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CRANBROOK V HEATHFIELD SATURDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021, KICK OFF 3.00PM, SANDS PITCH

CHAIR’S WELCOME 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021

Welcome to Cranbrook Sports Club, the home of Cranbrook RFC!

After the last 18 months or so, it is certainly great to be able to welcome everyone to our first lunch of the 2021/22 season, housed in our newly acquired marquee. I think you’ll agree this additional space is excellent and is going to be so beneficial to us as a club going forward, allowing us to host more of our sponsors, volunteers, members, and guests on occasions such as today, but as well as giving us the much-needed covered space outside of our clubhouse.

The first of this season's matches for our seniors kicked off last Saturday, where unfortunately we saw the 1XV lose away at Southwark Lancers after a nightmare 2.5-hour journey meant they arrived 15 minutes before kick-off but nonetheless, played a tough game, and the Nomads secure an excellent win over Canterbury III, especially noting the 2nd half where the Nomads fought back hard. On Sunday, we saw our fantastic ladies narrowly lose to Heathfield 17-12, in a match that was cut short due to a head injury to one of our ladies, who thankfully is recovering and joins us today. The Gerbils had to postpone their match on Saturday, but this has now been rearranged for later in the season- having a 3rd team out for the first time in many years is a real testament to the hard work of our Senior coaches and to our volunteers that dedicate so much time to the club each week.

The inaugural Weald Games Day back in August was a roaring success, with the sun shining and upwards of 1500 people enjoying the day. The success of the day meant that we were able to make gratefully received charitable donations to both Kent Air Ambulance and The Hospice in the Weald. Success is not only measured in money taken, but by the positive exposure that the day bought for the whole club- we have seen quite a few new members turn up on Sunday morning training because they enjoyed the Weald Games! Thanks again must go to Chris and Julie Hambridge and all the volunteers that made the day such a success!

Today’s match programme is sponsored by Hire4Lower, who are proud to be club sponsors. We have some great supporters of the club that show their commitment by sponsoring. Not only do they benefit from being involved in one of the most proactive clubs with arguably one of the best pitches in the Southeast, but they also get the benefit of club membership, bar discounts, club lunch invites, sponsor lunch invites, an opportunity to entertain their friends and clients. Sponsors can also include family club membership in the sponsor’s package. If you run a business and would like to support Cranbrook Sports Club, please contact chris@mcveighparker.co.uk for more details.

Michelle Forknall

Club Chair

Future Dates

2nd October 1sts v Pulborough away. 3.00 PM

Nomads at home vs Snowdon CW. 3.00 PM

Gerbils away to Tunbridge Wells II. 3.00 PM

3rd October Cranbrook ladies are away on Tour to Blackpool....

Where's Wally?

9th October Nomads away at Charlton Pak II. 2.30 PM

16th October 1sts v Bromley at home. 3.00 PM

Nomads away at Thanet II. 3.00 PM

Gerbils away at Lordswood II. 3.00 PM

17th October Cranbrook Ladies v Canterbury Ladies away. 2.00 PM

23rd October 1sts v Dover at home. 3.00 PM

Nomads at home vs Dover II. 3.00 PM

24th October Cranbrook Ladies v TJs Ladies at home. 2.00 PM

#Strengthandhonour 'Oneclub

WHAT A ROARING SUCCESS THE WEALDEN GAMES WERE...

The sun shone brightly on rugby, food and drink and a variety games for all the family ranging from welly wanging to cow pat bingo. Here's to next year!

GLOBAL LAW TRIALS

This season sees the introduction of the new law variations that have been on trial since 1st August 2021. A summary is as follows:

1) 50:22 lineout throw in

If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents’ 22, they will throw into the resultant lineout. The ball cannot be passed or carried back into the defensive half for the 50:22 to be played. The phase must originate inside the defensive half.

‘Indirectly’ means the ball must bounce before going into touch.

Why?

To encourage the defensive team to put more players in the backfield, thereby creating more attacking space and reducing defensive line speed.

Law wording – Law 18.8a:

A player, in their own half, kicks the ball indirectly into touch in the opposition’s 22.

Lineout is where the ball reaches the touchline

Who throws it in? – The kicking team

2) Goal line drop-out

If the ball is held up in in-goal, there is a knock-on from an attacking player in in-goal or an attacking kick is grounded by the defenders in their own in-goal, then play restarts with a goal line drop-out anywhere along the goal line.

Why?

To encourage variety in attacking play close to the goal line and to increase ball in play time by replacing a scrum with a kick that must be taken without delay. An opportunity for counter attack is also created.

Law wording

Law 12 (restart kicks section)

Play is restarted with a goal line drop-out when:

 The ball is played or taken into in-goal by an attacking player and is held up by an opponent.

 An attacking kick, other than a kick-off, restart kick following a score, drop goal or penalty attempt, is grounded, or made dead by the defending team in their own in-goal.

 An attacking player knocks on in the opponents’ in-goal.

Law 21.16 -Ball held up in-goal

When a player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal so that the player cannot ground or play the ball, the ball is dead. Play restarts with a goal line drop-out.

3) Flying wedge

To outlaw the three person pre-bound mini-scrum by redefining the flying wedge.

