Melksham Rugby Club

05/06/2026

💙 Funeral Arrangements for Phil Stone 💙

Following the deeply sad news of Phil Stone’s passing, we are sharing the details for his funeral service so we can come together as a club family to pay our respects.

Phil was an amazing player and a truly wonderful guy who touched the lives of everyone at Melksham Rugby. His commitment on the pitch, his warmth off it, and his presence in our lives will be profoundly missed by us all.

To remember Phil and honour his memory, the service will be held on:

📆Date: Thursday, 18th June 🕗Time: 12:00 PM 📍Location: St. Michael’s Church

Following the service, we invite everyone back to the Rugby Club. This will be a space for us to be together, support Phil's family and friends, and to share our memories of him.

👔Dress Code for Club Members: We ask that all club members wear a blue shirt and club tie as a mark of respect.

Our thoughts, love, and deepest condolences are with Phil’s family and everyone affected by this loss. Please look out for one another in the days and weeks ahead.

-------------------------------
If you are finding things difficult, please remember you do not have to carry it alone. Support is always available:

🔹Samaritans: Call 116 123
🔹Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258
Please reach out to a teammate, a friend or anyone at the club. if you need someone to talk to. We are here for each other.💙

03/06/2026

🏉 MASSIVE COACHING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MELKSHAM RFC! 🏉
We are absolutely thrilled to share a monumental statement of intent for the upcoming season. Former Bath Rugby and England legend Richard Hill is officially joining the Melksham RFC coaching team!

Richard has kindly agreed to come on board to work directly alongside Head Coach Kevin Moggridge, forming a formidable coaching duo for our senior squad. To have a rugby mind of his immense calibre as a permanent part of our setup at Oakfields is an incredible boost for the entire club.

👑 A True Rugby Legend
For our younger players or those who need a quick reminder of Richard's stellar rugby pedigree:

🔹Bath Rugby: Over 240 appearances during the club's golden era, lifting multiple domestic league and cup titles.

🔹International Honours: 29 caps for England at scrum-half, including starting in the 1991 Rugby World Cup Final.

🔹Elite Coaching: A wealth of professional experience across the Premiership, Championship, and Europe (Bristol, Worcester Warriors, and Rouen).

🧠 Driving Our Senior Squad Forward
By joining the coaching team, Richard will work hand-in-hand with Kevin Moggridge to deliver elite, professional-grade technical coaching right here at the grassroots level.

Whether you are a seasoned senior player looking to push for selection, a player returning to the game, or a c**t transitioning into adult rugby—the opportunity to be coached by "Moggy" and Richard week in, week out is second to none.

🚀 Get Ready for Pre-Season!
There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of Melksham RFC. Dust off your boots, because pre-season is going to be something special with this coaching team at the helm.

Dates and details for our first pre-season sessions will be announced very soon. New and returning players of all abilities are incredibly welcome. Come down, meet the coaches, and be part of the journey!

01/06/2026

🏉 BIG RUGBY WEEKEND AHEAD AT MELKSHAM RFC! 🍻
We’ve got a a big couple of days lined up at Oakfields, starting with some action on the pitch and finishing with a crucial game in the Premiership playoff battle. Here is everything you need to know:

🏃‍♂️ FRIDAY NIGHT: TOUCH RUGBY
Kick off your weekend with some Friday fitness! Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills or just have a run-around, everyone is welcome (17+).

Touch Rugby:
🕗 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
🚪Clubhouse Bar Open: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Perfect for a post-session pint!)

📺 SUPER SATURDAY: BATH vs LEICESTER TIGERS
It’s the final round of the regular Premiership season, and Super Saturday is taking over the big screens! While there are massive clashes across the league, we’ll be backing local favourites Bath Rugby as they clash with the Tigers. 🔵⚫️⚪️

🕕 Club Doors Open: 2:00 PM
🎯 Kick-Off: 3:15 PM
📆 Date: Saturday, 6th June

Get down early on Saturday to grab a cold drink, claim the best seats, and soak up the atmosphere with the rest of the club.

Bring your friends, bring your family, and let's pack out the clubhouse!

📍 Melksham Rugby Club | Oakfields | SN12 7GU

31/05/2026

🏉 Melksham RFC Club Announcement 🏉

Following Friday evening’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), we are entering an important new chapter at Melksham Rugby Club.

First and foremost, we want to express our deepest, most sincere gratitude to our departing committee members. These individuals have given up countless hours of their own time, poured immense energy into the club, and shown unwavering dedication over many years. Running a grassroots club relies entirely on volunteers, and Melksham RFC simply wouldn’t be the thriving community it is today without their hard work behind the scenes.

Please join us in giving a massive hand to:

👉 Aaron Brailey – for his fantastic leadership and guidance as Chairman.
👉 Richard Carlile – for his invaluable service and commitment as President.
👉 Andy Wareham – for keeping the club on a steady financial track as Treasurer.
👉 Will Paviour – for expertly steering the ship through the dual workload of Secretary and Fixtures Secretary.
👉 Jon Gerrish – for his incredible, tireless work guiding the next generation of players as Youth Chairman.

Gentlemen, thank you for everything you have done for the badge. You have left the club in a fantastic position, and we are incredibly grateful for your legacy.

