Roll up Roll up and welcome back to the show that never ends. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, gather ’round as we kick off Week 2 of the Regional 1 South West campaign in true circus-style excitement! There will be thrills and spills the like you have yet to witness my dear friends as we astound the senses and exhilarate the mind. Gather ’round and get ready to be dazzled because, dear friends, it’s the grand premiere of this season’s first Devon derby as we return to the illustrious Pottington Road, where the Barnstaple Chiefs are set to host a rip-roaring reunion with some old pals as the Chiefs square off against none other than Brixham. This grandest of events is hosted by none other than the magnificent former players of Barum who are holding thier reunion lunch prior to kick off.

later in the grand arena of international competition, get ready to witness the heart-pounding excitement of England’s grand opening act in the 2023 World Cup as they face off against the fearless warriors from Argentina! It’s a clash of titans you won’t want to miss! So grab your popcorn, bring out your flags, and prepare to be dazzled as these two rugby juggernauts go head to head in a high-flying extravaganza of skill and passion Kick off is 8pm

But hold onto your bowler hats, for there’s a twist in the tale! The Athletic team is hitting the road once more, yearning for their maiden victory this season. They danced on the edge of victory last weekend against Plymouth Argaum, and now they’re back with a vengeance, ready to steal the spotlight and put on a show like no other! the Bucc’s are taking a well-deserved rest week, but worry not, devoted fans! They’ll be back with a bang next weekend as they unroll the welcome mat for South Molton II, right here at the hallowed grounds of Pottington Road. And let’s not forget about the Colts, dear ladies and gents! They’ve got an electrifying showdown of their own, going head-to-head with Newton Abbot Colts right here in the heart of Barnstaple.

Before all that my dear friends!! We’ve got a whole line-up of thrilling events and jaw-dropping action coming your way. So, stay tuned for the spectacular showdowns and unforgettable moments as we dive headfirst into another week of rugby madness!

A great opportunity to grab some friends and enjoy a luscious 2 course meal before the game against Devonport, and then to round off the evening watch England v Chile followed by Ireland v South Africa on the big screen

WE are chuffed to announce yet another local buisness is joining our mrmbership scheme and one that has been a long time supporter of Barnstaple rugby Paiges Lane Barbers who are offering 10% discount to all members

The new memberships for 2023/24 season are now live and ready for you to grab with eager anticipation for the coming season and to make it a more streamlined membership we have decided to remove several layers and there is now just one membership plan for Barnstaple rugby which is simply a FULL MEMBERSHIP and will last from 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2024. We have also introduced a heavily discounted Married Couples Membership. The prices are as follows:

Full Membership – £100 (£90 for over 65s)

Married Couples Membership (2 x Full Memberships) – £170

Senior Player Membership (Full Membership and eligible for selection) – £130

In addition to the usual benefits we always have, there is also a Barnstaple Members Scheme which on producing your card a certain local business you will get a discount on your purchases.

The Lemon Tree Café at 10 Holland Walk– 10% off when you spend over £5 on production of a valid Barnstaple RFC Membership Card.

BeerMatters at 7 Tuly Street – Ask (Simon or his team) for discount when you are there.

Harrys Café at 3 Bear Street – 10% off on production of a valid Barnstaple RFC Membership Card.

Craftys Bar and Restaurant at 15-16 Butchers Row – 10% off if you spend £30 + and produce your Barnstaple RFC Membership Card.

Specsavers – Gammon Walk – 10% discount on purchases on production of a valid Barnstaple RFC Membership Card.

Paiges Lane Barbers – Paiges Lane – 10% discount on purchases on production of a valid Barnstaple RFC Membership Card.

THe list is growing and I’m sure will grow stronger with each season. Don’t forget the other benefits of becoming a member with the following.

The prestige of being a member of the Premier sports club in North Devon.

Be a shareholder of the Club with a right to vote at the AGM.

Discounted entry to games for Spouse (£9).

Free entry to all league matches.

Free Parking and Match Day program.

25% discount for club hire.

Be eligible to apply to enter a ballot for international tickets (Note: due to restricted numbers of ticket allocations, not every application will be successful).

So what are you waiting for don’t hesitate, jump right in, and prepare yourself for a fantastic season.

For full details and the link to the membership form click this link 2023/24 MEMBERSHIP

BARNSTAPLE CHIEFS

Well folks what a lovely day it was last Saturday to open the season with and didn’t the Chiefs do us proud against Weston Super-Mare, in particular the first half where they secured the bonus point with 4 converted tries before the forty was up, going in at the break 31-0. What was particularly pleasing was the variety of attack and watching WSM’s defence constantly scrambling to cover. First half tries for Dan Johnson and Ashlee Crouch showed the variety of play the Chiefs were embarking on and with Ryan Smale and Jake Murphy scoring in a three-minute period just before half time, Jake having to be helped up after an electrifying lung busting 50 metre run through their defence, gave the Chiefs their bonus point before the break with a 31-0 lead. Just as encouraging was the lack of penalties which didn’t quite continue into the second half but that’s another story, for the first 40 it really was a pleasure to watch

