Welcome to issue 95 of Rugby Club Mag. As we approach the business end of the season we already have clubs who have completed their fixtures and know their standings and some still with cup competitions to complete. The clocks have gone forward and the nights are brighter so perhaps its time to slow down and ease ourselves into spring and onto the summer. Rugby, as I have said before, is a special sport that offers long standing friendships and a safe and fun place for people to congregate. Clubs are ran by unsung unselfish people who, even unconsciously, operate by the moto that the more you give away the more you keep. From coaches, committee members, players and tired parents they all hold an import part to play in club rugby and we salute you!. I hope you enjoy some of the features about the clubs we have included in this latest edition.
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MEDIA DIRECTOR
Martin Morgan
E: mbm@sportip.biz
FINANCE COORDINATOR
Michelle McGregor
E: accounts@sportip.biz
PHOTOGRAPHY COORDINATOR
Maria Kearney
E: copy@sportip.biz
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Jane Morgan
E: editorial@sportip.biz
HEAD OF MAGAZINE DESIGN
Rowena Wilson
E: rowenawilsondesign@gmail.com
HEAD OF EDITORIAL CONTENT
Damien Lagan
Tavistock Rugby Football Club
Falkirk Rugby Football Club
Making Rugby central.
Bec Old Boys Rugby Love the Hill
Cockermouth Rugby Club
Anything is possible if you just keep going!
Spalding Rugby Club 1923-2023. Optimisitc both on and off the field!
Old Wheatleyans Rugby Football Club
WHEATS-a Welcoming club, full of History, where Enjoyment is a priority, All abilities are encouraged, Teamwork is taught and Socialising is a must!
Old Halesonians Rugby Football Club Champions and Midlands Club of the Season 2022/2023! Outstanding!
Daventry Rugby Club
”Beyond Belief!” Coming together against all odds to provide community rugby with a big family orientated vibe!
Stockwood Park Rugby Football Club
The mood is very upbeat at the club at the moment.
Bishop Auckland RUFC Northern Club of the Season 22/23! Where our Membership is like a family!
St Agnes
Making friendships that will last a lifetime.
St Austell Rugby Football Club The Saints Way! South West Club of the Season 2022/2023
History making saints win the World Cup Challenge St Helens R.F.C. claimed their third World Club Title with a 12-13 victory over Penrith Panthers.
West of Scotland Football Club Pulling together as we build our vision.
New Brighton FC (RU)
Offering a place where the whole family can congregate and enjoy themselves!
Marlborough Rugby Football Club
Our senior coaching philosophy is an enjoyable, performance lead coaching environment which is inclusive and transparent for all.
Sudbury Rugby Football Club
Old Northamptonians Rugby Football Club
After 100 years of Rugby the club is in a good state across the board!
In order to take a long term view and prevent a reactive dash each and every time a new facility funding stream is launched, the RFU adopts a planning process, in partnership with all CBs, so that the true facility needs and priorities of rugby clubs across the country are recorded and understood on an ongoing basis. This information is collated in ‘CB Facility Plans.’
Effective CB Facility Plans enable the RFU Facility Development team to target specialist project development support to
clubs and provide advice on a range of issues including design, planning, tenure, contractor options, tax and ultimately funding opportunities. Effectively meaning the right project can be matched to the right fund at the right time.
The allocation of any direct investment available via the RFU is also managed through this process. It is therefore imperative that all clubs identify their facility needs, both on field (pitches, floodlights) and off-field (bar, social space, changing rooms) and share this information
with their CB Facility coordinator and/or their RFU area facility team member. Many CBs now have a simple online tool that clubs can use in order to provide this information as quickly and easily as possible. One of the main areas of support and investment in 2023 and beyond is the transformational Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2025 Impact Programme. This is being delivered in partnership with the government and Sport England. The programme includes a multi-million pound facility investment fund. The objective of this fund is to: ‘Enhance the rugby club experience for females’ as set out in the RFU’s Every Rose
Within the programme, grant funding is available for:
• The provision of basic sanitary requirements
• Improvements to rugby club female toilets
• mpact refurbishments to create female friendly club social spaces
• Enhancements to existing and construction of new female changing rooms
As well as funding opportunities, technical guidance is also available to help design the most female friendly facilities possible. Opportunities for funding in Year Two will soon be available. Keep your eye on the Community Rugby Help Portal to find out first.
For more information on our Facility Development programme in general use our Link Tree https://linktr. ee/RFUFacilities
Rugby is a physical sport, and fencing is unpopular due to the potential of injury resulting from collision. However, a safe and clear zone for spectators to enjoy rugby is key to growing a club’s income potential, which in turn is the best way to attract strong talent, nurture home grown players and strive towards greater sporting achievement.
When The RFU chose a fencing company to partner with, it had to make sure that the products were flexible and strong enough to both support eager spectators leaning on the fence, whilst also flexing and bending when play reached beyond the edges of the pitch. Eventually, Duralock, a British PVCu fencing company was chosen for their long 30+ year heritage and global recognition in the sporting world, from equestrian sports, to football, cricket and more.
The Post and Rail fencing pictured below offers a smart solution to demarcating the area of play, giving fans the confidence to come up close to the action, whilst protecting the athletes from harm. Made from 80% recycled PVCu, the fences are smooth to the touch, have no sharp edges and completely weather proof, ready to stand the test of years of the harshest English weather.
Best yet, Duralock fences can be either permanent fixtures, or movable. After the rugby season is over, fences can be uninstalled and stored, to be easily reinstalled when a fresh season starts again with no sacrifice to strength, flexibility or durability. All fences are made to order and a preferential rate is offered to all RFU members.
Reach out to them at their website www.duralock.com or through their email: info@duralock.com
"
"...asafeandclearzoneforspectators toenjoyrugbyiskeytogrowinga club’sincomepotential,whichinturnis thebestwaytoattractstrongtalent, nurturehomegrownplayersandstrive towardsgreatersportingachievement.”Duralock Post and Rail fencing Grasshoppers RFC, Isleworth
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“Another brilliant feature is the headland management system that can be set to automatically disengage the PTO on lifting and re-engage when lowering, making turning at the end of runs so simple. This makes such a difference when aerating large areas and numerous runs. All these features and then, most importantly, the comfortable air con cab means the staff have no problems working with this machine for long periods of time! The purchase of our ISEKI TG6507 IQ was an obvious choice.”
Max Sandford, Exeter Rugby Club
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Several of Westcombe Park’s rivals have suffered a ‘mauling’ in the London and South East Division - including Tring who were beaten home and away to register the leaders’ first double of the season – but opponents should be warned that the 120 year old club is determined to bring new meaning to its traditional “Tiger Combe” rallying cry.
Going back to the early sixties the shout from the side’s larger than life past captain, Robert Brett, used to echo around the ground as he urged his players on to ever greater efforts. Now, resonating with the RFU’s five core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship, Westcombe Park is adopting TIGER as its acronym for Teamwork, Integrity, Growth, Enjoyment and Respect.
