This coming weekend we give a warm North Eastern welcome to the players, officials and supporters of our National League One opponents Richmond RFC, who travel from their Athletic Ground HQ in the capital.

Formed in 1861, the club is steeped in rugby history, with past internationals such as Bobby Skinstad (South Africa), Agustin Pinochet (Argentina), Scott and Craig Quinnell (Wales) and a fair splattering of England internationals such as Ben Clarke, Dan Luger and Brian Moore.

Richmond RFC are currently in 4th place in the league table, having amassed 29 points from a combination of 6 wins and bonus points, their two losses coming from away trips to Plymouth Albion RFC (33 – 20) on the opening day of the season and at Esher RFC (41 – 34).

Last season, honours were even between our two clubs, with Richmond RFC victorious in the first game of the new season at their Athletic Ground (30 – 27) and DMPRFC took the honours in a sound performance back at the Arena in January this year (43 – 12).

Former DMPRFC players Cameron Mitchell, Sam Stuart and Jack Allcock are now plying their trade at Richmond RFC, with the latter top scoring for them with 8 tries.

With the welcome distraction of the World Cup Final taking everyone’s attention last weekend, with the league programme put on hold for a week, which has given DMPRFC a chance to re-focus and examine their form to date.

There was no hiding from the disappointment of the Hartpury RFC result and the players and staff are all too aware of what is required to compete at this level and that it is in their hands to turn a poor run into some success. A regular return to the Northern Echo Arena could be just the fillip and we are sure that our loyal supporters will turn out today to add to that mixture of undoubted encouragement required on match day.

Injuries still impede stable progress, with some injuries long term unfortunately and it may be that one or two new players are added to complement the squad in the coming weeks.

With all the euphoria of the 2015 Rugby World Cup now consigned to the record books, it was perhaps fitting that the New Zealand All Blacks prevailed over their antipodean counterparts Australia, in a thrilling climax, which certainly came to life in the second half and lived up to all expectations, with the best two teams in the competition participating in the final.

Perhaps, in some small way, DMPRFC may have contributed to the ultimate success of the All Blacks.......who knows !

What is known is that all connections certainly enjoyed their presence at the Northern Echo Arena and all are thankful for them to have taken time out to grace us with the ‘Open Event’, which was a great coup for the club, the town of Darlington and the North East in general.