Edwards, who has previously served as Conditioning Coach at the club in previous seasons as well as previously being Team Manager with the Cornish Pirates for nearly a decade, will take the salaried position on April 1st with a view to player recruitment and retention for the 2012-13 season. The current coaching team along with Director of Rugby David Penberthy will continue to retain control over playing matters until the end of the current campaign, after which the Director of Rugby post will be abolished. Edwards has spent this season with Hayle RFC.

Speaking to Radio Cornwall about the appointment, club Secretary Roger Watson said:

He’s a great organiser and we’re looking forward now to a bit of freshness that he can bring us. He’s well known through out the county, he had a spell with the Pirates and had a spell with us previously as team manager.

We want Adrian and any other coaches we’ve appointed by April to work in tandem so they get to know the players and start the recruitment process before players disperse for the summer.

When he was with us before, he had the boys more fit for rugby than they’ve been at any other time. The next task is to put a good coaching team around him.

We’ve lost a lot of players this season through not being able to offer them regular second team rugby. Obviously the first team is the flagship and success in the league is vital for the club, but we do want to make sure that we can establish regular second team rugby at the club so we can get some strength in depth.

We look forward to him bringing fresh ideas, skills and organisation and to him utilising his extensive knowledge in strength and conditioning as the Club seeks to consolidate its league status. Our priorities will be to continue to develop our young players and to re-establish regular second team rugby at the Club.

Many challenges lie ahead as the Club will need to continue to operate on limited funds but this is the first step towards recruiting a new coaching and support team to move the Club forward. The Club will now work with Adrian to put this team in place in good time for them to plan for next season and, working with the current coaches and Director of Rugby, to ensure a smooth transition enabling Redruth to maintain its position in the National Leagues.

Whilst I was at Broadstreet Coventry for 3 days my mind was firmly focused on the Reds and their game at Barnes on Saturday. Thankfully the 4 points were achieved and I was a very happy person to say the least! It was very difficult being away from the team and that is probably the fifth game I have missed over the passed 10 seasons!

So there are now only 7 games to go with 3 at home and 4 away … 7 games until I stand down. It is really going to be a wrench but hopefully people will understand. I am perturbed by the thought that there are some who think I am jumping ship because of the money situation and others who think I am going purely because my son has gone elsewhere! How wrong they are! Ten years is a long time in this game to handle the pressures and make the commitments that I have had to do and all on a voluntary basis. For 6 years I travelled 2/3 times a week from my home in Taunton to attend training and meetings. As previously mentioned I have only missed 5 games during my tenure and that has seen me travel thousands and thousands of miles giving up large proportions of my weekends. Last season took its toll believe me and being relegated was one of the lowlights of my rugby career BUT on saying that how thankful I am now that that did happen as we would be struggling to cope in National 1. However, what did compensate was the way in which we blooded the younger players, that has continued this year and I am sure it will continue long into the future.

Numbers of players at the club are worrying and whilst we are showing 51 on our Registration List the true fact is that there are only 33 available for selection. Some of those are currently injured or unavailable so in effect we are operating at this level with about 24 players … a miracle in itself!! When the dust settles I hope people will look back and see what an incredible achievement this has been by this group of players and coaches. To have stuck by this, through thick and thin, should be applauded by everyone and to be in 6th position is a credit to them all.

The 6 Nations approaches an intriguing stage when England start to take on the big boys. Two good wins away from home have been well received and I am very pleased for Stuart Lancaster and his team. This weekend they take on the might of the Welsh and I can see a very competitive game on the horizon. I would hope England make changes at 9 and 8 plus I would bring Manu Tuilangi back into the squad. The obvious choice, with him fit, would be to move Farrell to 10 and include him at 12 and leave Hodgson out, however I think they will leave the midfield as it is and use Tuilangi as an impact player off the bench. Wales are strong and if North is fit, along with Cuthbert, they will have 2 huge wings against Strettle and Ashton …..a cracking contest in itself. Jonathon Davies in the centre is class and Priestland is a classy act but a shite goalkicker!!! Luckily they have Leigh Halfpenny to kick goals so they are a pretty complete side at the moment …. my forecast will be a close one with the Welsh just edging it although I hope England do pull out a performance to sneak it. The rest of it … well I will go for Ireland to beat Italy and France to beat Scotland …..

Meanwhile down under …..Super Rugby referees will have an extra card up their sleeves in this year’s tournament with the addition of the white card.

As part of SANZAR’s new experimental “on-report” system aimed at removing foul play from the game, referees in Super Rugby will have the option of using the white card to refer incidents of suspected foul play to the citing commissioner when the identity of the perpetrator is unclear.

SANZAR chiefs reckon the white card will be helpful in instances where a referee thinks an act of foul play has occurred but is not sure if a red card is warranted, or is unsure of the identity of a player …..