And in addition to success on the pitch – continuing at the top of their league could see a return to national competition - Westcombe Park is also aiming to build on its status as a community focussed club which welcomes people from all age groups and backgrounds, as well as offering facilities for other sports. Indeed, Westcombe Park’s history is one of evolution and enterprise where a love of the sport, camaraderie and
a canny knack of maximising available resources – both human and practical – have seen the club prosper.
a search for a new venue. Happily, the club was able to purchase a piece of land at Craven Road in Orpington for just £170 which, though it might sound like a paltry sum nowadays, three decades later helped secure the club’s future and independence.
World War II interrupted team sports both nationally and internationally, but hostilities had not ceased completely when in the 194546 season, two separate teams ran out as the club struggled to reform. Players living more locally to Orpington began joining “Combe” and membership swelled.
led us over to Goddington Lane, where we joined a sports club offering cricket, football and tennis.
CLARKSON WRIGHT & JAKES
Clarkson Wright & Jakes have supported Westcombe Park RFC for over 15 years and enjoy a very close business and social relationship with the whole club and with several members of staff either playing or coaching at various levels over the years.
As a long-established law firm in Orpington, CWJ’s aim is to make a positive impact on the local community and for us Combe, being such a well-respected local club, are the perfect partner.
It is a partnership that continues to thrive benefiting both the club and the firm. Every season the club involve CWJ in its fundraising activities and match day entertainment whereby we bring along staff and clients and receive the warmest of welcomes.
Westcombe Park is probably unique in having originally been founded by an individual who was too disabled to actually be able to play rugby himself. Despite his personal challenges, Dudley E. Roughton worked tirelessly to ensure others could participate in a sport which has become known for offering a role to participants of very different sizes and aptitudes.
It was in 1904 that the first matches were played and a timber club house was erected by members at Westcombe Park in South-East London; where they stayed until 1936, when local development forced
The teams, meanwhile, suffered peaks and troughs while they embraced the spirit of the age, making do with the facilities provided within a rudimentary wooden structure which, though it featured baths, would seem primitive by modern standards. That ‘make do and mend’ clubhouse was demolished and replaced by another more modern timber building in 1966.
Westcombe Park’s Chairman, John Vallely, takes up the story: “By 1990 Combe had outgrown its current site in Craven Road and we were looking for a new location. There was a sports club just across from our existing ground that was a possibility, and negotiation
“A year later though, with rugby very much the best supported sport, an EGM was called and Westcombe Park took over the running of the club as a whole, which was renamed Westcombe Park and Orpington Sports Club Ltd; a name which endures to today, while the money raised from the sale of the old site for housing provided funds for renewal. Six new changing rooms, a referee’s room, along with baths and showers were constructed. Also included in the redevelopment were a large gym and a physio room.
“It was also back in 1991 that the committee could see that the new league structure was coming, as the English game finally recognised the need to embrace professionalism, and Westcombe Park actually rose to heights of National League One, playing big name clubs such as Blackheath, Redruth, Plymouth and Otley. The structure of the club also grew with more coaches, physios and even a team doctor.”
Given the success of the club side, it is no surprise that
When it comes to our firm’s own marketing activities, the club officials always offer their support, lending a hand and flying the flag for CWJ. Through our close affiliation Combe has helped raise CWJ’s profile and introduce us to local people and businesses, whom we may not have met otherwise. We provide legal advice to many of the club members and visitors and continue to receive recommendations from them.
It’s been a pleasure to watch the club grow over the years, catering for all ages and maximising on its resources and facilities extending beyond the game of rugby. We are proud to be associated with such a solid hub in the community. Keep up the good work Combe and we wish you all the very best of continued success for the future.
some of its players went on to participate at a higher level including becoming both Oxford and Cambridge Blues, being picked for England, Scotland and Wales Under-21s, The Barbarians and regularly representing Kent as a county. In fact when Kent reached the final at Twickenham, Westcombe not only supplied eight players, but also the head coach, his assistant, the manager and physio.
John continues: “As you might appreciate the running costs of an enterprise like this with the upkeep of an extensive building plus the 23 acres of playing fields requires a very large outlay; and the club is extremely grateful for the sponsorship and support
that it receives from local businesses and the army of volunteers who help out in numerous roles every weekend.
“The latter includes all the parents who are involved in helping run the mini rugby, an activity which goes right back to 1971, and something which Combe is very proud of. This year will see us stage our 47th Mini Festival for age groups from seven up to 11 years of age; an event which draws crowds of 2-3,000 annually.
“Also proving very popular along with the original rugby, football, cricket and tennis, we also now have American football, Ruggerbugs, Crossfit, Boogy Bouncy, K2K dancing, Soft Play and dog training under the name “Woofers”. So we’re fairly confident that with our revitalised TIGER initiative, Westcombe Park is going to roar even louder”.
During the first World War Combe had a silver match box into which was placed a white five-pound note that could be used by any member who might have been going though a financially difficult time which would be then paid back when funds were available
These are presented each year at the club’s annual supper to players in each team, For playing ability, voluntary work, training attendance, usually a maximum of two per team.
I live about an 8-minute walk from Westcombe Park RFC and when my son Ben was invited along to a friend’s day at Combe, I was happy to accompany him. That was 5 years ago, and Ben is still playing for the clubs U11`s. Whilst standing on the touch line I got chatting with some friends and before long I was invited to play for Combe`s 3rd XV and vets’ team. I played 8 games pre covid and last season was my first full season, and this season I am still enjoying myself! Usually, a flanker I have stepped into the front row and prop position, however I am happy to play wherever I am needed. Having never played Rugby before, with my first game being at aged
43, I have enjoyed the whole experience and camaraderie so much that I regret never having picked up the oval ball in my younger years. It is a fantastic achievement for Westcombe Park Rugby Club to be recognised as `English club of the season 2022/23! ` I watch the teams play as often as I can and appreciate the standard of rugby of our 1st XV as they sit top of their league. To me it’s no surprise that the club have been honoured for their great contribution to rugby as I have always had very positive experiences with the club. The friendliness of its members and the great welcome I and Ben have always received cannot be understated! I would like to wish everyone at the club all the very best of continued success for many more years to come!
“Very proud of our association with Westcombe Park RFC”
01689 827205
info@ic-construction.co.uk
One word I would use to describe Westcombe Park RFC would be “Community!” demonstrated by the brilliant atmosphere and support the club enjoys! When my son Nick was looking for a club to join I asked a friend of mine, who played rugby and who I knew in the Fire Service, for some advice about recommending a good local club and his immediate reply was `Westcombe Park RFC`!
One of the key qualities we were looking for was inclusivity, as opposed to exclusivity, and the rugby club offered that; and much more. Before long I was holding tackle bags and Nick, who played scrum half, was chosen to play in his preferred position without any conflict with players and coaches. To me this demonstrated a great attitude and team spirit supplying us with a seamless introduction into the club; we really felt part of Westcombe Park from the outset.
