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Fixtures

The fixtures for 2013-2014 are now available on RFU.com

Go to http://clubs.rfu.com/Fixtures/DivisionListForCompetition.aspx?Competitio...

These include the fixture changes we have been able to process. We are now contacting clubs where their opponents have requested a change but this has not been confirmed by the other club.

Level Transfer - SCS/WCN

Following advice from the RFU it has been necessary for the South West to amend one of its decisions regarding Level Transfers at Level 7. As a result Oldfield Old Boys will now play in Western Counties North and Walcot Old Boys will be in Southern Counties South. In order to accommodate this a number of changes have had to be made to the published fixtures. The South West apologises for the late notice and any inconvenience caused.

The updated fixtures have been posted to the clubs in the leagues concerned and are summarised below. They are also available for download from the fixtures section on this website.

Please note the downloads on this site do not reflect any fixture changes requested by clubs – these are still being processed and will appear on RFU.com next month.

Southern Counties South
Fixtures originally shown involving Oldfield Old Boys will now be against Walcot Old Boys.

Western Counties North
Fixtures originally shown involving Walcot Old Boys will now be against Oldfield Old Boys.

Somerset Two North
14th September: Reverse Gordano II v Oldfield OB II
28th September: Reverse Midsomer Norton III v Oldfield OB II
5th October: Reverse Oldfield OB II v Nailsea & Backwell II
26th October: Reverse Winscombe II v Oldfield OB II
30th November: Reverse Chew Valley II v Oldfield OB II
4th January: Reverse Oldfield OB II v Midsomer Norton III
11th January: Reverse Nailsea & Backwell II v Oldfield OB II
8th February: Reverse Oldfield OB II v Winscombe II
22nd March: Reverse Oldfield OB II v Chew Valley II
12th April: Reverse Oldfield OB II v Gordano II

Somerset Three North
5th October: Reverse Midsomer Norton IV v Oldfield OB III
2nd November: Reverse Oldfield OB III v Keynsham IV
23rd November: Reverse Oldfield OB III v Bath Old Edwardians
7th December: Reverse Oldfield OB III v Walcot III
11th January: Reverse Oldfield OB III v Midsomer Norton IV
15th February: Reverse Keynsham IV v Oldfield OB III
8th March: Reverse Bath Old Edwardians v Oldfield OB III
29th March: Reverse Walcot III v Oldfield OB III

If you have any queries relating to these changes, please contact your League Secretary in the first instance. Contact details are on the website.

Appeal hearing cancelled

Tonight's appeal hearing (10th June) concerning Walcot RFC has been cancelled.

An update will appear here when more information is available.

New Registration regulation

There is an important addition to the regulations for the registration of players.

The registration must be completed on line or submitted to the Admin Office within 28 days of the date of signature. This is to prevent forms being stockpiled by clubs and players being signed long after they may have changed their minds and left a club.

A reminder too that for any registration, including those on line, an RFU Registration form MUST be completed before the player is registered. Failure to do so, or to produce the form when requested, could result in a 10 point deduction.

Level Transfer Appeal - SCS/WCN

We have been advised that Walcot RFC have exercised their right to appeal to the RFU over the South West's decision to level transfer them from Southern Counties South to Western Counties North. The appeal will be heard at a hearing in London in early June.

The system of level transfers exists to remove what used to be known as the "cascade effect". With leagues based on geography clubs finishing perhaps fourth or fifth from bottom used to find themselves relegated because teams moving down from a higher league had all fed into their leg of the pyramid. Where an imbalance occurs now if no volunteers can be found to move and, subject to certain other conditions in the regulatrions, the club with the lowest travelling distances is transferred.

Depending on the result of the appeal the fixture lists for both leagues may have to be revised. If that occurs it is planned that only fixtures involving Walcot and any other club the RFU directs to move will be affected. Clubs' games against other teams in those leagues are not planned to be changed.

Tony Boyer - 1928-2013

The South West regrets to announce the death of former Competitions Committee member Tony Boyer. Tony, who was 84, passed away on Friday 24th May after a period of ill health. His funeral will be held at 11.15 at Thatcham Crematorium on Friday 7th June and thereafter at Newbury RFC.

Tony was born in Newbury on the 30th June 1928. He spent most of his life in Newbury, attending St Bartholomew's Grammar School. He did his National Service in the Royal Air Force and during that time took part in the Berlin Airlift.

His life was however primarily devoted to rugby football, firstly playing for Newbury and when injury prevented him playing, to administration. He was a member of the Berkshire and South West Committees when the leagues were formed in 1987. He took a leading role when the South West merged with Southern Counties and in establishing the first league tables and fixtures; becoming a member of the SW Organising Committee from its outset (being one of only a handful on that Committee to serve for the first 25 years). He served on the Committee until 2011/12 season.

He was honoured with the Chairmanship of the South West and took great pleasure when they played the All Blacks at Redruth.

His contribution to the South West and the establishment of the SW leagues cannot be exaggerated and even in his last year his number one passion was getting the league results on a Sunday morning and discussing them with anyone who would care to listen.

A great man of rugby whose experience will be sorely missed.

2013-2014 Fixtures issued

The fixtures for next season have been published and sent to the Nominated League Contact (NLC) for each club in the South West.

You can also download them from this website.

Please remember to confirm your NLC details as soon as possible (and in any event by 1st July 2013).

Clubs now have a few weeks to mutually agree any fixture re-arrangements before the lists are confirmed.

Tribute Sponsorship

All clubs who have teams playing in the Tribute sponsored leagues should now have received their share of the monies made available to clubs. As well as providing cash and products for the clubs, the welcome sponsorship of St Austell Brewery also provides assistance to the Constituent Bodies on the western side of the division and towards the running costs of the Division as a whole.

26th April 2013

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