The game will continue as the suspected player or players are put ‘on report’. Referees will continue to carry yellow and red cards.

Commiserations to the Colts who were knocked out of the National Colts Cup last weekend when they lost at Cinderford.

Congratulations goes to former Redruth Junior player, Joviah Pohe who made his England Under 18 debut recently.

So that is it this week, no rugby this weekend as the league takes yet another break. However, on Monday night the boys will be having a training session against the Cornish Pirates at the club starting at 7:00pm. This will help us keep our momentum up and prepare us for the game against Hertford the following Saturday, a game that we all want to win believe me!!!!

Catch you soon

David Penberthy
Director of Rugby (not for long now!)

Why not treat yourself and your partner to a fantastic night hosted by Redruth RFC?

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment

CURRY NIGHT

Friday April 13th Food ready for 8pm

A choice of Starter, Main Course, Rice and Bread

ALL FOR £15 ( IF YOU WANT KING PRAWN IT IS £1 MORE)

In addition a choice of Guinness, Bitter, Lager or Glass of Wine FREE

ALL FOOD IS LOVINGLY PREPARED BY THE FANTASTIC GUYS AT

CAFE SPICE

Contact Stuart Morrison on 07801-965303 to book your place

2012′s black tie ball at the Penventon Hotel on Valentine’s weekend was a fantastic success enjoyed by everyone who attended!

Firstly, a heartfelt thank you to the staff of the Penventon Hotel for their gracious hospitality and delicious food: the general consensus was that it was the best meal that any of us had ever had the pleasure of enjoying there, and the constant invitations for top-ups of beef and Yorkshire puddings were eagerly accepted!

Secondly, a bit round of applause for function band Renaissance who were nothing short of exceptional. Their great performances of predominantly recent music kept a good proportion of party-goers on the dance floor for their whole set. Well done too to Stavros for keeping the party alive long into the night, before the hotel bar and the Zone beckoned for the after-parties.

Finally, a big congratulations to the efforts of the Events Committee for organising, promoting and selling the event, and to all those who put their hands in their pockets to buy tickets and support the club. We know that you all enjoyed the evening, and we already can’t wit for next year’s ball!

Come and join these very successful and enjoyable evenings.

Saturday 21st January – Redruth v Lydney Ladies and Members day in the Frame Homes Suite

Thursday 26th January – Quiz NightTeams of up to 5 at £2/person, 1st question at 8.00/8.15pm
Saturday 11th February – Black Tie Ball at the Penventon Park HotelTickets are now available from the clubhouse for this not to be missed event.

Three Course meal including wine Entertainment provided by ‘Renaissance featuring Lisa Marie’

(http://www.renaissanceband.co.uk/about.htm) followed by a disco with Stavros.  Tickets are priced at £39.95

and if you can’t face the drive home double rooms are available for only £65. 

Cheques to made payable to ‘Redruth Rugby Events Club’. Book your tickets with Alan Nettle on 01209 – 313990 or alannettle@talktalk.net

Saturday 17th March – International St.Patricks Day Race Night

5.00pm – England v Ireland on the big screen

7.30pm – Race Night

Should be a great night of shouting at the big screen!
 Hall of Fame BookThis is a must for all Reds supporters.  48 pages filled with information on the best Redruth players over the ages. 

An ideal present for anybody you forgot at Christmas, only £4.95.         On sale in the clubhouse.

Head Coach 2012-13 Season

Redruth Rugby Football Club is seeking to appoint a Head Coach. The Head Coach will be responsible for the Senior XVs within the Club. The Head Coach will also be responsible for delivering the coaching programme for the season and be responsible for providing a positive and successful playing environment at National League level.

Other responsibilities will include selection, the playing and match preparation of the First XV squad, organising and attending coaches’ meetings, reporting to the Executive Committee, the end of season report and review and providing feedback to all senior players as and when required. The Head Coach will also be required to support other coaches within the Club that have responsibility for teams from Under 7 to Under 19.

Applicants should demonstrate experience of coaching at a good level (National League preferably) or CB senior representative level and have an affinity with the Community Game.

The coach should hold a minimum RFU Level 2 coaching qualification or its equivalent. (coaches who are studying towards a Level 2 qualification will be considered but plans must be in place to ensure that qualification is obtainable by the beginning of June 2012 or earlier).

This position will be salaried.

Please provide a Note of Interest along with a copy of your CV and send to:

Roger Watson, Hon Sec Redruth Rugby Football Club, Trelawny House, 30 Fore Street, Tregony, Truro, Cornwall TR2 5RN

or by email to watson_roger@hotmail.com (N.B. It’s an underscore after watson).

The closing date for applications is 31^st January 2012.

Interviews will be held during February.

