It was a memorable weekend for Newark RUFC as Ben Blacknall and Fran Boneham-Hill both made their 1st XV debuts, the latest products of the club's mini, junior and youth sections to step up into senior rugby.

Ben's debut for the Men's 1st XV against Loughborough University 2nd XV was a proud moment for the whole club, the young back scoring two tries. Having started in Newark's mini and junior sections, he has progressed through the age groups under dedicated coaches, managers and volunteers, and his selection shows the strength of the club's development pathway.

On the same weekend, Fran made her debut for the Newark Ladies 1st XV against Boston. Having come through the girls' section, she looked completely at home on Newark's main pitch, and her dominant tackling and all-round contribution played a key role in a well-deserved victory.

Two debuts in one weekend reflect the work being done across the mini, junior and youth sections. In the men's game alone, 13 members of the current matchday squad are youth section graduates, while in the women's game players such as Fran provide a clear pathway for the next generation of girls. There is a saying in Business that "Good inputs lead to Good outputs". The link to this is importance of our coach’s commitment to continue to develop themselves supported by the club.

None of this is possible without the countless hours given by junior coaches, team managers, volunteers and families, who help players develop as individuals and stay connected to the club. It also reflects the direction set by the rugby board and its commitment to developing players and coaches.

Building a sustainable pathway is not easy, particularly when clubs across the country see players drift away from the game. Retaining young players through their teenage years and moving them into senior rugby remains a key priority.

The next challenge is to ensure the pathway strengthens the entire senior section. Seeing players reach the 1st XV is a fantastic achievement, but the long-term goal must be a pipeline that consistently supports the 2nd XV, 3rd XV and, hopefully, a future 4th XV, alongside the continued growth of the women's game. The support we receive from our sponsors is allowing us to plan to do this.

Investment in the junior and youth sections brings long-term rewards, and recruitment from within must remain a priority. Ben and Fran's journeys should inspire every young player pulling on a Newark RUFC shirt, and the club's future success will be built on the strength of its homegrown talent.