As Nick progressed through to Gents Rugby he really benefited from the camaraderie and wisdom of the older players who looked after him and encouraged him through. These teachings from some of the Gents Team`s over 60`s were much more than playing tactics but values and life skills that last the test of time and which they had learned and were now passing on in the true spirit of rugby and mentoring. These days you will find Nick taking to the field for London Fire brigade Rugby who play against other brigades , military sides and sometimes the Moosheads!
I try to get to see as many games as I can and its great to watch the teams competing so well this season. It is a real, and deserved honour, that Rugby Club Mag have recognised Westcombe Park RFC as `English club of the season 22/23” and I would like to wish this very inclusive and community based club all the very best of continued success for many more years to come!
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I have been a member of Westcombe Park RFC for 36 years now. My dad played prop for wprfc in the early 70s when he was coming to the end of his playing days, he had played for Esher and University Vandals prior to that. The school I attended didn’t really play rugby however one of our teachers Rob Probyn, a player and scrum half at the club, realised he had a few decent players and encouraged us to join Coombe. We started in the U12`s and never looked back. I played centre and we all pretty much stayed together through to Colts. We used to train next to the 1st team in 92/93 season, and one night I got the call “Mickey, get over here” from the then club coach Chas Chapman. I was born with a clubbed foot and after having major operations throughout my early childhood and my parents being told I would barely walk properly, I feel
honoured and grateful that I represented Westcombe Park 1st team in the centre and at openside flanker, but the pain and injuries eventually got the better of me and hung up my boots when I was 27.
I have always kept my connection and association with the club. These days my son Harry, a former footballer, now plays for the 3rdXV, as a utility back, having played scrum half, fly half, centre and wing. They are a great bunch and a credit to the club. I get down to the club to see as many games as I can, and the effort and brand of rugby being played by our 1st XV is something else and magnificent to watch! My business Warmth 4U have sponsored the club in various ways and we are always more than happy to help out whenever we can. I am very proud to be a member of Westcombe Park RFC for the many years of fun and friendships I have had, and for the club to be chosen as Rugby Club Mag`s `English Club of the season 22/23` is very much deserved!
I have been a playing member of Westcombe Park RFC since the tender age of 9, with this year being my landmark 30th year at the club. I play mostly social rugby for the 3rd XV and Vets, recently returning to the field after a lengthy achilles injury. I would probably describe myself as a ‘utility clubman’ generally front or back row player but happy to fill in wherever needed.
My sporting life first started off with football, as mum didn’t want me playing ‘that rough game’. However, after 2 miserable years milling
around on a football field and a career total of 1 own goal, she realised my true calling was egg chasing and it was agreed Dad could take me along to his
rugby club. Westcombe Park RFC become my second home from that day on.
My father is Graham Parrish, now 65, who is also celebrating
a huge milestone – this is his 50th year at ‘Combe. He first ran out for the club aged 15, where he built and maintained his position as a solid and dependable second row. He said his aim was for us to play alongside each other for 1 season before finally hanging his boots up - that was 22 years ago and he has been playing ever since. He has said this will be his 50th and final season…. We’ll see!
Last season 8 new babies were born to the 3rd & 4th team players- 7 boys and a girl. My wife and I were amongst the new parents and 10 months ago we proudly welcomed our son Zachary into the world, a rugby-ready 10lb 14oz. It would be nice to see all these babies come together for mini rugby in 5 years times. To date Zac has already attended 3 matches at the club and from what I can tell he is already an avid Combe supporter.
Perimeter Solutions Limited, the specialist security fencing company I jointly own, have sponsored initiatives at the club and have recently secured it’s boundaries to help protect our facilities from trespass and vandalism, which has made a real positive impact on the club. It is always a pleasure giving something back to support and help out this great community club.
Westcombe Park Rugby Club has always provided a welcoming and safe environment for all its members, young and old throughout our local region. Not only have they excelled on the pitch, but its members have dedicated their free time and resources to consistently improve the facilities for their member, players, and fans. I class it as my second home, full of happy memories and always a friendly face in the club house to greet you.
From me personally, and from the directors and staff at Perimeter Solutions, we would like to congratulate everyone at Westcombe Park Rugby Club on being selected as `English club of the Season 2022/2023`. Sending best wishes to you all for many more seasons to come!
I played rugby at school before moving onto senior rugby for Evesham and Spalding Rugby Club`s, captaining Spalding for 3 seasons in the 80s, then refereed for the NLD Society. Many parts of our club are thriving at the moment and at all levels; in no small part due to the excellent and committed coaches, members, players, sponsors and supporters we have; all contributing much to Spalding’s future! Ladies are a huge part of the volunteer effort at the club and we are working hard to get their playing squad training together regularly. Without a doubt they are responsible for a huge part of our organisation helping run the mini/junior section which is the largest part of SRFC. We are also lucky to have several female coaches together with
administrators who keep their age groups running smoothly.
Our mini/junior rugby section started in the 80’s and is now well established - due to our expansion around 2012 it became clear that the club needed to relocate to a larger facility. In September 2014 the club purchased 22 acres of land on the outskirts of Spalding which were destined to become our new permanent home - the first site the club have owned in its 100-year history! Four years later in 2018 the mini and juniors section started to play at what was to become their new and permanent residence. A clubhouse was built around modular units and changing rooms were provided by units originally constructed for the 2012 Olympic Hockey tournament! These will, later this season, be replaced by permanent changing facilities built by local tradesmen with the financial support of the RFU. We still need to raise a significant amount of money to complete the fitting out of the changing rooms in preparation for the Centenary season 2023-24
On the playing frontencouraging children to get involved with rugby, as less
schools offer this sport, is a large part of our focus as a club. Qualified coaching numbers are in excess of 40 who support the mini/ junior section - maintaining our younger players interest as they grow older and as alternative opportunities for social activities increase. The link between youth and senior rugby is another area we concentrate on encouraging our colts to do non-contact training sessions with the senior players to help them develop their game and challenge their skills. The
general mood at the club is excellent and results so far this season leaves us optimistic both on the pitch with. The 1st XV has had a very good first half of their league season and junior numbers are encouraging with all the junior sides competing in NLD competitions. Off the field our clubhouse is now fully functioning and changing rooms will be in full use for the 2023-4 campaign!
Rugby challenges are focused on promotion for the 1st XV and ambitions to field 2nds & Vets regularly continuing into our Centenary season when we hope success will continue. It is important to us that the mini/junior playing environment is not always about winning - participation
and enjoyment are also emphasised. We want to increase all playing numbers with our squads ideally at 25-30 for each age group so that we can continue successfully as realistically some players are sure to move on.
We have tremendous support from both locally owned and national companies with many local businesses giving us tremendous support for a number of years. Over 50 support our enthusiastic family ethos which is still growing in popularity. They have been especially important to the club as we have undertaken the challenging move and preparation to our new ground and all the associated expense associated with such a move.
Spalding hold 6 VP lunches each season, before home games, when we discuss how good we used to be! We have a successful annual club Ball - which due to success has had to move to a larger venue catering for up to 400 people.
