Newark Rugby Club to host RAF games this weekend in Nottinghamshire

The winter sports season is fast approaching and teams are gearing up for their new campaigns.

Newark Rugby Club will be hosting players and officials from the RAF this Saturday for a day of training and matches.

The RAF are using two training matches at Kelham Road to host their officials in a pre-season day of training and meetings.

The RAF are also intending to use the facilities at Newark regularly during the season.

The link-up continues a long-standing association between the club and RAF Rugby.

This is highlighted by the family of former Newark first-team player George Crawford meeting up before the match.

George was among 19 RAF personnel killed in a road accident in Germany in 1985 when the coach they were travelling in collided with a fuel tanker. The collision triggered a huge explosion.

Before Covid intervened, Newark and various RAF teams met several times in special challenge matches to contest the George Crawford Memorial trophy.

Action this Saturday starts at 2pm when the club’s second team takes on a RAF under-23 side followed by the Newark first team squad facing the RAF’s second XV squad, the Hawks, at 4pm.

Newark’s season started last Saturday when an inter-club match was staged.

Victory went to the Yellows – led by club captain Will Britten – 38-21 over a Blues team.

The Yellows won by six tries to three but had to fight back after conceding a 14-0 lead to the Blues in the first half.