DAVID PENBERTHY TO STAND DOWN AT THE END OF THE SEASON

David Penberthy, Director of Rugby, has decided that he will stand down at the end of this season. Redruth RFC is sorry to lose the services of this great Clubman but understands that he feels it is time to take a break.

He became Team Manager in 2002, Rugby Manager in 2004 and Director of Rugby in 2007. He has also been on the Executive Committee for a number of years, several as Chairman, but will not seek re-election in May.

David, whose late father was President of the Club, himself played over 700 games for Redruth, so is totally committed to Redruth. His choice however, is to have no official role in the Club next season.

Very much the face of Redruth for the past ten years, David will be an extremely hard act to follow so the Executive Committee will take the opportunity to re-examine the way rugby is organised and managed for the 2012/13 season.

We are very grateful for the huge contribution Dave has made over the years and for giving plenty of notice of his decision to stand down allowing the Club to make a smooth transition as we plan for a successful future.

Roger Watson (Hon. Sec. Redruth RFC)

I will miss the players immensely as they have been the reason that I have done this job over the past ten years. Over those years I have been privileged to have worked with some great people and players. The players who came through the Redruth ranks such as Nathan Pedley, Lewis Vinnicombe, Sam Heard, Nathan Pascoe, Paul Thirlby and Craig Bonds at the outset, to players like Luke Collins, Chris Fuca and Peter Joyce from about 2005 onwards to youngsters like Nick Simmons, Brett Rule and many others who are too many to mention individually.

We were lucky that players like Mark Richards, James Mann, Darren Jacques, Andy Hymans, Damien Cook, John Navin, Richard Brown, Richard Carroll and a host of others who learnt their rugby at other Cornish clubs, came to the Reds to play a lot, if not all, of their senior rugby. We have also been blessed with having some incredible players from overseas such as James Lancaster, Bede Brown, Dan Goodwin, PJ Gidlow and the brilliant Mark Bright! All of these players wore the Red shirt with great pride and bought into an ethos that I tried very hard to create that was summed up by a phrase I used many times … ” I want players playing for Redruth not at Redruth”!

On the coaching side, well there was only one, and that was my brother in law Nigel Hambly. We had a brilliant working relationship and were very lucky that we also had our family relationship to fall back on. I think many times that I should have stepped down when he did but I think I made the right call and stayed for another couple of years because, although we got relegated last year, it was brilliant watching our young players grow in stature and confidence in one of the toughest seasons and leagues we have ever experienced. The month of April 2011 will live with me for a long time .. a 50 point drubbing at Cambridge followed by a hard fought draw at home against Macclesfield, a great away win at Coventry followed by a good win at home against Blaydon and then that last day of the season win at Wharfedale. Our average of our backline was 21 for that last month!

There are so many people that I must thank … to those very special people who helped with the financial backing of players… I am not going to name them for fear of forgetting someone but you have my utmost respect and gratitude. To all the players for giving me all they had and for accepting me for who I am, for the many memories on the hundreds of bus trips and the thousands of miles we have done and travelled together. To all the volunteers who have helped with the pitches and the decorating of the changing rooms, groups like the Wednesday Gang, Ralph Pascoe, Scott Hodge and Martin Caddy. To Alan Jeffery for all his help at home matches and the away games at Camborne…my list is endless.

Then there are the supporters, and what an incredible bunch of people you are, no matter where you live you are always there for us and always supporting us no matter what the result. I am sincerely and truly grateful for all you have done for every team that I have been involved with. When we talk supporters I must thank Dawn and Derek Ladner and Bert Viner for organising the bus trips and, of course, the late Ken Tullet for his involvement.

To the guys who have worked with me off the field… Dave Ricketts, Nigel Eslick, Jason Pengilly, Tony Cook, Terry Pryor, Spade, Chris Pooley and to the physios … my good mate Guy Bonham, Paul Hancock, Tim Powell, Danka de Main, Eddy Fletcher and all those who I have forgotten ..

To my fellow officers I wish you the very best for the future, it will be tough but I am sure you will carry the club through.

During this last 10 years I have made some great friends, not just at Redruth, but at many other clubs. My favourite is still Wharfedale by a long shot and I do intend getting myself up there soon. Mick, Buzz & Rodders are great people and I have really missed them this year. I also have great respect for a huge number of players who have played against us, some who are now in the premiership and others who continue to promote the game at National League level … thank you all.

Also I have to thank the press for their support. No matter what trials and tribulations have come our way they have been so supportive and have always given us a good account of ourselves. Ed Bawden, Bill Sobey, Mark Stevens, Mike Barlow, Nigel Walrond, Bill Hooper, Lee Hall have been brilliant along with all the team at Pirate FM, Ross Ellis, Jamie Read and Peter Richmond at Radio Cornwall. I will miss our weekly chats but its time for someone else to pick up the challenge.