In common with most clubs Spalding hold a players end of season dinner - one of the best remembered by those present was in 1973 when the guest speaker was one Carwyn James who was the successful coach of the 1971 British and Irish Lions who had become the first side to beat the New Zealand All Blacks at home and had gone on to coach the Barbarians side who in January 1973 had beaten them at the old Cardiff Arms Park in the game featuring THAT tryscored by Gareth Edwards. However, the dinners stood out as different in many guest’s memories because of the “entertainment” put on by the players after the formal dinner - sketches and other humorous items were performed which naturally poked fun at fellow members but of course also signalled to guests something of the spirit which has helped to sustain Spalding Rugby Club to this day!
I have always played sport and when my playing days came to an end i started following Spalding from around the mid 90’s. I decided to go along to the club`s AGM and before I knew it I was Club Secretary!
Subsequently I moved onto being the colts coach in 2001 before becoming the Club Treasurer in 2013 joining Geof Nichols (Then Chairman) and Jeremy Chew ( Mini & Junior coordinator) to lead Spalding RFC`s relocation plan which I have stayed with ever since. Now we have pitches, a great
clubhouse and are, with RFU support, developing a new changing room complex with the aim of bringing the club back together with the seniors leaving the Grammar School playing fields at the end of this season and all sections of Club playing at our extensive New Grounds, Drain Bank North, PE12 6AF.
Thelinkbetweenyouthandsenior rugbyisanotherareaweconcentrate on-weencourageourcoltstodo non-contacttrainingsessionswiththe seniorplayerstohelpthemdevelop theirgameandchallengetheirskills.PETER JULLIEN CLUB TREASURER AND VOLUNTEER
1923 - Spalding RFC was formed with Willis White as captain and played on borrowed field in the Fulney area of Spalding using the White Hart Hotel [now closed] as an unofficial club house.
From 1931 until the outbreak of World War - 2 teams were being run.
1945 - club reformed after WW2 but after the severe winter of 1946-7 when large parts of the East coast and Spalding area were flooded we had to move away from the field at Low Fulney which was excavated to form part of the Coronation Channel around Spalding. The club moved to a temporary home ground on Spalding reclaimed marsh just outside the town.
1949-50- the club had its most successful season to date, captained by George Plowman - remaining unbeaten but drawing one match.
1953 - We were welcomed by Spalding Grammar School Headmaster and Governors and a few years later were permitted to erect our first clubhouse - which was an ex prisoner of war hut!
1957-58 - 3 sides were fielded for the first time and 2 years later it became 4.
1960-61 when the club 1st XV had a 100% record, winning all 33 games, points for 609 against 56 - captained by Jim Peach.
1961-62 in recognition of the previous season’s feat Leicester Tigers invited them to play a challenge match against Tigers at [Matioli Woods] Welford Road - the town side prevailed with Derek Sly scoring the winning try for Spalding.
1973 - the Rugby club joins the town Hockey and Cricket clubs to form Spalding Sports Club and builds a club house which was to be our home for 50 years.
1987-88 - Spalding joined the initial league structure in 1987-88 in NLD Courage league Div 2. The club was again fielding 4 teams.
2001-02 - Spalding had probably their most successful period in recent years when, under the captaincy of Alex Wilcox, they were promoted to Midlands 1 - where they played for several seasons.
2000-05 Spalding won the
NLD Cup 3 times and the Lincolnshire county cup twice 2019-20 - Spalding won the Midlands Senior Vase
2022-23 - the club are currently sitting near the top of Midlands 2 East South.
2023-24 - The Club celebrates it’s Centenary from their new ground at Drain Bank North, just outside the town - the first ground the club has owned in it’s 100 year history! We are proud that a number of players have played at Spalding and moved onto senior clubs…
• 1970’s - Billy Bushell [Harlequins]
• 1980’s - Paul Eggleton [Saracens], Tom Withyman [England Schools U18, Harlequins], Paddy Wheeler [Nottingham], Peter Sly [Leicester Tigers]
• 2010’s - Jethro Rawlings [Leicester Tigers], Lawrence Rayner [England Counties, Plymouth Albion and Nottingham], George Worth [Leicester Tigers and Melbourne Rebels]
• 2020s - Josh McNally [Bath and England], Cory Lewis [England Students & Ampthill, Will Wand [Coventry], Tom Wand [Brooksby College/ represented Leicester Tigers academy]
Spalding are hosting a Leicester Tigers Tag/ Development camps
21-25 August 2023.
I’ve been involved with Spalding Rugby for 10 years and was attracted as I’m a big rugby fan and my brother is a former player. I think my main challenge is to bring more people through the door, I love to be involved with the club and see children out on the field playing rugby. Recruitment of new players is going well and we have over 200 mini/junior members currently. Finishing the changing room project is, of course, a high priority for us. We are hoping to get the ladies Touch Rugby going again on Tuesday evenings - quite difficult during winter months! We are constantly trying to get the word out of how great a feeling we all get from being part of the rugby “family”. The satisfaction we all have as volunteers, seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and them learning the core values to go with it. I love hearing how some children with learning difficulties and who struggle to socialise, have come on so much after joining Spalding Rugby Club. It is a great place to be a part of!
I have been involved with Spalding Rugby Club since 2005, when I began dating my now husband who then played, and now coaches at the club. Over time I have assisted in preparing match programmes by contacting visiting teams for player names and assisted in the administration for my brother in law when he was first team coach. I have attended numerous dinners/balls/ functions and I think there were two seasons in which I didn’t miss a single fixture! I am now a proud admin mum for my son’s under 7’s team, for which my husband is also the coach, having stepped down from first team coaching only last month. I can’t say what attracted me to the club, except my husband of course, and the fact that I already adored rugby and liked that I could come and support my home town team. The best thing by far about Spalding Rugby Club is the family spirit. Everyone willingly devotes themselves and their spare time on a volunteer basis for their love of the club and its members. Everyone involved with the club is friendly and kind, and you know you can count on one another when it is needed. Especially with the mini’s, I think because we all have the common interest of seeing the youth brought through and seeing the club thrive.”
each other. Off field we have rebuilt, post Covid, enjoying the social side after training and matches and continuing to grow the Wheats family. The juniors are growing year on year, attracting new players and enjoying the early stages of their rugby careers. Smiles on faces win, lose or draw is what we are instilling into them!
JOSH LOACH-SMITH1ST
XV HEAD COACHI first got involved with Old Wheats when my dad joined the club as a player in 1996. I would go up to the club with my sisters on a Saturday afternoon to watch and support him play. Since then, I’ve done most things-the match day food, ran touch, played my first seniors game with my dad at 16 in the Stags, played 1st XV and now I`m the Head Coach. The club has always been a part of my family as long as I can remember, so it was an easy choice for me to apply for the position when it came up in season 2021/22.
Covid had massive impacts on the game throughout the world, but in Coventry especially, there are so many teams that have ran mini and juniors that were a natural home for players. Wheats never had a juniors section so that conveyor belt of players was never there. We have to attract players in with our playing style and performances, while promoting our player centred approach and keeping the
club social and a fun place to be around. Attracting new players or keeping players motivated post Covid has been a huge challenge but one I feel we have done well! The atmosphere in the club is the best I’ve known it and our juniors section is really starting to grow and becoming accomplished.
