HRFC - Hadleigh withdraw from London Division 3 North East

London Division 3 North East

Hadleigh RFC

We have received the following email from John Halls, Chairman of Hadleigh RFC. We don't fully understand what the league will do yet but we expect all league points scored against Hadeigh will be removed (Harlow will lose 4 points, Bury St. Edmunds will lose 3 points, which puts us level on points which Bury) and we expect that points scored and conceded in games against Hadleigh will be removed. If this happens unfortunately we won 91-10 at Hadleigh so this means we lose a points difference of 81 points which leaves us significantly behind Bury on points difference.

Dear Mr Chairman

I have to inform you that the Executive Committee of Hadleigh RUFC took the unenviable decision on Monday evening (12th) that its 1^st XV will, with immediate effect, cease to play any further part in the London League Division 3 North East. Please accept my sincere apologies for the consequences of this action.

It was the general consensus of the Head Coach, senior players and the Executive Committee that the Club was most likely to fail to field a team in one or more of its remaining six fixtures and consequently, would result in Hadleigh RUFC being automatically expelled.

As you may know, we have failed to field a team on two previous occasions, the first being our opening fixture against Rochford and the second on February 2^nd against Harlow. If we failed a third time Hadleigh RUFC would have been automatically expelled and, most likely, would not be allowed to apply to join Eastern Counties or Suffolk League. It was therefore felt that in the long term interests of Hadleigh RUFC this decision had to be taken now in order to secure senior rugby played at Layham Road for seasons to come.

Our Club has had a very difficult season, unprecedented in our short history, and the pressure on players and Members has been immense. Our problems stem from losing most of our regular 1^st XV players at the very start of the season due to transfers, retirement, Armed Forces deployment in Afghan, personal reasons and long term injury. Consequently, we have had to rely upon the remaining few senior players, vets, youngsters and casual players to field a team each week in, what is, a very competitive Division. Our results show that we have been improving in recent months but more pleasing is that the morale at the Club has always remained good. We simply ran out of players.

The Club will therefore be running just senior side next season and will apply to join Eastern Counties 2. Hopefully this will become the platform from which we can re-build and stabilise and I hope will inspire our eventual return to London League within the next 5 years.

On behalf of the Executive Committee of Hadleigh RUFC I wish you and your Club every success, until that is when we meet you again in the London League.

Best Regards

John Halls - Chairman

London Division 3 North East Hadleigh RFC We have received the following email from John Halls, Chairman of Hadleigh RFC. We don't fully understand what the league will do yet but we expect all league points scored against Hadeigh will be removed (Harlow will lose 4 points, Bury St. Edmunds will lose 3 points, which puts us level on points which Bury) and we expect that points scored and conceded in games against Hadleigh will be removed. If this happens unfortunately we won 91-10 at Hadleigh so this means we lose a points difference of 81 points which leaves us significantly behind Bury on points difference. Dear Mr Chairman I have to inform you that the Executive Committee of Hadleigh RUFC took the unenviable decision on Monday evening (12th) that its 1^st XV will, with immediate effect, cease to play any further part in the London League Division 3 North East. Please accept my sincere apologies for the consequences of this action. It was the general consensus of the Head Coach, senior players and the Executive Committee that the Club was most likely to fail to field a team in one or more of its remaining six fixtures and consequently, would result in Hadleigh RUFC being automatically expelled. As you may know, we have failed to field a team on two previous occasions, the first being our opening fixture against Rochford and the second on February 2^nd against Harlow. If we failed a third time Hadleigh RUFC would have been automatically expelled and, most likely, would not be allowed to apply to join Eastern Counties or Suffolk League. It was therefore felt that in the long term interests of Hadleigh RUFC this decision had to be taken now in order to secure senior rugby played at Layham Road for seasons to come. Our Club has had a very difficult season, unprecedented in our short history, and the pressure on players and Members has been immense. Our problems stem from losing most of our regular 1^st XV players at the very start of the season due to transfers, retirement, Armed Forces deployment in Afghan, personal reasons and long term injury. Consequently, we have had to rely upon the remaining few senior players, vets, youngsters and casual players to field a team each week in, what is, a very competitive Division. Our results show that we have been improving in recent months but more pleasing is that the morale at the Club has always remained good. We simply ran out of players. The Club will therefore be running just senior side next season and will apply to join Eastern Counties 2. Hopefully this will become the platform from which we can re-build and stabilise and I hope will inspire our eventual return to London League within the next 5 years. On behalf of the Executive Committee of Hadleigh RUFC I wish you and your Club every success, until that is when we meet you again in the London League. Best Regards John Halls - Chairman