13/09/2026
🏉 Welcome to the 2026/27 Season
Welcome back to Bancroft.
It’s been a slightly unusual start this year. After such a dry summer the pitches have been rock hard, which has delayed some of our rugby. Player safety will always come first and we weren’t prepared to put players on pitches until they were safe to play on. Thankfully, the rain has finally arrived and we can start to get on with the season!
It’s great to see everyone getting back to training. Our Seniors are now playing in Merit 1, the top division of the Merit Table, which is a great achievement and should give us some cracking rugby at the Club this season.
Our Youth and Mini sections are getting back into full swing too, and it’s particularly good to see our girls’ rugby continuing to grow. We’d love to welcome even more boys and girls to Bancroft this season, so if your children have friends who fancy giving rugby a go, bring them along – no experience necessary.
🎓 You’re only out on loan!
A special mention to our former Colts and girls from our Youth section heading off to university this autumn. Many have grown up at Bancroft and come through the age groups with us.
We wish you all the very best but remember, you’re only out on loan! We expect to see you back at the Club over Christmas, Easter and the summer.
Once Bancroft, always Bancroft.
🍻 Off the pitch
Around 60 people came along to our Adults v Kids Quiz Night last Saturday and it was a great evening.
Next up is our Backyard Comedy Club Comedy Night on Saturday 10 October. Doors open at 7pm, happy hour 7–8pm and the show starts at 8pm.
🎟️ Tickets are only £15 and available from TicketSource.
Bring some friends and let’s get a good crowd in the Club.
🏉 A few Club changes
There have been a couple of changes since the AGM.
Adrian Collischon stepped down as Mini Chairman after three years. A big thank you to Adrian for everything he has put into the Mini section, and to Jamie Reeves for picking up the baton and taking the role on.
Phil Smith-Jones, who was elected Club Chairman at the AGM, has decided to step down. Phil has given a huge amount of time to Bancroft over the years, including previously serving three years as Chairman, and we thank him for everything he has done. Phil remains an active member of the Club, so you’ll still see plenty of him around.
The Management Committee has asked Roy Hardy, who stood down in April after four years as Chairman, to step back into the role as Interim Chairman until the next AGM.
👋 Get involved
Bancroft simply couldn’t run without our coaches, team managers and volunteers, so a massive thank you to everyone who gives up their time.
We could always do with a few more hands. You don’t need to join a committee or give up every weekend. If you’ve got a little spare time, a useful skill or simply fancy helping out occasionally, let us know.
And you don’t need to play rugby to be part of Bancroft. Come down and watch a game, support the teams, come to an event, bring your family and friends or just have a pint at the bar. A busy clubhouse makes a massive difference to a small club like ours.
🎾 Looking ahead
There could also be some exciting developments off the pitch. The planning application for seven proposed padel courts has now been submitted, and we hope to have a decision by the end of October.
There is still a planning process to go through, but if approved, it represents an exciting opportunity for Bancroft in the years ahead.
Bancroft has been here since 1894. We’re only looking after it for a while, and it’s up to all of us to make sure it’s still here and thriving for the generations that follow us.
See you at the Club. 🏉
Bancroft RFC Management Committee
Photograph by Sean East Photography
