Calne RFC’s 2004-05 campaign cannot start soon enough. A recent influx of new players, the result of twelve months hard recruitment work, allows the club to proudly announce the official re-instatement of its 2nd team. With this and many other major developments made during the close season it would seem that, the problems and hardships endured during the previous two campaigns are well and truly buried. An extremely busy close season, and an earlier than usual preseason training program, has also benefited the club in a number of ways. It has secured the services of two vastly experienced coaches in John Crozier & Alan Matthews. The club has also signed two, Calne based, former Chippenham RFC players and with word spreading of the changes in general, the new positive & progressive outlook and the new welcoming yet determined ethos, the club continues to attract more much needed first and second team players.

A new Captain in, scrum half, Andy Donegan will lead the 1xv in Dorset & Wilts One. Donegan’s target is to get the club in the top half of the table and then all being well move toward or into the top four. Donegan hopes to give greater 1xv exposure to players in the 22-25 age range such as Mike Smith, John Hope-Smith, Graeme Neale, Mike Palfrey and Mike Robinson, who he considers the present and future of CRFC. He sees Neale and Palfrey as the two to watch out for this year both are physically very strong and are learning the game at a staggeringly fast rate. Donegan will be able to rely on a great deal of support and experience from the likes of Daron Thomas, Neil Young, Alan Wicks, Pete McGarry and Mat Arnold, all of who will verse the new blood in the finer arts of the game. Donegan sees the bulk and presence of Thomas and the tactical astuteness of Young as key factors this year. Should the season go as planned then the selectors can bring in two seventeen year old rising stars, Mike Wells and Matt Ritchie, and give them their first taste of senior competitive rugby.

John Crozier, former London Irish, will lead the coaching and selection of Calne’s growing squad. Alan Matthews MBE will have the task of turning Calne’s small but very mobile pack in to a force to be reckoned with. Whilst the pack was competitive in the loose last season, work needs to be done on the set piece to turn the unit into the finished article. Crozier will need all of his experience to transform some very talented and pacey individuals in to a cohesive back unit which seamlessly links to the forwards to create a new and exciting style of play for Calne RFC. Crozier is undaunted by his task and his no nonsense approach is already having a positive effect. This can be most clearly seen in the recent training attendances. Preseason training numbers are up considerably, on last season, to 18-20 per session and increasing as the season draws near, the upshot is that the club is already seeing competition for places.

The league season kicks off on the 11th of September against Melksham’s Cooper Avon Tyres, at home. Last season CAT convincing beet Calne home and away and Calne are really looking to this game to see what progress they have made and to evaluate what work remains to be done. Prior to the first league fixture, Calne have picked two tough preseason friendly games. The first of which is on the 28th of August away to Bristol’s Imperial RFC. The second is away to Cirencester on the 4th of September. Both games are based a round a four quarter revolving substitutions format so that the coaches can see the new players in action for the first tie before making the crucial selection for the 11th.

With twelve 2xv fixtures to fulfil the club is looking to recruit a dedicated 2xv captain to lead this most important of development for the club. Currently the selection committee will decide the captain prior to each game. The role will then be put on rotation until a candidate comes forward for the remainder of the season. All of the 2xv games are very local and against friendly opposition such as Corsham II’s and Chippenham III’s. With a new selection policy in place and so many 1xv places potentially available, the 2xv is an ideal platform for players to show the selectors their ability. The 2xv is also ideal for players who are happy just to be playing locally and who would enjoy the family friendly atmosphere and social aspect of the club.

Socially, Calne RFC intends to be very active. An end of season tour is planned to Weymouth, where both the 1xv and 2xv will take on their Dorset based counterparts before a much deserved night out. Club chairman, Sean Lambourne, is organising a much anticipated Chairman’s golf day. And the formation of a new social committee will soon be in full force to create a number of events throughout the season.

With the senior section looking in potentially good shape Calne RFC will set about developing its newly formed junior section. Last year saw an influx of players ranging in age from 11 to 16. With Alan Matthews MBE at the helm, the support of Level 1 coach Dave Lucas and a dedicated committee the fledgling section will soon mature into something special indeed. However, targets are fairly modest this year with the emphasis on recruitment. More players are required to strengthen the under 15 and under 13 sides. At the same time the section needs to build a pool of players for the under 14's and most importantly the under 12's. In the meantime, Matthews and Lucas will run practice sessions at the Recreation Ground from 9am on Sunday mornings between games and tournaments to be played throughout the county.