Captain - Stuart Oldham
Vice Captain - Ralph Lawson
Team Manager - Scott Redmond
Burnage acquitted themselves well last year, their first season in North 1 West. They finished up in 6th place and were Lancashire Trophy finalists. League wins against both the promoted champions and runners up indicate the ability in the squad, which will give the side confidence for the 2010-11 season. With the opening of what is undoubtedly the best training facility in this league, arguably in the whole of the North West, the squad are looking to recruit and improve on last year's results. Boasting a second team who once again won promotion and will compete in The University of Salford Division 1 (previously Miller Homes 1), competition for places will be healthy.
Wayne Morris and Oli Hewitt head up the coaching team. Together they offer quality coaching on an individual basis, for backs and forwards as a unit and for the team and squad as a whole. Sessions are challenging but enjoyable, just as our games on a Saturday should be. Any injured players will get the best treatment possible from our team of qualified physiotherapists headed up by Mark Leathley. Scott Redmond is the team manager; his role is to ensure the coaches and players can focus on playing well, ensuring that directions, kit, water, RFU admin, registrations and a host of other things are taken care of each week. Scott is a club man through and through and it goes without saying that every member of the squad appreciates his input throughout the season.
Stuart Oldham captains the side from the centres, with vice-captain Ralph Lawson playing in the back row. Stuart played with several of the current squad in junior representative rugby or in colts and senior squads at Sedgley Park before a stint at rugby league in his pre-Burnage days. Ralph has grown up at Burnage RFC but returned from Northumbria University a radically improved player and looks determined to lead his club on to better things in the future. Many of the current first teamers have similar backgrounds to these two: students who have played in the top two BUSA divisions for University first XVs, club players who have played representative age group rugby, senior county rugby and some who have spent time in the full time professional game. We have players from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland in the squad, and have welcomed French and Belgian players in the past as well as players from the Southern Hemisphere. There is a mix of full time students, builders, policemen, solicitors and teachers in the squad: there is no snobbery at Burnage, everyone comes to play rugby and enjoy themselves. There is however no favouritism in the squad; Wayne and Oli pick their players on merit based on commitment at training and recent performances for the club, the way it should be at any club. No players at the club are paid, they all enjoy the rugby here and want to see the club improve. In turn the club appreciates the effort that the guys put in, and try to create an environment where they can improve and enjoy themselves. The new IRB match standard, floodlit 3G rugby pitch offers an unrivalled training facility for the team, they get free membership to an excellent weights gym in Stockport, they get free food at the club after Thursday night training sessions, and if they train twice in the week and win they get 3 free pints at the bar afterwards. As concessions to professionalism go, it’s not the most expensive method, but it is sustainable and it does offer opportunities to improve yourself as a player and enjoy yourself as a member of Burnage Rugby Club, which what we want to achieve.
Regular match reports, results and any fixture or training updates will be posted on the site. You can find relevant contact details on the info & contacts page. Burnage RFC would love to welcome new players to the club and look forward to seeing new faces down at training. Contact team manager Scott Redmond or coach Wayne Morris in the first instance.