Why?

To reduce number of events where the ball carrier and multiple support players are in contact (latched) prior to contact, and to protect the tackler who can be faced with the combined force of three opposing players.

Law wordings

New definition of ‘latched’: Bound to a team-mate prior to contact

[Binding definition: Grasping another player’s body firmly between the shoulders and the hips with the whole arm in contact from hand to shoulder]

Amended definition of ‘flying wedge’:

An illegal type of attack, which usually happens near the goal line, either from a penalty or free-kick or in open play. Team-mates are latched on each side of the ball-carrier in a wedge formation before engaging the opposition. Often one or more of these team-mates is in front of the ball-carrier.

Law 9.22: Teams must not use the ‘flying wedge’.

4) 1-player pre-latched

The trial recognises the potential for 1-player pre-latching prior to contact. This will be deemed legal, but this player must observe all of the requirements for a first arriving player, particularly the need to stay on their feet.

Why?

To be more consistent in the management of the 1-person pre-latched player.

5) Cleanout and the safety of the jackler

To introduce a sanction for clean outs on the jackler (now defined) which target or drop weight onto the lower limbs.

Why?

To reduce injury risk to the player being cleaned out.

Law wordings

New definition of a ‘Jackler’: The jackler is the first arriving team-mate of the tackler at the tackle. They must remain on their feet to contest directly onto the ball. If previously involved in the tackle, they must first clearly release the ball carrier before contesting for the ball.

Law 9.20 – Dangerous play in a ruck or maul.

New section D) A player may lever the jackler out of the contest at the ruck but must not drop their weight onto them or target the lower limbs. Penalty kick

There a variety of examples of video clips on the World Rugby website

PHOTOS FROM LAST WEEK'S NOMADS MATCH....

After a shaky start, the Nomads asserted their dominance in the scrum and from a 12-28 half time deficit secured a 29-28 win with a dominant second half display that even saw some tries go begging. Well done lads on a great perfomance!

Concussion Awareness

In light of the bad concussion injury that one of our Ladies received last Sunday against Heathfield, it is worth bearing in mind concussion awareness in our game.

Concussion is very much part of rugby nowadays, which in many cases can be put down to poor tackling technique. A very useful guide can be viewed in the RFU's online "Headcase" e-learning programme at which I would advise any prospective coach/referee/teacher or fan of the game to complete. It's also worth pointing out that concussion can occur in any physical sport or in every day life and is not just confined to the great game of rugby.

What is concussion?

Sport related concussion is a traumatic brain injury resulting from a blow to the head or body which results in forces being transmitted to the brain. This typically presents as a rapid onset of short-lived impairment of brain function that resolves spontaneously.

This impairment results from a functional disturbance, rather than a structural injury, and no abnormality is seen on standard hospital scans. A range of signs and symptoms are typically seen, affecting the player's thinking, memory, mood, behaviour, level of consciousness, and various physical effects. Clear loss of consciousness occurs in less than 10% of cases.

Recovery typically follows a sequential course over a period of days or weeks, although in some cases symptoms may be prolonged.

Concussion in Rugby

How common is concussion in rugby?

Concussions occur in everyday life and not just in sport. As a contact sport, rugby does involve frequent body impacts and a risk of accidental head impacts, and therefore a significant potential risk of concussion.

According to the data collected through the RFU’s Community Injury Surveillance & Prevention Programme (CRISP) in age grade rugby (age 15 – 18) the most recent rate shown equates to 1 concussion per team every 10 games and 1 concussion per team every 25 games in adult male rugby. In professional rugby it is 1 every 2-3 team games.

The rise in the rates seen since 2012/13 are almost certainly due to the increased awareness and the much lower threshold for suspecting concussion, and reflect the success of the awareness and education programmes, and media coverage.

Concussion and the RFU

The RFU recognises that concussion is an important player welfare issue in rugby, and takes its responsibilities very seriously. The RFU has a comprehensive risk management strategy which covers the key priorities of:

• Education & Awareness,

• Prevention,

• Management,

• Research,

• Communication.

The strategy is managed and monitored by the RFU Concussion Risk Management Group, The Group is supported by an Independent Concussion Expert Panel advising on concussion policy and monitoring emerging research, and the Economist Health Intelligence Unit who, on a six-monthly basis, provide summaries of all research published, and a qualitative analysis of the key studies.

As coaches, referees, medics, parents and supporters of the game we all have a responsibility to act early and make sure that all players only return if fit and healthy. I would urge everyone to al least view the online piece via the link above.

FINALLY, HERE IS YOUR CRFC TEAM TO FACE HEATHFIELD TODAY

Good luck lads!

AND YOUR NOMADS TEAM TO FACE TJ IIIs TODAY

UNFORTUNATELY OUR GERBILS TEAM IS WITHOUT A GAME AGAIN TODAY AFTER NEW ASH GREEN II COULDN'T FIELD A SIDE.

Still, at least we are offering to re-arrange this fixture for later in the season unlike Canterbury IV who shamelessly decided to take the points, in the "spirit" of the game rather than re-arrange this fixture. So much for wanting to play rugby after an 18 month lay off...

Created By
Peter Jovanovic
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