Finally there is one person who I have to thank because without her support none of this would have been possible … my wife Nicky. She has been unbelievably supportive and always there for me in my darkest moments. It would be remiss if I didn’t mention my daughter Emily as well as she has always helped me when needed and my mum for listening. Aaron, well he has done so much to make me proud and he is still only 19 …

So what now???? I still intend to watch Redruth and support them from the sidelines with friends. I have my RFU role with the South West Division which will keep me well occupied as well, plus I would like to watch my son play, wherever that may be! Redruth will always be my club, I love it and have given all I can in trying to make it as successful as it could be.

Its been a roller coaster ride at times but I wouldn’t have swopped the experience for anything and have been both proud and privileged to have held the positions that I have …

Thank you all so much …

David Penberthy

The Christmas period has been pretty good for us, Christmas Eve lunchtime was a very good one with a big turn out, probably the best for a number of years. Lots of people came and went throughout the day and I left about 9ish I think and things were then beginning to quiet down. Boxing Day was good on the field with all 3 teams winning. I watched most of the game in the morning between the clubs Development Team and Camborne 2nds. It was great to see Tom Glover back in a red shirt and a lot of praise should go to Chris Pooley who stood in admirably at prop. The Colts won at Camborne convincingly and then a very good crowd saw a typical local derby in the afternoon. It was great to see a bumper crowd once more at this annual Boxing Day clash with both clubs represented strongly in the playing line up.

On the game front I was pleased with the result and I thought Camborne certainly upped their game. Their backrow of Sam Matavesi, Dave Roberts and Ben Priddey were outstanding and I thought Dave Roberts was the best player on the field. Don’t get me wrong there were some very good performances on both sides BUT Robbo was above that! I was pleased with the performances of our youngsters, Luke Johnson and Eggy Williams in the starting line up and also Shaun Buzza, Mikey Allen, Dean Bonds and Jack Churcher who all came on in the second half. There were a total of 15 ex Colts on the field, for Redruth that is, during the match and it was something that I really wanted to do. This fixture means a huge amount to those who have come through the ranks at Redruth and to play in this fixture still ranks amongst the top games, Redruth and Camborne players alike, want to play in. Hopefully both clubs will continue in this manner over the coming seasons and we can resurrect the traditions that exist between the 2 clubs.

A word of praise also for the referee, Ryan Cook. It was always going to be a difficult game to referee and Ryan is only 23. What I liked most about Ryan was his willingness to discuss things and to admit where he got decisions wrong. Too often referee’s distance themselves but Ryan’s attitude was spot on and like all players who make mistakes you can learn from them. It is very easy for everyone to criticise and during the heat of the battle frustrations do boil over, but once you have had time to think about it you realise we are all human and we all have things to learn. Remember without referees we have no game …

So, we now start to build for the last 13 league games of the season. This starts with a home game against Dings Crusaders on January 7th. Dings are always tough opposition and I have no reason to think that it will be any different on the 7th … hopefully we will have a full squad to pick from and that we can get 2012 underway in good fashion.

Nathan Pedley is now spending his last few days in Cornwall prior to emigrating to Australia next Tuesday. I will be taking Peds and his family to Heathrow to catch their flight and it will be quite an emotional journey ….I am so pleased Peds last game was one he will remember for all sorts of reasons and the evening party for him was just superb … we will certainly miss him around the club but I am sure you will all join with me in wishing him all the very best “down under” …

Heard from Nick Simmons and he seems to be doing very well in Melbourne. He was due to meet up with James Lancaster in the last couple of days so am looking forward to hearing how that all went ….

Onto something completely different …. some of you will remember Camborne scrum half Robert Mankee .. a great player and a key member of the Camborne team back in the late 70′s early 80′s. I have known “Mank” for a number of years and he was also a superb gymnast. So onto the story … in a county game between Cornwall and Gloucestershire some time ago Mank made a break in front of the main stand, the Gloucestershire wing prepared himself to tackle and Mank did a perfect somersault over him landing on his feet and carrying on playing! The move was captured on camera and I think it appeared in an edition of the Packet just after. If there were judges there it would have attracted the perfect “6″ ….. anyway my reason for brining this up is that Aaron showed me a clip on You Tube of a guy, Jerome Simpson of the Cincinatti Bengals, somersaulting a guy to achieve a miraculous touchdown … take a look on “Jerome Simpson Front Flip Touchdown” … 5.9 I think!! …. Manks was better!!!!!!!!!

I understand there is nothing on at the club New Years Eve this year which is the first time for a number of years.

It just leaves me to wish you you a Happy New Year and I sincerely wish you all the best in 2012 ….

David Penberthy
Director of Rugby