As a club we want to continue growing the Junior section year on year, currently we have U6’s up to U13’s so still a couple of years until those players become available for senior selection. For me my ambition is to always do as well as we can on the field, whilst maintaining our social element off field. We are currently sitting in the highest league position the club has enjoyed throughout our history, and the next league up is full of some really big clubs; however, I believe we could compete with them successfully if we were to have a bigger squad with more positional options on a weekly basis.
As a club our main philosophy follows our
WHEATS model, a Welcoming club, full of History, where Enjoyment is a priority, All abilities are encouraged, Teamwork is taught and Socialising is a must.
We are always player led and player centred, with a coaching philosophy of making the players technically safe but tactically adaptable.
The atmosphere at our club is honestly the best I’ve known it to be for a very long time. On the pith we are playing with smiles on our faces, we understand the challe nges we have with our squad depth wise but everyone is playing for
The Old Wheatleyans RFC was formed in the 1928/1929 season. With strong links to Bablake School, the club benefitted for many decades from an influx of players season in season out. For some decades the club ran up to 5 senior sides and was lucky enough to have a Club in the City Centre as well at the pavilion. The City Centre Club witnessed some fantastic
A Bablake old boy, Frank Sackey played for the Wheats when he left Bablake School before heading off to university. He was picked up by London Scottish and was spotted by the Ghanaian XV’s captain and was soon picked up to a training camp and 7s tournament in Kampala, Uganda.
Frank said:That tournament in 2017 turned out to be the Rugby Africa Championships and Ghana’s first World Rugby ranked tournament. At that tournament we came 9th, won the Challenge Cup and picked up Ghana’s first international ranking. Since then, I’ve been invited into the 15s team and have played in RWC qualifying tournaments including the Rugby Africa Bronze Cup in which we finished up as winners.
periods during the peak of social times in the game. As times moved on the influx of local school players declined and the club is now very proud to attract players from a far wider base. The current success can be attributed to the current crop of players, many are in there later years but have been at the core of defining what the club is now and what it will be in the future.
WHEATS -a Welcoming club, full of History, where Enjoyment is a priority, All abilities are encouraged, Teamwork is taught and Socialising is a must!
Sam Harcourt, was at Old Wheats for 3 years and we saw him grow and develop, he came through Broadstreet youth setup but joined us to develop his game at senior level. Eventually he went back and has been a successful 1st XV player and captain for Broadstreet RFC, we were sad to see him go but wished him all the best and reach his potential at a higher level.
On the pitch we are punching above our weight both at club and in squad size for sure. But our success is because of the momentum we built from early preseason and carried through from last season’s promotion. We are operating with a very small squad, we haven’t got enough players to run a 2nd XV and a lot of players have commitments with Covid has probably added extra strain on. So far this season we have beaten some really, really strong teams, but then also struggled against teams who we feel were beatable because our squad wasn’t where we might have wanted it going into the game. But we always stick to it, the togetherness of the squad and club has got us through some tricky situations, commitment from players to travel past several clubs to train and play for us all helps create the Wheats buzz we are feeling currently.
This season 3rd is the minimum we want to finish
given the start we have had and the fact we were promoted to this league last season so we know we are doing better than where we expected to be. Personally, I would love to finish in the top 2, no one wants to aim for 2nd, but we also need to be realistic and decide if promotion is the best thing for the club at the moment with the size of our squad and player ages. But why
shouldn’t we go for the top and enjoy the successes that come with it, we’ll hopefully attract better players by playing in better leagues so it’s a win win for me.
At the moment women`s rugby isn’t something we are looking into, there have been several clubs operating within the area which again has saturated the player numbers, so we are happy to support people in joining those teams
for now, but never say never. It is definitely a sport which is massively on the up, and if there is anything that we can do to support that I’m sure we would. We have girls playing alongside the boys in our junior teams and they are performing extremely well.
We have become more of a community club since our juniors section started, our gates are always open, the bar is always open and
training is open for anyone of any availability. Connecting locally is something we need to improve, attracting more local sponsorship and attention can only help grow the club even more.
Old Wheats have joint co-chairmen in Dean Bryant and Paul Wright who oversee the seniors and mini and junior areas of the club. We are currently playing from the “Stade”, Bablake Pavilion on Norman Place Road in Coundon competing in Counties 2 Midlands West (South) and have a record of played 15, won 12 and lost 3 in our first season in this league after promotion last year, currently sitting 3rd in the table.
We have a very hotly contested top try scorer this season, Flanker James Przybek, Centres James Hancox and Jonny Thompson and wing/full back Josh Manning are all in the mix!
JAMES FISHER, 1ST XV CAPTAIN
I stopped playing club rugby at 16 as I wasn’t enjoying it anymore and instead played football with a team my mates had put together. From there I played Sunday league football for the next 7 years or so but always regretted quitting rugby but wasn’t sure how to get back into it. I’d played football at the same club as Gaz (starting 1st XV 10) who’d gone back to rugby a couple of seasons before and asked me to come preseason training down to the Wheats; I haven’t looked back since!
The atmosphere is as good as it’s ever been since I’ve
been here (5 seasons or so I believe), everyone’s bought into our clubs culture and it makes for a great dressing room. Without getting carried away this season is much better than expected. If you’d have said we’d have this record at the start of the season, after being promoted second behind Claverdon, we’d probably have snatched your hand off…
It’s difficult to say really what our ambitions are this season, we’ve a few tough games left with 1st and 2nd both away from home. To finish 3rd from here has to be the aim with promotion now out of our hands.
All the lads at the club are great mates and there’s not one I don’t get along with. The clubs very welcoming and prides itself on playing rugby the right way with attacking flair and working for each other is a must.
Old Wheats is surrounded by people who work hard for our club, it is their passion that makes the difference, and this shows with the way things are dealt with. No request is too small, everyone feels like they have a voice within the club, and it is echoed by our performances for the 1st XV as well as in the juniors with senior players willing to step up and coaching different age groups!
OLLIE THORPE
1ST XV FULLBACK
AND SENIOR PLAYER
Old Wheats are absolutely a community club! I went to Bablake school of which Old Wheatleyans is the ‘Old Boys’ club. I joined the club 8 years after leaving the school
and there were a few old faces that I knew, but it has become far more than that. We don’t have the facilities and resources that other clubs have, but where we lack in those areas we make up for in a welcoming and fun vibe with players bringing friends, family, gym buddies, work colleagues and those that just come across the club through word of mouth, seeing us play from the road or on our social media messaging and joining us at training. I think that most people find us welcoming and want to be a part of the club. I joined the club in its last peak, but I think that we’re now on the ascension again certainly over the last few years, the fun, enthusiasm and commitment of the players is being matched by our effort, skill and discipline on the pitch and it’s great to be a part of it all, I’m 34 now and never enjoyed my rugby more!
