PITCH CONDITIONS EARLY SEASON – RFU GUIDANCE
Several clubs have expressed concern that pitch conditions have meant that players are currently unable to prepare adequately for contact in league matches.
This is the fourth time in five seasons that this issue has occurred, with the added challenge that pitches may be determined as unfit for play on opening weekend 12th September for the Regional and Counties Leagues. In order that we can manage and mitigate any impact on the league programme, the following protocol should be followed.
1) Clubs at Regional & Counties levels:
a) Where fixtures are scheduled for Week 2 (Sept 12th), clubs should advise their opposition and their league secretary of any concerns by Noon on Friday 4th September 2026, one week ahead of the fixture.
b) The League Secretary will advise clubs of the following options:
• If either club has concern over player welfare (insufficient contact training) then the
match can be postponed to the Next Available Weekend (NAW).
• If both clubs are satisfied their players are ‘contact ready’ and if the home club has
concerns over pitch conditions, which are unlikely to change significantly, they should
approach the away club to determine if switching the fixture is possible. Such request to be discussed with league secretary by Noon on Friday 4th September.
• If there are no concerns over contact preparedness but neither pitch is fit to play, then
clubs should seek alternative pitch or AGP to fulfil fixture. This is by agreement between
clubs and if no agreement then match is postponed to NAW.
• At all times the league secretary MUST be advised and involved in the discussion.
2) Fixtures that go down on Saturday 12th September will go over to Saturday 10th October which now reverts from a break weekend to a NAW.
The situation will be reviewed later in August and further guidance for Saturday 19th September and beyond will be issued if appropriate.
3) Please note clubs can also gain access to the RFU AGPs by contacting Rugby365@rfu.com. The map via the link below shows the locations of the RFU AGPs should anyone require it. It is fully appreciated that not all clubs are local to these sites, but RFU will do their utmost to accommodate any requests.
https://www.englandrugby.com/run/club-management/facilities/booking-agp
4) Please contact your League Secretary in the first instance if you require any further information.
August 5, 2026
Former Bristol & Gloucestershire hooker Kevin Bogira dies
Former Bristol & Gloucestershire hooker Kevin Bogira has sadly passed away, aged 73.
Kevin was Bristol’s principal hooker from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, forming a formidable front row unit with props John Doubleday and Austin Sheppard. He was a John Player Cup winner with the club in 1983 and also won the County Championship with Gloucestershire.
He made his debut for the Bristol 1stXV is the second game of the 1978/79 season in the home victory over C A Beglais.
He was so successful in his first full season that the Bristol Supporters chose him as Player of the Year. He was also awarded his first team cap, with his club blazer following just a season later. During his memorable debut season, Kevin scored one of Bristol’s two tries in a tense 8-6 victory in the snow at previously-undefeated Liverpool in January.
Kevin was a mainstay throughout Bristol’s successful John Player Cup campaign in 1983, featuring in all five games. When Bristol played their semi-final at Coventry, a photographer was present before the match to take individual pictures of the players of both sides for subsequent use in the official programme for the final.
Kevin was wearing a scrum cap, and Bristol skipper Mike Rafter hit on the brilliant idea of relaxing his players before the game by passing said scrum cap around and making each player wear it for the photograph. Thus, photos of the bulk of the squad, backs as well as forwards, appeared next to their pen-pictures in the programme for the final wearing Kevin’s scrum cap.
He made his Gloucestershire debut in 1979 and made a total of 18 appearances for the county. He was on the losing side in the County Championship final against Northumberland at a foggy Kingsholm in 1981, but in 1983, a few months before the John Player Cup triumph, he was in the Gloucestershire side which won the championship by defeating Yorkshire at the Memorial Ground.
He played in the South & South West side which defeated Romania at Kingsholm in 1985, and he also played for the South West in the Divisional Championship.
Kevin made his final first-team appearance at Coventry at the end of the 1987/88 season, having played 317 first-team games and scoring 23 tries.
After he retired, he joined the Bristol committee, acted as team secretary and occasional player for the short-lived Bristol A side and did a stint as team secretary for Bristol United. He made his last Bristol United appearance in 1991-92 and his final Bristol A appearances a season later. He also played briefly for Clifton and represented England Classicals in Bermuda.
