AN annual music festival organised by Wallingford Rugby Club has been cancelled indefinitely.

Rugfest, which usually takes place over three days in June, was last held in 2019 but the rugby club decided it was no longer financially viable to carry on.

The event, which ran for 11 years, was an annual fundraiser for the club and was held at Wallingford Sports Park in Hithercroft Road where the club is based.

However the festival had become “too costly” and the club decided to focus on smaller events instead.

Doug Haggart, the club's volunteer co-ordinator, said: “The Rugfest Music festival was an annual fundraiser. However it became more costly to stage and were getting feedback of volunteer fatigue as you need to organise it well in advance.

"We're only a small club so we made a decision to do more rugby based fundraising events. We decided to start a 7s tournament but the coronavirus pandemic stopped that in 2020.

"Following the death of a former club captain, Johnny Baker, we decided to make it a memorial 7s tournament and it finally took place August last year.”

Matt Bowden-Ford, manager of Wallingford Sports Park, added: “It's not going ahead because the finance side of it is difficult - it’s difficult financially and making it work.

“As a lot of the guys are involved in Bunkfest this year they have decided to focus on that instead. As for us, our goal is to make sure we have our own events going ahead throughout the summer including live music events.”

Rugfest had faced difficulties with finances before and posted on Facebook in 2011 that “over one thousand guests” had confirmed they were attending but only 100 tickets had been sold.

The post said: “You need to buy tickets now instead of leaving it until last minute or the event will be cancelled due to lack of funding."

However, a public announcement was never made about the festival being discontinued after 2019 leaving fans to assume it was the coronavirus pandemic halting it’s return.

Hundreds of fans attended the final Rugfest which was headlined by The Feeling. Freak Power also performed along with Light Years, Mr Darling Clementine and The Echo.

The event also included food and drink, activities for children on a kids stage, an arts and crafts tent, workshops and a “blues and beers” night.

The rugby club’s next fundraiser will be the second JB7s on Saturday, June 25 with a men’s vet competition and a women’s competition. The club will be partnering with Marie Curie for the event.

To take part, or for more information, email martinhoare64@gmail.com.