In the current climate we will not be holding an in person registration day. As most of you know we set up an online registration system, in recent years. All subs are to be paid online we cannot accept cash. The registration is open now. You can either pay in one lump sum or in installments. The closing date is 5th of September

We are strictly enforcing a no pay no play rule this year. If you haven’t paid you won’t be covered by our insurance and we don’t want to have to turn players away especially smallies. So we are opening up the registration now and asking you all to register as soon as possible, the deadline for registration is the 5th of September 2020 (click on the link to register now), it is also earmarked as our first training session back. (yippee)

We have a covid compliance officer trained up ready to start with each team. We will be asking you to check in with the compliance officer before each training session again we don’t want to have to turn players away if we don’t have to. I’m sure your are all aware of the symptoms by now so we are asking you to keep them in mind before each training session. And please don’t come to training if you have any symptoms, living with someone who has the virus or have been asked to cocoon. Once you have registered you will start receiving texts from the relevant team coaches as to what to expect when we return training and hopefully playing not long after that. Thank you all, looking forward to see you all back at training, stay safe.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Fr. Eddie Mullins, a pass member of our Club.

Fr. Edward John Francis Mullins
Fr. Edward John Francis Mullins, a priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, died July 6, 2020. Late of Sarsfield Terrace Cork Ireland and Washington DC. Beloved son of the late Tom and Joan Mullins; father of Gar (AnneMarie); grandfather of Nicky; Brother of Thomas, Domie, Bernie, Margaret, Veronica, Helen, Uncle Pat and the late John Mullins. Also survived by his brother and sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews, friends and colleagues. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at St. John the Baptist de la Salle Church, privately in keeping with restrictions due to the Covid Pandemic. Fr. Eddie will be interred in his hometown of Cork, Ireland. 

May he rest in peace.

We have set the date for our Annual General Meeting Thursday the 30th of July at 8pm.

Nominations for President, Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary are to be emailed to Adrian at aoconnell@oldchristiansrfc.ie by 23rd July.

We will hold the AGM in the hall observing social distancing, if you feel unwell or have been in contact with someone who has corona virus do not attend the meeting.

Looking forward to see you there stay safe.

We are delighted to announce that the J1’s are finally getting back to training thank you to everyone who has worked really hard in the background getting the club Covid compliant. Thanks especially to Shane Kavanagh who has been pushing really hard to get this sorted. Thanks to Sabrina who has volunteered to be the Covid Safety officer, she undertaking training from IRFU and has trained all the Compliance Officers for each team. Each Compliance officer will have a special Covid pack thanks to Shane for securing them from IRFU. There is new signage up around the club and hand sanitizer available. Shane Barry the compliance officer will make it available for everyone who turns up to training.

We want to wish the J1’s best of luck as they head back training and thank you to Shane Barry for taking on the role of Covid Compliance Officer for the team. Its very important that everyone turns up a few minutes early and complies with Shane. Please be patient as this may take a few minutes especially the first night. He will have a checklist that he needs to go through with each person. Its also vitally important to NOT turn up to training if you do not feel well or if you have any of the covid 19 symptoms. If you don’t know them by now click on the link for up to date information.

Important things to remember going forward ;

1. Turn up ready to train

2. Dressing room will not be accessible (toilets will be open)

3. Please travel separately unless you live together

4. No spectator at training

5. Once training is over head straight home

Check in with the compliance officer once you arrive. Social distancing is important in making sure we can all remain safe and follow the guidelines.

Onward and upwards. Well done one and all. Old Christians 2020/21 season up and running. WOO HOO

Training is on tomorrow Tuesday 7th July at 7 pm. All welcome.

Finally if you haven’t already done so please donate what you can to our fundraiser so we can keep the good work going.

FOLEY (Ballyhooley Road, Dillons Cross, Cork). On July 4th, 2020, peacefully, in the presence of his loving family at the Mercy University Hospital. CHARLIE (formerly of Cork Dental School & Hospital), dearly beloved husband of the recently deceased Sheila (née O’Halloran), loving father of John, Tony, Liam and Phyllis.

Sadly missed by his loving family, daughters-in-law Deirdre, Anne and Rachel, son-in-law Kieran, his adored 7 grandsons, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

A private family funeral will take place, in accordance with current guidelines. We thank you for your co-operation and understanding at this difficult time. Please leave your personal message for Charlie’s family in the condolences section below or through

www.jerhoconnorfuneralhomes.ie

We were finally able to come together to have a meeting last night outdoors 6 feet apart in the cold with a lovely breeze blowing. It didn’t stop us however and we are determined to get back to what we do best Rugby.

We had some good news for your all our J1’s are a division one team and they are in a group with the rest of the cork teams and Waterpark. We are hoping to have lots of home games and plenty of reason to celebrate when the season restarts.

With that in mind our own Shane Kavanagh has been working very hard behind the scenes figuring out the covid 19 guidelines that we need to put in place in order to reopen safely. To that end we have had a wonderful parent of one of our U13 players, volunteer to take on the role of Covid Safety officer. Her name is Sabrina Kelleher. We have also asked for each team to appoint a covid officer. Thankfully we nearly have all those roles filled. The covid officers will work closely (6 feet apart) with Sabrina and thanks to her background in nursing and health and safety this should be all done efficiently and with buckets of common sense. We will in time be asking all parents, all players and all coaches to co-operate fully with the various covid officers so we can remain doing what we do best playing rugby and winning.

The first steps are getting outdoor hand washing stations, hand sanitation stations and new signage up. We are currently sourcing signage, wash hand basins and sanitation units. If you haven’t donated yet please visit our Go Fund Me page and do so in order to help us complete this work asap.

Final bit of news from the windy windy meeting, we are hoping to have our AGM on the 23rd of July mark it in your calender’s and it will obviously be dependent on the Government restrictions lifting and we will be following all guidelines set by our new Covid Safety Officer.

At their last committee meeting Munster Junior committee agreed to a 16 team division next season which means Old Christians and Muskerry go up to Division 1. They also decided their would be no relegation. We don’t know the make up of this league yet it will depend on the start up date which depends on the country being reopened in accordance with the phase guidelines.

We are still on track to return the 10th of August the world rugby medical committee has put forward a series of guidelines and we are waiting to hear the IRFU’s decision on which of the new guidelines they want to implement. They include banning reset scrums, head to head tackling (choke tackling etc) spitting and new hygiene guidance re hand and face washing before a match and at half time including changing gear, along with regularly washing or sanitizing of the ball.

Delighted for the J1’s that they are now a Division 1 team bring on 20/21 season should be a cracker.

GRAY (Ashburton, Gardiner’s Hill, Cork): On May 24, 2020, peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at Brookfield Nursing Home, KATHLEEN (née O’ Toole), beloved wife of the late Sean and loving mother of Eileen, Pascal, Anne, Hugh, Seamus, Kevin and Brian Sadly missed by hr loving family, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, sister-in-law, relatives and friends. A private family funeral will take place, in accordance with current guidelines. We thank you for your co-operation and understanding at this difficult time. Please leave your personal message for Kathleen’s family below in the condolences section or through www.jerhoconnorfuneralhomes.ieFamily flowers only please. “May she rest in peace”

Date Published: Sunday 24th May 2020Date of Death: Sunday 24th May 2020

Ar dheis Dé, go raibh a h-anam dílis.