Kevin was a very good golfer and enjoyed reconnecting with his former teammates on the golf course. He was also a regular attendee at Former Players’ gatherings.
He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by his many friends in the rugby community.
The Bristol & District Rugby Football Combination extend our sincere condolences to Kevin’s family and friends.
RIP Kevin
Extracts from Mark Hoskins’ tribute to Kevin on the Bristol Bears website
August 4, 2026
The passing of John ‘Scoop’ White
The Bristol & District Rugby Football Combination are deeply saddened to hear of the passing over the weekend of John White, better known to so many of us as ‘Scoop’.
The following was posted on John’s Facebook page:
“It is with broken hearts that we share the devastating news that our wonderful dad, John White, passed away over the weekend.
He was a very talented photographer, rugby writer, rugby player, comedian, song writer/musician and everyone's friend, but most importantly, he was the best dad and grandad we could have asked for.
He was a true warrior who survived multiple heart attacks, underwent open heart surgery and had to learn to live with heart failure.
Our worlds have been shattered; you will be missed so very much, and I cannot imagine how we will cope without you.
Goodnight, love you millions, Pops, our hero 
More details will follow once we have information from the coroner’
The Bristol & District Rugby Football Combination extend our sincere condolences to John’s family and countless friends.
RIP John
August 3, 2026
To All Club Secretaries
Are the details concerning your Club correct on this website?
Please check
HERE for Clubs A to C
HERE for Clubs D to N
HERE for Clubs O to Z
Any changes should be sent to -
webmaster@bristolrugbycombination.co.uk
Thanks to those Clubs who have already forwarded their changes.
BRISTOL COMBINATION SPONSORSHIP LEAD
The Sponsorship Lead is responsible for driving all sponsorship activities at the Bristol & District Rugby Football Combination, including identifying sponsorship assets, crafting proposals, approaching potential partners, and managing existing sponsor relationships.
Do you have the knowledge, skills and competencies to fulfil this voluntary role?
Please send your details to -
secretary@bristolrugbycombination.co.uk
ENTRIES NOW OPEN
Entries are now open for the 2026/27
Bristol Combination Butcombe Cup competitions.
The closing date for entries is August 31, 2026
FRAMPTON COTTERELL WIN BRISTOL COMBINATION VASE FINAL
Frampton Cootterell were the 52-36 winners of the Bristol Combination Butcombe Vase Final at Clifton RFC
on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Frampton stormed into a 28-nil lead and went into the break
leading 33-14 ahead.
Clevedon came back to trail 33-24 on the hour, but Frampton were always in front and ran out the winners.
AVONMOUTH OB WIN BRISTOL COMBINATION BOWL FINAL
Congratulations to Avonmouth Old Boys on winning the Bristol Combination Butcombe Bowl Final with a 27-26 victory over Barton HILL RFC at the Lockleaze Sports Centre RFC on Saturday, May 9, 2026, thanks to a conversion having been behind throughout the game.
OLD BRISTOLIANS WIN BRISTOL COMBINATION CUP FINAL
Congratulations to Old Bristolians RFC on winning the Bristol Combination Butcombe Cup Final with a 21-14 victory over Winscombe RFC at Clifton RFC on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
This is the second time that Old Bristolians have won the final, having beaten Old Redcliffians in the 1974/75 season.
A fitting end to the 100 years of Old Bristolians existence
B&DRFC Representative XV
B&DRFC Representative XV typically arranges several fixtures each season, for matches against opposition selected at various playing levels.
B&DRFC coaching team would welcome clubs to nominate appropriate players for consideration across those multiple levels by emailing player's name, club, playing position and mobile phone number.
The coaches would then do their best to watch as many players as possible in their respective club's fixtures, ahead of B&DRFC Repr. XV squad selections.
Please consult with your own club's coaches / committee, and nominate appropriate players, providing the above requested player information to:
Andy Nethercott, B&DRFC Repr. XV Coach - andy_nevs@hotmail.co.uk
Bristol Combination Fixture Exchange
This Fixture Exchange Facebook group for the Bristol & District Combination Rugby Clubs to arrange match fixture exchanges.
This group is only open to club fixture secretaries.
When submitting a posting, please remember to state the date of the possible match (not just next Saturday), home or away, the level of your team and a contact name and number.