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On June 19th both the MIRFC 1st & 2nd teams won handsomely away at Ormstown Saracens. The 1st team featured Tom Williams at Outside Centre. Tom was the Man of the Match producing a fantastic display of measured attacking rugby. Tom scored the first try of 8 by the team and had a major contribution in at least another 3. Unfortunately Calum was still feeling the shoulder injury he picked up the week before and therefore sat out this encounter. Onwards to the next game against Sherbrooke on July 10th.

This is taken on rookie's night, where they were part of a talent night and had to sing Tom Jones songs

Tom and Calum both played last Saturday. Calum started for the 2nd team with a view of playing a half and moving up to the 1st team bench. Unfortunately he picked up a little niggle during the game and had to sit out thereafter. Prior to that he had been impressive in both his set piece and loose play. He has been receiving physio and should be good to go shortly. Tom started at full back for the 1st team and played the full 80mins. The heat and humidity was a bit of a shock but he adapted very well and played an excellent game against the reigning champions of Quebec. This is a team that MIRFC narrowly lost to on 3 occasions last year including the play off semi final. The result showed the progress that we are making as we drew 19-19 in a game that we really should have won. The 2nds and 3rds won with bonus points, so it was a very good day for the club. It was also the infamous 'Rookie Night' which both Tom and Calum took part in!

Calum & Tom had there first games today - Tom started at 15 for the 2nd team - he impressed so much we dragged him off at 1/2 time so that he could bench for the firsts. Calum played the 2nd half for the 2nds, i wasn't able to watch due to warming up but by all accounts he played really well and was also promoted to 1st team bench. The conditions were wet and windy typically welsh! 2nds won 10-0. for the 1st team our 15 got injured after 20 mins and Tom came on at 15 and played very well. Showed flashes of brilliance - everyone very impressed with attitude and performance. Calum came on for the last 20mins and also did very well. 1st team won 24-10 with a bonus point so a good day had by all.  It really looks like they are going to be 2 very good players and the boys have taken to them too.  Will keep you updated

Six years ago, at the age of 37, a member of Colwyn Bay Rugby Club died after an unfortunate accident at a restaurant in Llandudno. Paul Jones was a first class rugby player, a great friend to all members of the club and very popular with the ladies. Not only a player and friend, but a staunch supporter of the club during and after his playing days.

After Paul’s tragic demise, a number of club members felt that something had to be done to perpetuate his memory. In 2005, a charity dinner/auction was held at the St George Hotel Llandudno. A similar event was organised in the following year. The money raised at these two events initiated the Paul Jones Memorial Fund. It was agreed that the money held in this fund was to be used to help young talented rugby players advance their careers. The following sentence provides the criteria for the fund’s purpose.

“The Paul Jones Memorial Fund will provide financial support to advance the rugby playing careers of young talented players who are members of Colwyn Bay Rugby Football Club”.

To date money from the fund has helped youngsters attend a specialist-coaching course in Yorkshire. Contributions from the fund have helped improve playing facilities to meet the demands of rugby football for youngsters at CBRFC. The latest use of the fund is helping two talented youngsters spend the summer in Canada to improve their rugby skills. Tom Williams and Calum Stronach, who have been junior and youth members of CBRFC, have demonstrated skills in the 1^st XV that deserve developing to further their rugby playing ambitions. To this end, the Paul Jones Memorial Fund is contributing towards their visit to Canada.

Huw Roberts, a former Club Captain, is now working in Canada and has invited Tom and Calum to play for his Canadian Club, Montreal Irish RFC. Huw has provided us with the following information.

Montreal Irish RFC play in the Quebec Premier League and field 3 men’s teams and 2 women’s teams. Rugby is a fast growing and developing sport in Quebec but still falls behind the traditional sporting powerhouses of Ice Hockey, American Football and Baseball in terms of popularity. As a result, there is a strong Ex-Pat presence in the Rugby Clubs together with a growing presence of local players. The Club is excited to be forging a link with a Welsh Club in order to aid the development of the Club and the individuals concerned.

Tom and Callum can expect a very warm welcome from the club that has lined up accommodation and work for them. They will experience a buoyant social scene in one of the most vibrant cities in North America. As a bilingual city, Montreal offers an experience that is truly unique.

Huw continued by saying, “On a personal note, I am very excited by the prospect of the link between CBRFC and MIRFC. The Committee members of both clubs have acted quickly and decisively to make this happen. Having played with Paul Jones and known the adventurous personality that he had, in creating this opportunity, I cannot think of a better way to utilise the Paul Jones Memorial Fund. As sad as the circumstances are that created this opportunity, I know how grateful I would have been to have been given the opportunity as a 19 year old that has been extended to Tom and Calum”.

Mark Gallagher, President of The Montreal Irish RFC said, "We're delighted that the lads are coming over. I think this is going to be a great rugby and life experience for them and we will be doing everything we can to make them feel welcome. I hope this is just the start of a great relationship with Colwyn Bay RFC and we would like to be in a position to send some of our young lads to Wales next year for what would be a great rugby education for them"

We at CBRFC are delighted that we are able to use the monies accumulated in the Paul Jones Memorial Fund to provide Tom and Callum with this experience. We will offer a warm welcome to the Canadian boys when they visit us next season. To repeat Huw’s comments, as sad as the circumstances are that created this opportunity, Tom and Calum can take Paul’s memory across the Atlantic by carrying with them his love for rugby football.