This is a busy time of year for Simon Collyer-Bristow.

That’s because it’s the time of year when the end-of-season rugby cup games kick in and as organiser of the Stroud and District Combination’s four knockout competitions, it’s full on.

He’s also chairman and treasurer of the Combination as well as enjoying roles at Cirencester Rugby Club and the Gloucestershire RFU, so rugby is a very big part of his life.

The good news for Collyer-Bristow is that the draws for the Senior Cup, Junior Cup, Junior Plate and Bill Adams Trophy were made in the early part of the season so he hasn’t had to worry about that over the past few weeks.

And there is more good news because Western Counties North high-fliers Stroud have entered the Senior Cup for the first time for several years.

And with Fairford winning promotion to Gloucestershire One, that means four teams are chasing the top prize as opposed to just Cirencester and Dursley, as has been the case in recent times.

“I think there is an appetite for these competitions, and long may it continue,” said Collyer-Bristow. “We hold the four finals on three separate Saturdays – the Junior Cup and Junior Plate get played on the same day - at three different venues and we get crowds of around 250 to 300 which has got to be good. It’s an occasion.”


Cup draws

Senior Cup

Cirencester 1st XV v Stroud 1st XV
Fairford 1st XV v Dursley 1st XV.

Junior Cup

Stroud 2nd XV - Bye (Game 1)
Tetbury 1st XV v Minchinhampton 1st XV (Game 2)
Dursley 2nd XV v Painswick 1st XV (Game 3)
Cainscross 1st XV v Cirencester 2nd XV (Game 4)

Semi-finals

Winners Game 2 v Winners Game 3
Winners Game 4 v Winners Game 1


Junior Plate semi-finals

Losers Junior Cup Game 2 v Losers Game 3
Losers Game 4 v Losers Game 1


Bill Adams Trophy

Cainswick v Fairford 2nd XV
Dursley 3rd XV v Minchinhampton 2nd XV