 28-7. But ONs fought back strongly with 2 more tries of their own. As the picture shows it took a try from 6 inches out for backs coach Colin Liddell (shirt sponsor Laser Swat) to settle the Jets nerves.
Fantastic performance with the Jets now into both the Bedfordshire and East Midlands Cup finals, not bad for a third XV. Man of the match could have gone to Pete Smith for an absolutely lung-busting performance in both defence and attack, but the old softie in me says Simon Spavins has to have it - for not only a great performance but also earlier in the day leading his Under 14s to East Midlands Cup glory. Well done Spavs and the 14s. Come on you Jets.
JC
Starting Line-Up
1. Simon Spavins 2. Alex Crawford 3. Phil Donbavand 4. Pete Smith 5. Bill Ward 6. Josh Burton 7. Adam Shelley 8. Tom Watson 9. Isaac Jabri 10. Colin Liddell 11. Tom Clark 12. Eric Edwin (Capt) 13. Paul Mason 14. James Kearns 15. Will Norford
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Good luck to the Ampthill Ladies RUFC against Welwyn today! 1pm Kick Off