Aside from playing, having been at the club for over 10 years now, I have so many old and new friends that I look forward to coming up to the club every Saturday and training on a Wednesday... as with everyone, I’ve had hard times over those years and the support that I have had from those at the club I am so thankful for. Now with the work that our co-chairmen and volunteers have done with the mini’s and junior I hope that the club has a bright future of new talent coming though in the next few years, I only hope that our current crop of first team players can keep going until they come of age to pull on the shirt with us!
The Mini Wheats was started in 2015 with just an under 6s age group. The aim was to grow the Mini and Junior section in a sustainable and enjoyable way, allowing the
first age group to progress up whilst new under 6s come along each year. We’re delighted to now have well over 100 kids from under 6s through to under 13s. The RFU Core Values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship form the basis of the culture of the club and what we look to provide to all children. We have kids from over a dozen local schools and all we want is for them to learn and enjoy each week and provide a platform for lifelong friendships to be made.
Old Wheatleyans Rugby Club, being one of the lesser established Mini and Junior clubs in a strong rugby area does bring the odd challenge, but equally it’s allowed us to not be constrained or blinkered by long standing and out of date thinking on how to provide rugby opportunities for children. We’ve been able to take on board more modern ways of thinking around the best environments for children to learn and thrive in. We’re always looking to provide an opportunity for more children to get involved so anyone in or around the Coventry area who has a child in reception to year 8 that wants to come along on a Sunday morning, then find us on Facebook and drop us a message for more information.
I first became involved with the club around the age of 7/8 when my dad took me up to Wassell Grove one cold Sunday morning and I have been a member ever since! My journey through the club, right up to present day, has been an outstanding experience and the many friends and club members I have come to know and appreciate is what has made the difference. As a club we are always looking to improve, whilst providing rugby for all, or even if you just want to make friends and enjoy a pint. My nephew Jamie Keen is Vice Captain of 1st XV and so it was a real family affair for me this season with our lads being crowned league champions!
Off the pitch our ambitions are to get the planned extension of two more changing rooms completed to go alongside the refurbished club room and disabled lift and toilets. On the pitch it’s great to see, that this season especially, there has been an excellent focus on team building which has naturally boosted moral; long may it continue.
In respect of coaching, our senior coaching has really paid dividends and has been phenomenal to with our junior sides going from strength to strength all made up of volunteers who gladly give up their spare time to coach our younger ones. The mood at the club is fantastic and is encapsulated in a real sense that we are thriving. OHRFC are very much a family club who are delighted to receive new members, players or fans.
Regarding successful players at the club Tom Jarvis is notable who sadly retires this season from playing but
remains as our backs coach, Tom has played for Gloucester and England counties and has kindly donated shirts which are now framed and in the main club room. More recently we have had to say goodbye and good luck to our very own Eva Wood who started playing girls rugby for us at age 13 and went onto Worcester and now Sale Sharks ladies. Eva also represented England under 18’s for the 7’s and has now been selected for the England U20 full squad and is definitely on her way to the Red Roses! The girl’s section of the club is going from strength to strength, with four teams from under12’s up to under 18’s. We are very much a community club and certainly engage with local people and business in a healthy way. Our two main sponsors are local to us: A&H construction along with Bhandal Dental Group ,Adam Hewitt Salvage and Andyfreight who are all valuable sponsors along with many other important local businesses like Plaster of Harris. A&H are our main sponsor and we are very grateful to them
as they continue to support us from season to season. Old Halesonians RFC are a great club to be part of and if you evert decide to pop in and see us we promise to do our upmost best to make you feel welcome at Wassell Grove! If you pop in soon you can help by joining in our ongoing celebrations as Champions of Regional 2 West Midlands 2022/2023 season!
I was voted in as Chair of Old Hales on 19th May 2016. I was cajoled into this role having been forced into retirement through injury in my early forties (it was probably time anyway). With the exception of some spells working away from the West Midlands, I had been involved with the club for thirty years so was proud to take on the Chair but, I have to say, I was probably a little naïve concerning the journey ahead.
As Thirds, Fourths and Vets captain, I had always been proud of how many young players had come through the colts and made their debut in an Old Hales shirt playing for me. At the time our First XV were plying their trade in Midlands 1 and doing well. However, I felt there was a
disconnect between them and the rest of the club and that player numbers were beginning to suffer because of this. We had a few lads make it through to the 1s but lots giving up on the game as they couldn’t see a pathway through to top level rugby.
Towards the end of my first season, I presented a plan for restructuring the club to the committee. There were some pretty drastic proposals including a change of DOR which I knew would result in player departures; some saw it as a lack of ambition, but I felt the club had been making decisions based on short term gains for far too long. The committee backed the plan, and the club was reset.
The following season was tough. Players that had chosen to stay were joined by some club men who came out of First XV retirement, but the majority of the squad were our youngsters, fresh out of Colts, who were thrown in the deep end. We took some three figure battering’s, won one game in the season and were relegated. I had some tough conversations with sponsors and senior members and, rightly, had to explain my vision. I’ll be forever grateful to the coaches and players who took to the field that season and backed me to carry the
plan through.
From that point on, the club has been growing on all fronts. Even with the intervention of Covid, the senior teams have been getting ever more competitive, the M&J section grew to nearly 400 youngsters, including an incredibly successful girl’s section that saw our U16s get to the final four of the National Cup, one of whom has just been selected to join the England Senior Women’s squad; well done Eva Wood.
Off the back of our successful girl’s teams, this year has seen us launch our Senior Women’s team. Not being in a league has hampered their progress a little, in terms of finding fixtures, but they have won both of the matches they have played, against established teams, so the future is bright. Next on the horizon is to launch a mixed ability team. This is in the embryonic planning stage, but I believe that it will be a huge plus in terms of inclusivity and community participation in rugby at our club.
The facilities continue to be invested in to make it a great place for our members to come. Our pitches are well maintained, and our club room has undergone extensive refurbishment. We have developed an outside bar and horsebox grill. We have a new marquee being erected and the planned extension to our changing rooms and lounge begins imminently.
To this season for the senior men. The Second XV are competing to win Midlands Reserve 2; it will be tight, but
they have a great chance. The Third XV are playing regular social rugby and offering rugby to novices and veterans alike. The First XV, having won their opening match, lost to a fantastic Worcester RFC and then went away to Stratford over-confident. After a comprehensive 10-53 defeat our DOR, Proth, called all the boys into a changing room, asked the managers and physios to leave the room, and closed the door. Whatever was said will remain within those changing room walls but, clearly, a brutal truth was spoken and heeded, as we quickly moved to the top of the table and remained unbeaten. On March 3rd 2023 we were crowned Division Champions and promoted back to Midlands One after defeating Ludlow 37-17 and with a game still left to play.
We have travelled full circle now but I feel it is just the beginning of a new chapter. I have a vested interest; my daughter is about to progress from the U16s to the U18s whilst my son will move into the U14s. I can’t deny that one of my big drivers is to provide a great environment for them and their friends to enjoy rugby for years to come. Providing a welcoming, family friendly club with rugby for all is the key to success at our level. Many clubs seem to lose sight of that and focus only on the league position of their First team. I’m always pleased when I speak to players that have joined us from other clubs and hear how happy they are because of the warm welcome they have been given.
