After their most successful season in 20 years, Slough RFC hosted a day to further develop improving relations with the local community. Organised by a team of volunteers from Slough Rugby Club, the Slough Beer Festival saw several fine beverages from across the Buckinghamshire and Berkshire counties on offer, along with some great music, exquisite Caribbean food and a whopping 150 foot inflatable assault course. The assault course, at first seemingly harmless, was arguably one of the least sensible ideas to have emerged from the Slough Beer Festival creative room. Whilst it proved easy for the many children who were brave enough to traverse it, some of the adults found it a little more of a challenge…

Over 200 people enjoyed their visit to the event over the course of the day, with members from the local hockey and cricket club in attendance, as well as the local running club and the usual suspects from Slough RFC. Over £130 was raised for the British Heart Foundation and a tug of war finally set the records straight – forwards are not just more handsome, witty and successful than backs, they are also better at pulling a rope.

Slough RFC’s 1st team won the ‘Berks Bucks & Oxon Premier’ division this past season and are delighted to have been promoted to the ‘Wadworth 6X Southern Counties North’ league for their 2018/19 campaign. In addition they won the South West Counties Senior Vase. The 2nd team came a close 3rd in their league, completing all games, and hope to build on what was a successful season. With membership numbers increasing, and performance on the pitch improving Slough RFC have embraced the true spirit of rugby this season. The players, members and club community have started to reap the rewards of fostering a more positive, ‘family’ culture both on and off the pitch.

Social Secretary Rhys Amos commented “the sense of community within this rugby club is really quite special. What we want to do is extend this to our local schools, neighbouring sports clubs and business’s to grow the game. The beer festival seemed like a great way of doing this. We would love others to experience the positive psycho-social effects of belonging to a community rugby club (like ours) as well as the physical benefits gained through a little bit of exercise!”

He further commented “it was so nice to see some local residents at the event, we want to make them feel really welcome at our club.”

Mr Amos is entering his fourth year of university and is studying Occupational Therapy. “Rugby at this level is unique because it provides opportunities to enhance individual physical, social and mental wellbeing,” he stated. “For me, and many others, it’s our medicine and maybe one day, we might just see it prescribed on the NHS!”

Overall a successful day, preceded by a successful season, underpinned by Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship. Cheers to one and all!

Rhys Amos