What a season we have had. With an original target of top 4 many people would be delighted with joint second, only losing out on a play off spot by games won. Yet it would be an understatement to suggest it feels bittersweet. Having sat in the top two for 36 of the 40 week season and only slipping to third after ironically beating league winners Bishops Stortford with 3 games to go; a really tough pill to swallow!

With all that said I want to congratulate Bishops Stortford on a well deserved Championship. They are a great club with strong support and having been there or thereabouts for 3 seasons it's thoroughly deserved. I hope they make a real go of it next season. On to the playoff - having made the long journey up to Sale to support Old Elthamian's and former Chinnor player George Messum, I was unsure on how the game would pan out but what a game! A major advert for National 2 rugby and I'm delighted the South won (again) and even more delighted OE's are out of the league too!

This season has been a season of records for the club; Most tries scored, most points scored, less points conceded, and more importantly the most league points breaking the 100 point mark. We have given ourselves a real base to push on next season in a bid for promotion.

Though sad to lose our friends from Barnes and Exmouth, we welcome Broadstreet on a level transfer, Old Redcliffians (N3 SW winners), Tonbridge Juddians (N3 SE winners) and Wimbledon (N3 playoff winner) for another very competitive season. New grounds to visit and new friends to make. Broadstreet is a superb facility in Coventry and are the current weekday home of Wasps. Interestingly we will be their local derby!!

As always at this time of the year we say goodbye to friends who move on to pastures new; Tom Burns (Rotherham) Jay Tyack, Koree Britton (Moseley), Jamie Townsend (Richmond), Nathan Hannay and Bevon Armitage both move back to the South West. A special mention must be made to 2 players. Firstly Junior Fatialofa who has given his all to Chinnor over three seasons off the pitch as well as on it. He will be sorely missed and I wish him my personal thanks. The other person, a true club legend Frank Jones who is sadly having to retire due to injury. He has been a key member of the 1st XV for many years and will be sadly missed.

This coming season I'm delighted to announce my coaching team of Richard Thorpe and Ricky Khan will be with us once again and joined by Jonny Bentley who will be player/attack coach. Jonny is a class player who has brought a lot to the player field since his arrival in February. He will be a real asset to the coaching panel as we look to push on and improve once more.

In terms of this year's squad so far 19 of the 28 man squad have re-signed:
Richard Thorpe
Jonny Bentley
Danny Barnes
Tom Price
Joe Hutchinson
Henry Birch
Ross Parkins
Ben Manning
Alex Bradley
Alex Waddingham
Greg Goodfellow
Bertie Hopkin
Charlie Broughton
Roddy Giles
Luke Hibberd
Henry Lamont
Oscar Heath
Steve Castle
Kieran Goss

Over the course of the summer we will be announcing the new recruits. I am pleased to advise that we have a great mixture of experienced players and promising young talent that will be arriving to complete our squad and I look forward to sharing them with you.

Finally I would like to thank you all for your incredible support and look forward to welcoming you back for what should be a superb 2017-18 season starting with Welsh Premiership's Ebbw Vale first visit to Kingsey Road!

1st Squad v Ebbw Vale - Home 12th August
1st XV and Falcons v Stourbridge - Away 19th August
1st XV and Falcons v Old Albanians - Home 26th August

Matt Williams
Director of Rugby