Callously cast onto the rugby scrap heap four seasons ago and
left to slowly sink into oblivion three seasons later, one of
the great names in English rugby and the northwest in particular
over the past thirty years, the name Orrell will once again
appear on RFU fixture lists as from the start of this coming
season.

Playing under the banner of Orrell Anvils after the parent club
folded at the end of the 2007/08 season, the RFU have now
sanctioned the use of Orrell RUFC as the official title of the
club.

The announcement made at the Anvils AGM held last week will be
welcomed by all involved in rugby throughout the northwest and
beyond and closes one of the more heart-wrenching episodes in
the club's proud history.

Orrell will take over the Anvils' fixtures and play in South
Lancashire/Cheshire Two with the target promotion and the
beginning of the climb back through the league system.

"We have had to wait a full season whilst various legal and
financial matters were sorted out but when we revived the Anvils
after the disbanding of Orrell it was always our intention to
ask the RFU to revert to the name of Orrell," said club chairman
Tony Havlin.
"Despite the problems over the past few years we
inherit a great heritage but we we cannot just dwell on the past
but look forward to making sure that the club rises again."

Also at the meeting, Anvils President former British Lion John
Carleton announced his retirement due to family and business
commitments to be replaced by former backrow forward Peter
Bayman. Havlin was re-elected as chairman, Dick Fisher secretary
with Jimmy Williams remaining as head coach.

Havlin announced that finances were strong with enough money
available to cover administrative costs for the comming season
and also provide new kit with a return to the famous black and
amber hoops, a move which will certainly please 'traditionalists'.

Orrell will continue to play at St.John Rigby College for at
least one more season, although negotiations are underway with a
local landowner to re-locate to a site within the Orrell area.

"We have survived our first season and were perhaps unlucky to
miss out on promotion," Havlin commented. "Crowds have been
healthy and with a 300 membership which is still growing we are
in a good position to take the club forward."