The second half began with an even bigger bang as Sam Roberts and Louis Beer, scoring his debut try for the Chiefs having just graduated from the Colts, scored in the first 6 minutes of the half. Just as in the first half, this did rattle their opponents. But then something got under the Chiefs skin, I have no idea what, but first two yellow cards in seven minutes, unsettled the team who lost their composure and assurance at that moment and allowed WSM their only attacking opportunities of the game and they took them scoring two tries in that period. Once back up to 15 the composure came back and the Chiefs hit them for two more tries, firstly Will Topps breaking tackles to go clear for a try under the posts, and then right at the end of the game a lovely kick by Cameron Grizzle-Johnson towards the try line followed up by his Usain Bolt like speed forced the WSM defender to tackle him off the ball in the try area for a penalty try. That my friends rounded off what was a very satisfactory afternoon for the Chiefs and left the supporters with a very big smile on their faces

So a really positive start to the Chiefs campaign and some really entertaining rugby to boot. That 15 minute period in the second half is a concern but given pre-season nerves and such I expect this squad to come to terms with instances like that. The other worry is that despite dominating several scrums, in fact winning turnover ball against the head in the first half, the scrum seemed to suffer later one, whether a few dark arts of 5th tier rugby were in play here who is to say but it is something the team will have to get accustomed to and combat against in the coming weeks. Yet there is so much skill  and variety on show that I will finish with this really positive note, the ball handling was for the most part exceptional whether it was off-loads, short or long passes almost all with just a couple of exceptions found their mark and stuck, a promising and entertaining season lies ahead.

As for today I do think Brixham is provide a much sterner test than WSM. Last season they were third behind Camborne and Chew Valley with 14 wins to their name and that included 6 wins away from home. Last Saturday they drew at home 34 – 34 against St Austell. So, they know how to score, although defensively they might be a little shaky, but what will make this a tougher test is the fact that it is a Devon derby and you can guarantee that Brixham will pull out everything they have in their arsenal to get a win over us and so the lads will need to show the same patience just as they did against WSM and let the holes in Brixham’s defence reveal themselves. It should be a cracking game of rugby in the Sun although the temperatures they are forecasting are a little scary for a rugby match.

Here then is your Chiefs team to face Brixham.

barnstaple ATHLETIC 

Last weekend was a close affair with Barnstaple Athletic leading 10-17 at half time against Plymouth Argaum, with a brace of tries for Morgan Gabe and one for Captain Scott Incledon. They then secured the bonus point 10-24 after the break with a Joe Messenger try and looked on course for an opening win to the season. However, Plymouth came back hard with their driving game to level the scores before their winger ran in the winning try with 10 minutes to go. Athletic fought hard for those last ten minutes but Plymouth were up to the defensive task, seeing the game out to win 29-24

So, a tough, close game for Athletic and 2 points on the road is not a bad start to the season. Today they are on their travels again with another difficult game at Ivybridge and a win here will taste even sweeter following back to back loses to the Vandals last season .

Next weekend will see Athletic back on home soil for the first time this season against fellow North Devonians South Molton, which looks likely to be a ripper of a contest. Kick-off is 2.30pm and there is entertainment after as we will be showing the Wales v Portugal world cup game at 5pm

Athletics games last season were an absolute joy to watch with some real excitement and flair on display, if you love your rugby, you will not want to miss these games.

Here then is the Athletic team to face Ivybridge Vandals

Bucc’s and Colts

The Buccaneers Cruised to a very nice 17-31 bonus point win against Ilfracombe last Saturday and are enjoying a well-deserved rest week this weekend. Tries by Fin Body, Rob Parson, Josh May, and Neil Giddy who also slotted all the conversions and a penalty gave the Buccs a comfortable day by the sea.

They have three consecutive home fixtures beginning next weekend on 16th September against South Molton 2nd XV, 23rd against Bideford 2nd XV and finally the following week Ilfracombe on the return leg before a deserved fortnights rest.

It was a difficult day for the Colts who were beaten 0-57 by an impressive Ivybridge Colts. There is obviously a lot of work still to be carried out with this very young Colts side that features a majority of 1st year Colts, who will need to gain experience very quickly over the coming weeks. They will have learnt a lot of valuable lessons from this game and have a chance to put them into practice at home today against Newton Abbot Colts. Kick off for that one is 2.30pm. before they head out on the road for the rest of September.

Here then is your Colts team to face Newton Abbot Colts

The battlefield is set, the warriors are primed, and the atmosphere is charged with anticipation! It’s a rugby extravaganza that will leave you on the edge of your seats, as these titans clash with unmatched ferocity and finesse. Be there to experience the heart-pounding action, the bone-crushing tackles, and the lightning-fast sprints, and you won’t want to miss a single moment. So, gather your friends, and prepare to be swept away by the sheer spectacle of it all! This is a rugby match for the ages, and it’s happening right here, right now! This Saturday at 2.30 see you all there