🙌 WELCOMING OUR NEW COMMITTEE 🙌

With endings come new beginnings, and we are delighted to announce our newly elected committee members who are ready to step up and lead Melksham RFC forward into the new season:

🔹 CHAIRMAN: Paul Hayden
🔹PRESIDENT: Phil Pearce
🔹TREASURER: Tony Greenslade
🔹SECRETARY & FIXTURES: Becs Lamb
🔹YOUTH CHAIRMAN: Simon Laidlaw
🔹 CLUB COACH COORDINATOR - Scott Simmons

We are excited about the fresh energy and ideas this new team brings to the table, and we know they will continue to build on the great foundations already in place.

Please join us in sending a huge thank you to our departing officers, and giving a warm Melksham welcome to our incoming committee! Here’s to a brilliant 2026/27 season ahead. 🥂

30/05/2026

🚨 BIG NEWS AT MELKSHAM RUGBY CLUB! 🚨
We are absolutely thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Head Coach - Kevin Moggridge!

Bringing a wealth of elite international experience and grassroots passion, He is ready to lead the Club into an exciting new chapter.

Just take a look at this rugby resume:

🔹International Pedigree: Just spent the last two years in Hong Kong working with the Bays and the Hong Kong National Women’s Team. 🇭🇰

🔹Elite Experience: Previous stints coaching the England U20s and serving as the Swedish National Head Coach. 🇸🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

🔹Local Roots: No stranger to West Country rugby, having coached multiple sides in the Bath Combination, as well as leading the Bath Combination Men’s Rep side.

🔹County Success: Former Somerset County Men’s Head Coach and Dorset & Wilts Women’s Forwards Coach.

🔹30 Years of Knowledge: Bringing three decades of top-tier coaching experience straight to the Melksham turf.

This is a massive statement of intent for our club as we look to build, develop, and push for success across all senior squads.

Please join us in giving our new Head Coach a massive Melksham welcome! 🔵

27/05/2026

All,

Please see Fundraiser on behalf of Phil’s Children.

As everyone knows Phil Stone passed suddenly leaving his children in a position most adu… Victoria Stone needs your support for Donate in memory of Phil Stone

22/05/2026

It is with great regret we have to share the tragic news that Phil Stone passed away on Wednesday morning.

Phil was a huge part of the MRFC family and we are truly heartbroken by the news. Phil was an integral part of the Club, known and loved by many, involved not only as a player, but a coach, mentor and dear friend.

He was an amazing man who could light up a room, bringing huge energy and smiles to others.

The club will be putting a memorial event together when the time is right. For now, our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, children and close ones at this difficult time.

We also want to remind everyone that nobody has to face difficult moments alone. There will always be someone at MRFC willing to help, listen and support.

Rest in peace, Phil. You will not be forgotten.

MRFC Committee

14/05/2026

Saturday afternoon at the clubhouse—sorted. 🏉🎯

We’re opening the doors at 2:00 PM to catch the Gallagher Premiership Rugby live on the big screens. So get down early to grab a spot.

Once the rugby is rolling, keep the competitive spirit going by challenging your mates—or even the old boys—to a game of darts or pool.

🔹Premiership Rugby live on TV.

🔹Doors Open: 2:00 PM.

🔹The Extras: Pool and darts ready for action. 🎱🎯

🔹Who's Invited: Everyone is welcome—bring the family and support your club.

See you at Oakfields for a proper Saturday afternoon! 🦌🍻

12/05/2026

📢 Pitch Maintenance & Safety Update
Now that the season has wrapped up, Prestige Grounds has been busy treating our pitches to get them ready for next year. 🚜🌱

We need the community's help to ensure the grass recovers properly and everyone stays safe. Please take note of the following:

For All Visitors:

🔹 Please stay off the pitches: We ask that everyone avoids walking directly across the playing surfaces while they are being treated. 🚫

🔹Give the grass a break: Keeping foot traffic off the turf now ensures we have high-quality pitches for the start of next season. 🏉

For Our Dog Walkers:

🔹 Important Safety Note: Please be aware that the pitches have been treated with professional-grade chemicals. For the safety of your pets, it is vital that they do not come into contact with the treated grass. 🐾

🔹 Check the signs: If you haven’t seen the green signs around the site yet, please take a moment to acquaint yourself with them. 🪧

🔹 Leads & Perimeters: To keep your dogs out of harm's way, please adhere to the signs by keeping them on a lead and sticking strictly to the perimeter around the pitches. 🐕‍🦺

🔹 Clean up: Please ensure you pick up after your dog(s) and dispose of waste bags in the bins provided or take them home. 💩

By sticking to the perimeters and following the signage, you're helping us protect the grounds while keeping your furry friends safe. Thank you for your cooperation! 🙌

09/05/2026

Well done to the Melksham Players who were invited to join the REME team today against RWB.

Presented by Maj Darran Thomas

Jim McCue Cup

8 Training Battalion REME Vs RWB

LCpl James (Jim) McCue was a REME vehicle mechanic with 8 Close Support Company REME, who made the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed by an explosion in Southern Iraq on 30 April 2003, aged 27.

Representing MRFC

Dani Constantin
Darran Thomas
Richard Carlile

Well done to all involved for a great cause and fantastic day out on at RWB.