Unicorn Tales Newsletter No 12

Welcome to another jam packed week of rugby, all you unicorn fans! Ok well it is not as jam packed as last week, however there is never a dull moment during our rugby season.

Our juniors are on holidays having a rugby free weekend, so it’s up to our seniors to keep the flag flying high. Most grades are at home this weekend, so come on down and support the club.

Below you will see our new coat of arms for the 1st XV Jersey Club. All bidding has ended and the winners have been notified, a complete list will be published next week. The response to this new tradition within MRUFC was nothing short of amazing, congratulations to the inaugural
members, whom I am looking forward to seeing at our first 1st XV Jersey Club lunch on 1st July. We are taking bids for next season, so if you are interested get in early!

Speaking of congratulations, well done to the VRU for a job well done on their inaugural ‘father and son’ dinner held last Friday night, from all reports it was a great success.

One final plug, Yakka and Aussie George are hosting a lamb Spit Night at the clubhouse on Saturday 8th July from 5.30pm. This is a great opportunity for everyone, senior players, junior players, parents, brothers, sister, wife’s, girlfriends – you get the point, within the club to get
together and have some great food and drink. Details at the back of this newsletter. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Go unicorns!

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Unicorn Tales Newsletter No 11

I foresee another big weekend of Rugby coming up!, and a early one for our juniors with the Under 12’s playing at Geelong and the Under 8’s and 10’s playing at Whyndam City, and of course the test match on Saturday night.

Speaking of the big game on Saturday night, if you are off to see it, why not take advantage of the buses being organised from the clubhouse. For more details and to book your spot give Luke Daley (0404030794) a call.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following Colts players: Ed Pullen, Sai Vacale, and James Smith, for their time and help coaching on Tuesday 13th June at the schools ten-a-side Under 14 and under 16 gala day co-hosted by ourselves, Boorandara and the VRU. From all the reports and feedback I have received it was an extremely successful day. Well done and my sincere thanks to all those behind the scenes who organise these events both within the clubs and at the VRU.

Just a reminder that this Friday is your last chance to place a bid for the 1st Fifteen Jersey Club. If you are interested there are more details on page 4.

Now that the really cold weather has set it at training and on game days, it is even more important than ever to stretch properly before hand, so this week we have included some simple stretches beginning on page 5. I encourage you all to have a look!

As you all know 2006 marks the foundation year for FRATUST (Front Rower Association – The Un-Sung Three). We are uniting all front row players past and current, for not only world domination, but to develop communication and skill between the age levels. This association is ONLY open to front row players, of any level or age. Well memberships close this week! So if you have not put in your form or want more information either e-mail or call: FRATUST President: Simon Doherty – 0418 122 355 or s-r-d@bigpond.net.au
OR Vice President David Eccles on
davideccles@ozemail.com.au

Go unicorns! Oh yeah go Wallabies!

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Unicorn Tales Newsletter No 10

Wow, we had it all this past week, games under lights on Friday night, a really successful presidents club lunch, controversy and uproar at the games, however the most pleasing thing was despite all of this or perhaps because of it, we played some damn fine rugby!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gary Gray, President of the VRU and Ted Beileu, Leader of the State Liberal Party for their attendance at our second president’s club lunch last weekend. As you would all know this presidents club lunch was a sell out weeks in advance and was an extremely successful day. Well done and my sincere thanks to all those behind the scenes who organise these lunches.

We have had an overwhelming response to the 1st Fifteen Jersey Club so much so that we have extended the bidding deadline to give everyone who may not have yet put in a bid the chance to do so.

We have bids on all the 1st fifteen jerseys expect numbers 2, 12, 13 and 14. If you are interested there are more details on page 4.

There are no games this weekend.

Go unicorns!

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Unicorn Tales Newsletter No 9

Well, last week’s round could described in many and various ways, however it is probable best just to say Rugby was the winner, and leave it at that.

Not all of the teams won, but they all played as a team, with great heart, intensity and did the club proud – especially in light of some of the controversy as you will read in the match reports.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the St Kevin’s College Rugby Association for a fine curry lunch at their president’s club lunch last weekend and a fine speaker in Tim Horan. Events like that are always great opportunities to further foster our ties with other rugby organisations.

Speaking of a nice curry lunch, our second president’s club lunch is on this weekend, and I look forward to see you all there, for what should be a great day.

With everything going on around the club it is probably appropriate to update you all on the Romanis Reserve lighting and re-development project, which is still on the go and we expect the lights to be available for use next season. It is probably also appropriate to remind everyone that we have an ASF (Australian Sports Foundation) fund setup – which is tax-deductible, to help fund this project, and I would urge you all to consider donating towards this worthy cause, no donation is too small. An ASF donation form is at the back of this newsletter.

One last thing before I go, our great game of rugby is built on tradition and history. The club is offering members the opportunity to become part of a new tradition in the making with the inaugural 1st Fifteen Jersey Club auction.

The 1st Fifteen Jersey Club offers you the opportunity to have your name embroidered on the sleeve of your favourite 1st Grade jersey. At seasons end, your jersey will be signed by the coaching staff and all 1st grade players and presented to you at the inaugural 1st Fifteen Jersey Club presentation ceremony. More details are on page 4.

OK just one last reminder that the clubhouse is open on Thursday nights with a great food and drink deal for $8 ($5 for juniors) so come down and have a chat to your fellow supporters, it saves cooking dinner for the troops when you get home!

Most grades are at home this weekend, so come on down and support the club.

Go unicorns!

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Unicorn Tales Newsletter No 8

This week’s round of rugby was a real humdinger!

Not all of the teams on the weekend won, but they all played as a team, with great heart and intensity. As the last line in our club song says ‘Melbourne is the greatest rugby team’.

I know some of you might not believe this but we do want your feedback. It is hard to know what we can do better don’t share your concerns or ideas. The best way to give us feedback is through email that is not anonymous. That way we can send it to the other committee members for comments and actions.

Quite frankly, unless you are willing to stand behind your concerns, it is really hard for us to do anything. Unfortunately, I often get comments second hand from people. Usually these comments are very sarcastic, ill-informed, downright wrong, sometimes unintentionally funny, and many believe that the committee had made specific decisions to ruin their future (or the clubs, or their child’s or the coaches, or the team’s).

I wish we had the power (and I guess the time) to specifically influence things at that level where we could make all issues go away!

Finally, by far the best feedback, is when it is accompanied by someone who is willing to work with the appropriate people to make things better.

Upcoming events, our next Presidents Club Lunch on 3rd June, is quickly approaching, and I can tell you our guest speaker is none other than Mr Gary Gray – President of the VRU and long time Melbourne Rugby member, and he will be discussing a topic very dear to all our
hearts, the future of rugby in Victoria. If you have not secured your ticket (come on all you junior parents) I urge you to do so asap.

At the rear of this issue you will find a copy of a letter from Gary Gray to all Victorian Rugby Clubs, I urge you to take the time to read what the VRU has planned for the future.
This Saturday night 27th May – Australian Rugby Shield Semi Final. Victorian Axemen versus NSW Country at Harlequins from 7.30pm. Why not go down and support the Axemen.

As you would be aware we are holding a MEGA Raffle this season as part of our fundraising activities, and having seen the growing list of prizes it is going to be huge.

Having said that we are still after more prizes, so if you or organisation are in a position to donate or provide at a reasonable cost a prize, we would like to hear from you.

Quickly I will remind you all, especially all junior families that the clubhouse is open on Thursday nights with a great food and drink deal for $8 ($5 for juniors) it saves cooking dinner for the troops when you get home!

Go unicorns! See you at the games!

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