There are too many people at Old Halesonians Rugby Club to thank for their support over the last seven years, but it would be remiss of me not to mention a few. My wife Ange, Barry Adams, Stan Grant, Tony Shaw, Jon Harris, Spud Murphy and the late, great, mentor Tim Sherrey –I’ll always be grateful.
I suppose my relationship started with Old Halesonians RFC through my sons TY and Nate. Ty was a big Moto Cross enthusiast up until our bikes were sadly stolen and the question arose as to what other sports he may like to play. With football not being very high on his options list rugby became his next choice. That was 15 years ago, Ty was aged 9 then and went on to play for the clubs historical unbeaten colts team where he also broke his collar bone. Typically I went on to become a coach. His younger brother Nate started much younger in the minis at aged 6 TY and went on to play for the clubs historical unbeaten colts team where he also broke his collar bone. Last season also marked the end of my Colts involvement as I decided to hang my coaching boots up! I suppose it has been a real family experience for me at Old Hales with my daughters, Foran & Lysia, regularly attendees and supporters at the club too.
Around 2014 I started to organise the club’s annual festival which along with the enthusiasm and great contributions made by club members, in particular our m&j coaches like Ollie Taylor, we were able to shift the interest around our club and attract younger members in which of course is a vital component for the future success of any club. From 4,000 attendees on our first year to around 8,500
in our most recent festival this overwhelming response has really helped put Old Halesonians on the map with many more people having now had the pleasure and experience of the picturesque view that our club enjoys!
Our girl’s section has produced some great players too like Ava Wood and Ashley Weir who are both of international standard. Ashley is the daughter of my business partner Sean Weir who is also a big club supporter and member and these days Ashley can be found playing her Rugby at Nottingham University; an outstanding centre and formidable tackler I will be very surprised if we don’t see this talented young lady wearing a Red Rose`s jersey in years to come!
As a local businessman I run 3 local pubs and a brewery, and I have always enjoyed helping the club out through sponsorship. Its been an outstanding season for our club finishing as Champions and a great honour that we have also been chosen as Rugby Club Magazines Club of the season 22/23. Old Halesonians Rugby Club is the epitome of a `true family club` and I wish all my friends the very best of continued success for many more seasons to come!
It has been without doubt an outstanding achievement for everyone associated with Old Hales Rugby Club to gain promotion and finish the season as Champions!
Congratulations is due across all team levels , members and supporters and myself and everyone at Andyfreight wish you all the very best of continued success!
A&H has extensive expertise in both industrial and commercial sectors. We have constructed and refurbished everything from small industrial units to multi-acre sites, and complete business parks all on time and to the customer’s complete satisfaction.
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Our portfolio includes everything from the construction of community centres, multi-purpose sports facilities and gymnasiums, to the provision of prestigious PGA Golf Course amenities.
A&H is able to offer a complete turnkey package to the Retail Sector. We continue to carry out major works for prestigious multi-national retailers across the country, offering customers all services including shop fitting.
Our projects comprise of both construction and refurbishment of Primary and Secondary School facilities as well as extensive works within University education and accommodation areas.
Our involvement with Local Authority contracts is not confined to the field of education - we also carry out projects for the Fire, Ambulance and Police services, together with Libraries, Churches and other Civil buildings.
“Delighted to be associated with Old Halesonians Rugby Club as their Main Sponsors”
I had already been playing rugby for my local grammar school from the age of 11 to 15 when I heard that Old Halesonians Rugby Club had formed a Colts team and so i decided to wander up and see if I could get a game. At that time, I played number 8 and ended up under the excellent tutelage of Ira Hampton who has been a great servant to the club. Ira went on to be an integral part of our M&J section`s growth and development which continues to thrive today. I will be forever grateful for all the support and generosity I received, whilst in the Colts, from the many senior members who drove me around the country to play rugby.
My rugby career really took off and as well as being captain for 3 consecutive seasons I played county rugby for Worcester, North Midlands and had the honour of an England Trial. In 1982 another opportunity raised its head, and I turned out for training at Moseley Rugby Club. By this time, I had moved into the front row position as Loose Head. I had arrived at Moseley around the time when the John Player Cup was one of England’s premier rugby union club competitions. Gloucester and Moseley shared the title that season after playing out a 12-12 draw in the final which was held at Twickenham.
As well as meeting many lifelong friends, Moseley took me to parts of the world which otherwise, I may never have ventured to; a tour to Zimbabwe in 83 and Quebec & Toronto in 87 are
amongst some of my best memories and experiences! Unfortunately, a bad back injury affected my career and I returned to Old Halesonians in 87 although i continued to play for the 1stXV. Eventually injury came my way again and a biceps tear ended my playing career aged 49; I would have continued if I could, but I had no option but to hang my boots up which led me into the dark side and refereeing for a few seasons! I also took on other club roles which included fixture secretary, chairman and president. These days you can find me on match days running touch for our 1st XV!
Many good people have come together to contribute to our club`s growth and success over the years. Barry Adams Managing Director of A & H Construction, a former player himself, has been the driving force behind our facilities development and all the major projects we have undertaken.
PAUL HARRIS, EX-PLAYER SUPPORTER AND SPONSOR PLASTER OF HARRISMy dad Jason Harris arrived in Halesowen from Caerphilly in 1963 and one of the first actions he took was to turn up at Old Halesonians Rugby Club with a plastic bag containing his rugby boots; within an hour he was on the field of play! A tenacious scrum half he played competitively for many years before moving into coaching. Now aged 86 it was not that long ago that we had to convince him to slow down.
A historical moment and one of the great memories my dad and I share was during the 80`s when both of us were included in the team selection to play for the 1st XV.
It’s been a great season for us across all levels. After a dodgy start the lads have come good finishing our season as Champions! Girls and M&J rugby are going from strength to strength providing our next generation of players and our seniors are now putting out 5 teams if you include our vets. As the clubs main sponsor, myself, Barry and all our staff at A&H would like to congratulate everyone at the club on an outstanding campaign whilst being recognised as `Midlands club of the season 22/23.` Old Halesonians Rugby Club was the first club I played for and has therefore always been my club ever since I pulled on their jersey; I am very grateful for everything they have given me.; I owe the club a lot! Unit
I suppose Old Hales has been a real family affair for me with my wife Mandy having been a member of the club since she was 18 and has been Treasurer of Old Halesonians for nearly 20 years. Her brother Tony joined the club`s mini and juniors in his teens and he is still a member to this day. My sister Karen is on the mini and juniors committee while her husband Mark is a mini & juniors coach and referee; their twin daughters Chloe and Lucy have been playing women’s rugby at the club since their early teens and represented the club at district and county level. The girls are now studying at university!
My own rugby career started aged 5 and continued until I was 37 when work commitments meant I couldn’t carry on. I played mostly back row, usually openside, and having been a product of the clubs M&J section. It is with great pleasure that I see it continuing so strongly to this day. It also has to be acknowledged that over 3/4s of the seniors have come from our junior ranks which says a lot about our club!
