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Spring 2014
COUNTY MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE
Middlesex Matters is the official
magazine of Middlesex Rugby
Issue 8, Spring 2014
ISSN 2045-1245
Published by
PK1 Twyford Avenue Sports Ground,
Twyford Avenue, Acton, London W3 9QA
t: 020 8896 3400 f: 020 8896 9264
e: countyoffice@middlesexrugby.com
www.middlesexrugby.com
Editor: Lonsdale Leggett-Flynn
Feature Writer: Sally Morgan
Contributors: Dick Best,
Creative Direction: Boomerang Design
Editorial Office
t: 020 8744 0007
e: editorial@middlesexrugby.com
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Photography
Photographs courtesy of Brian O’Connor,
the RFU and the Middlesex clubs
Design
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Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 4AD
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e: studio@boomerangdesign.co.uk
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Print
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any shape or form or by any
means electronic, mechanical, photocopying
or otherwise, without the permission of the
publishers, Middlesex Rugby (Middlesex
County Rugby Football Union Ltd). The views
expressed in this magazine are not necessarily
those of the publisher.
Warm up
Volunteering is
the name of the
game
Another Six Nations Championship almost under our belts, and we’re well
on the way to World Cup stardom in 2015. Never let it be said I’m not an
optimist! Despite a rocky start in Paris, where let’s be honest, we were robbed,
Lancaster’s men have been impressive thus far, triumphing over the Aulde
Enemy in the bug-infested Murrayfield quagmire and dominating on a perfect
pitch in the first home fixture against Ireland. Back to HQ again this Sunday to
do my patriotic duty and cheer loudly as Team England bags the Triple Crown,
then I’m off to Rome for the final battle of the tournament where a win in
against Italy will snare us the Championship.
The Champagne’s already on ice. Don’t make me eat my words!
Meanwhile, back to matters in hand. Middlesex Matters, where volunteering
is the name of the game. The Rugby World Cup is now just 18 months away,
and the RFU has launched schemes to recruit volunteers to help make the
tournament run smoothly, volunteers to ensure that we’re all going to reap
the benefits at club level, and young volunteers to whip up enthusiasm and
encourage new participants to the game. Middlesex will be rewarding its own
volunteers again at an awards evening in June and is seeking nominations
from clubs now. And the RFU President’s Awards scheme is also now taking
nominations. We tell you how you can get involved.
Sally Morgan went to Twyford Road, the home we share with Wasps FC, to
talk to Sue Day about her role as the first ever female President of Wasps, and
the career choices that took her there. We also spent the day at Allianz Park
with Enfield Ignatians, the subject of our club profile, as they embarked on
their Big Day Out. And we turn the spotlight on health matters, looking at the
role of dietary supplements and other non prescribed medication in sport. Still
on the subject of health, concussion is a hot topic at the moment and we look
at how best to handle incidents both on the pitch and afterwards.
As usual, we bring you news of the clubs around the county and we look
back at the achievements of Team Middlesex U16s who swept the board
earlier this season with three straight wins. We also take a look at some of the
developments in the women & girls’ game.
By the way, is anyone convinced that the new scrummaging rules at elite level
have made a difference? It seems to me that scrums are collapsing just as much,
but that there are fewer of them. The referees must be loathe to award a scrum
because of the amount of game time they take up. If somebody doesn’t sort it out
soon, we’ll all be playing rugby league.
And another thing... What’s with all the
fireworks? It’s not as though the likes of
Twickenham or the Millennium Stadium
have to compete for our business. If we want
to watch Six Nations rugby, we’re a captive
audience. We don’t need pyrotechnics to
entice us through the turnstiles. And there must
be more deserving ways to spend the budget.
Lonsdale Leggett-Flynn, Editor
Please send any items for inclusion in our news pages to news@middlesexrugby.com
www.middlesexrugby.com
www.middlesexrugby.com
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