Heath RFC prepares for new adventures in London 1

With Lead Coach and Quins professional Ross Chisholm at the helm working with assistants James Taylor and Martin McTaggart, all of whom are RFU Level 3 qualified, the combined coaching team are excited at the prospects ahead, despite the obvious impact of COVID-19 on all UK sports.

Commenting on the outlook for Heath 1st XV, Chisholm says “Our over-riding ambition next season is to hold our own in London 1 and play an exciting brand of rugby that the squad can be proud of. It is a new challenge for this group of players and we will competing against some prestigious, well-known rugby clubs - we can’t wait for the new season to start.“

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London 1 includes teams such as the iconic London Welsh plus London Cornish, London Irish Wildgeese and Battersea Ironsides, as well as the prospect of some exciting local derbies and strong matchups against the likes of Horsham, Cobham and Farnham RFCs to look forward to.

There will be an extra edge to the Farnham encounters for Ross as his younger brother Alastair Chisholm - also a product of the Heath Youth system - is currently part of the coaching team at Farnham RFC.

Chisholm is keen to extend the current senior squad at Heath and build more strength and depth for the challenges ahead. “I am always excited to see new players join us - the squad is very welcoming to players of all levels of experience - we make sure there is no clique and selection is based purely on ability and fitness so everyone gets their chance to shine.”

Whilst training and playing hard are taken for granted, Heath are also known for upholding the off-field side of the game with regular senior socials meaning the squad frequently have a chance to bond away from the pitch. Anyone interested in joining Heath should email [email protected] for an initial chat with the coaching team and to find out more.

Ross, Jim and Martin have a very clear philosophy regarding training and they commit to making sure it is fun for all. Whilst the current senior squad are desperate to get back to some sort of training pre-season will start at a safe and appropriate time this summer, as soon as the RFU has determined the regulations for grassroots clubs. Heath will be watching as the Premiership returns and learning from the experience of the professional clubs as to how to introduce the required new protocols to keep both players and supporters safe.

In the meantime the quest to build a new Clubhouse and improve the facilities at Whitemans Green continues with the help and generosity of Fairfax as its main club sponsor and partner in the Clubhouse build, and Phoenix - the global integrated food and agri business - who supports the Heath coaching team. Phoenix Chairman and CEO, Guarav Dhawan, is a massive rugby supporter and having been impressed by the team running Heath and its vision for the future, he has committed Phoenix to supporting the Club for a further two years to help the Club achieve its ambitions both on and off the pitch.

And in a further show of belief in the Club’s future plans, local engineering firm Adelphi has committed a further £50,000 to the Clubhouse project in addition to its original donation of an equivalent amount at the end of 2019, taking its total donation to £100,000. This is another huge boost to the fundraising team as it seeks to move forward apace and start building as soon as possible.

The team at Adelphi really wants to set an example to local Mid Sussex businesses that corporate social responsibility often starts on your doorstep and that the plans for the new multi-sports pavilion at Whitemans Green will have numerous knock-on benefits for the general population of the area through the provision of first class facilities for sport and social activities and improving the health and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly as the area emerges from the impact of an international health pandemic.

If any other local businesses would like to get involved in this first-class project that continues to gain momentum, be it through small fund raising initiatives or substantial corporate and personal donations, the Club would love to have a conversation to demonstrate the value an association with HHRFC offers at this time. Across the county Heath attracts many young people to play sport every weekend and the new facilities will benefit beyond boys’ and men’s rugby, helping to develop girls’ and ladies’ rugby, as well as ensuring local football and athletics clubs will grow and thrive over the coming years.

Ross Chisholm’s Top Rugby Memories:

Best player you have played against Ratu Alivereti Raka - the Fijian born player who plays for France and Top 14 side Clermont.

Best try you have scored Second of two tries scored away at Gloucester in 2012 (final score Gloucester 29 - Quins 23)

Best match you have played in Big Game Quins v Gloucester at Twickenham in December 2015 ended 39-39

Best rugby stadium played in Clermont

Best bit of rugby memorabilia you own Champagne bottle from the Premiership Final when Quins won 30-23 v Leicester in May 2012, Ross Chisholm 100 Quins shirt, all winners medals