Picture special: Uckfield Rugby Club in focus

Ron says: "Regular Covid-19 community game Updates from the RFU are helping the rugby community with issues resulting from suspension of the rugby season in England, following government measures aimed at combatting the spread of the virus. The RFU agreed to use teams' playing record in the 19-20 season to calculate final tables and work out who would win titles and be promoted or relegated. The latest lockdown imposed by the British government has left grassroots sports facing a potentially existential crisis. With almost no games being played, the situation regarding rugby clubs is becoming acute and the fear is that many players simply won’t come back and with no games being played, many in the sport are worrying for the future. Without the focus of matchday Saturday income and enthusiasm is being drained away from the sport’s wider community, players build contacts with each other, and develop lives that take them on journeys far away from sport itself. Lasting friendships are forged on and off the pitch and clubs provide a focus for people’s lives in fundamental and lasting ways." All images: Copyright Ron Hill (HillPhotographic). See a selection in the Sussex Express on February 5.