It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we must announce that Craig Truter died peacefully last Friday, 28 March 2025. A stalwart of the Windsor Rugby Club coaching setup for many years, he encapsulated all that was good in this world both on the training fields and in the clubhouse. His mantra of playing for fun, whilst respecting your teammates, opponents, parents, referees and coaches combined seamlessly with his inner determination and drive, creating a unique rugby experience in the process. The children he coached are all, without fail, better people as a result of knowing him. Although he did not suffer fools gladly, he was a rock to so many of us as we navigate life with all the trials and tribulations that can entail.

It is now the turn of us, the Windsor Rugby Club community, to attempt in some small way to return that loyalty, kindness and generosity. We have received outpourings of love and offers of support from across the club for his wife Steph, and sons Jakob (19), Ranger (10), Bale (8) and Colt (5). To that end, and with the approval of Craig's family, we have launched a donation page for anyone who wishes to help support a cause close to Craig's heart; community sport. Via the Charities Aid Foundation platform, we are raising funds for Windsor Rugby Club that will be ringfenced for the following purposes:

• Trophy for a new annual award, Windsor RFC Coach of the Year, to be awarded to the coach that best epitomises the values of fun and respect.
• Hire a bus for a return trip to Twickenham for the Harlequins vs Gloucester game on Saturday 10 May 2025, allowing the family to travel to the game surrounded by friends from the club.
• Invest in a programme of professional coach development, with the initial intention of running three "coach-the-coach" sessions throughout the summer. These will be technical sessions around how to coach the tackle, scrum, lineout, ruck and maul, as well as starting to think about embedding an expansive style of play in attack. With 100 volunteer coaches at the club, and 500 children in the mini and junior sections, this type of programme can have a lasting impact on sport in the local community for years to come.
• Any excess funds will be retained, and reinvested along similar principles with the agreement of the family.

Link: https:https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/28160#!/DonationDetails

For those wanting to show their respect in person, we will be holding a minute's silence before the 1st XV home game against Reading Abbey this Saturday, 5 April 2025 (kick-off 3pm). And for those children and parents from the Mini and Junior sections, we will be holding a minute's applause before training, at 9:30am on Sunday 6 April 2025.

Craig Truter (Born in Durban, 1971. Died in Windsor 2025). Rest in Peace. x