This year's appeal comes back to CNRC.

In 2019 and with my readers' generous help, the club set up a fund which over the past four years has financially supported the club's junior age groups. It has worked wonders in encouraging youngsters to forsake their phones and tablets and instead to go out to get wet, cold and muddy and to treat bruises as badges of honour.

Those funds are now depleted and it would be my pleasure to help to refill the coffers which will assist in keeping up the great work done by the club, its coaching staff and of course the many parents in fostering the next generation of players of the sport I so love.

I get up at 5:15 am and write and distribute around 150 columns a year. In exchange I ask for nothing more than a single donation to a charity of my choice. This year, for the second time, the boys and girls of Chippy rugby club shall be the beneficiaries.