It is with regret that the club has been forced to take the decision to withdraw from Kent 2 with immediate effect. We have been affected throughout the season by issues of player availability, particularly in the front row, and, having conceded a second league fixture on Saturday, would have been at risk of expulsion in the event of a third cancellation.

Our intention is to play out the remainder of this season with a mixture of friendlies and the outstanding 2nd XV fixtures in the Master Brew merit league before assessing where we are and entering the 1st XV into an appropriate merit league for next season. It is hoped that the more relaxed environment of the merit leagues will encourage players to play on for longer and will enable the club to reverse the decline in player availability. The players are there (we have used over 50 players in the 1st XV this season) - we just need them to play regularly!

I would like to reassure club members and visiting teams alike that the famous ORFC Beer Festival will go ahead as planned! Full details to follow but Jon has promised it's going to be big...

The future of the club is still bright with the junior section continuing to grow despite the cold weather and there is no reason to think the club will not be able to turn this situation around providing players are prepared to roll up their sleeves and get involved.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Friends of Hoblingwell and the multitude of Kent clubs whom have already offered support, both moral and practical, to Orpington RFC - many of these clubs have been in similar situations themselves at various times and managed to turn things around - we will do the same, as long as we continue to have the support of club members and the local community.

We will get out of this: as one!