This season has been an outstanding achievement for everyone associated with Old Halesonians. Many of us wouldn’t have remembered leaving the clubhouse after our league winning fixture against Ludlow on Saturday! It was such a momentous occasion, and much credit must go to many members, players, coaches and supporters including vice – captain Jamie and of course captain Dan`Smithy`Smith, who has been with the club since minis, worked his way through the teams and has added something very special to this seasons winning side.
Our club is a family club, a real band of brothers, and now sisters; I think rugby gives you that special bond with people. We all like to let our hair down from time to time however as proud members of Old Halseonians Rugby Club we still carry a great responsibility and respect whenever we pull on the OHRFC jersey as a representative of of this great club! Congratulations to the Champions!
HEATH B64 5DP
paul@plasterofharris.co.uk
Telephone : 07971 587689
“Delighted to be associated with the Champions
I am from Halesowen and started playing for the club when I was at school, our PE teacher, Roger Whitlock, persuaded a bunch of us to join. My rugby career, usually as fly-half or full back, lasted up until I was 30 years old when work and family commitments, with the birth of twin girls, led to me hanging my boots up.
I popped in to see a friend on the Sunday following the title confirming game, Gary Lee, another ex-player, and heard the great news that the club are now champions of their league and heading up to the Midlands 1 division next season. It sounds like the club are really thriving now with all levels receiving good numbers and a large mini & junior section ensuring rugby is played there for many more seasons to come.
Adam Hewitt Ltd have sponsored the club for a number of years now and although I don’t get down to see my old teammates and friends as often as I would like, myself and all the team at Adam Hewitt Ltd would like to offer a huge congratulations to `The Champions` and everybody at Old Halesonians Rugby Club for their great contribution to local rugby and on being recognised as Midlands Club of the season 2022/2023!
In 2011 my oldest son Kelsey made the decision that he wanted to play rugby instead of football. I grew up in Daventry and having had previous links to the club, and many friends down there, I took him along, and he began playing in the U16’s. Not long after I was encouraged, by a very convincing `Social Team Captain`, to get my boots out again and so at the age of 41 I resumed playing for our 3rd XV. Absolutely loved it, the game, the camaraderie, and banter were brilliant. The club had a very busy social scene at the time and the 3rd XV was at the heart of it. My second son decided he wanted to play too and joined our then U13`s side. My weekends were now fully taken up with the club but getting to watch my boys play and still have a run out myself was fantastic. I had helped with a couple of the tours for the Junior side and in 2015 was asked if I would like to join the Management Team. I said yes and was appointed as Fixture Secretary for the Club, a role I performed for three years. After a year break, I was then asked if I would take on the Chairman role. This was a massive honour for me, and I couldn’t say no. I’ve being doing the role for four years now and although it has been challenging along the way it is still very rewarding. For me one of the most rewarding things is seeing the sons of
dad’s that I played alongside breaking into our current senior sides. This shows what a great family club we are and long may that continue!
The club had always managed to put out 3 senior sides and an occasional Vets team and with great numbers at Mini and Junior level. Prior to the pandemic the number of senior players started to drop. The once thriving social scene had also begun to disappear and when the pandemic hit, two years without rugby really hurt the club. We struggled to keep afloat financially and if it wasn’t for grants, we received from the RFU, Sports England etc we may well have gone under. Thankfully those grants and the hard work of the then Management Team paid off and we did just about keep our heads above water. After the first full season back, post pandemic, we struggled to put out a consistent 1st XV and if we did manage to get a second side out this was a mix of 2nd/3rd XV ability. The 1st XV finished bottom of their league in the 2021/2022 season and were saved from relegation by the league restructuring.
A difficult decision was made at the end of the season to replace the Head coach. Never easy replacing someone who has given their heart and soul however the decision was made, and Sam Dudgeon was appointed as the new
Head coach to take us into 2022/2023 season. Sam quicky appointed his management team to support him on the playing side and began actively recruiting players to the club. We have had many players return and are continually attracting new ones. From a Management Team perspective we have grown the committee from 6 to 12 people with the mantra “many hands makes light work!” We are currently in a position where we can put out four senior sides on a weekly basis. Fantastic achievement from where we were at the start of 2022. Our 1st XV have finished their season as undefeated champions! We also have a very strong Development XV and supported by a 3rd and 4th XV. Through the hard work of our Sponsorship Secretary, we have attracted many local businesses to support us financially. We introduced a
new membership payment scheme which is working well. The social scene has returned, and the club is receiving fantastic local support. We have some work to do with our Juniors to fill gaps created and are looking to introduce a ladies team however as it stand the club is in a very good place, providing community rugby with a big family orientated vibe.
We currently have Ewan Baker and Katie Cawthorne playing in the Northampton Saints U18’s and Saracens Ladies Junior academy. Both started their careers in the Mini/Junior sections of our club. The club has had many great local names who have come through the Daventry ranks. Jacob Ogden who went on to play professional rugby league, Shaun Brady, Ricky Haynes, Current forwards coach Mark Hyde and most recently Joe Green.
Daventry RFC was formed in 1968 by a group of players from in and around the Daventry area. Many of them still have strong ties to the club today. Initially they played on a school sports field off Eastern Avenue with their club house being the Dun Cow public house. Eventually the club moved to its current location on Western Avenue where its shares the facility with local Squash, Athletics, Bowls and Archery clubs. The club started with senior rugby and has gone on to build a strong mini &
junior section over the years. Managing to field 3 senior teams most weeks as well a full schedule of junior rugby on Sundays. Most recently we have had a historic weekend where we had 5 senior teams playing followed by 2 junior teams and action-packed morning of mini’s rugby. We have won the Lewis shield cup competition twice in our history and have had a continued success across our mini and junior section; most recently our under 15’s have been crowned league champions for the 22/23 season.
At the start of 2022/23 season our ambitions were to have a 1st XV competing in the top 4 of their league, a strong 2nd/Development XV to support the 1st XV and to return the clubs social and family vibe. As I write this, we are exceeding our initial ambitions on all fronts and our early expectations have been surpassed. We have set up a two -five-year planning session in March.
Directors/Management Team/Players and Supporters will be in attendance to develop a road map and outline what our future plans are, how we will achieve them and who is going to support
on delivering them across the next 2–5-year period. Some key topics will be how we introduce a lady’s team and the infrastructure to support that, how we can attract more players at Mini and Junior level (to include Girls), and regarding facilities- what we need to do to support our ambition to continually growall weather surface etc. and of course what we need to do as a club to support the 1st XV now that they have won promotion.
We have a great atmosphere going on around the club now. I personally have been inundated with praise as to how far we have come in a short space of time but it’s not just down to me. It’s about the coaching teams, the management team, the volunteers, the players, the parents, and our loyal supporters. People can see that something special is happening and they want to be part of it. Our clubhouse is filled with players and families and at the start of the season we had over 200 people come down to watch an inter club game. There is a lot of positivity around and getting people to help and support is no longer the chore it once was. We are lining up some big events which not only support us as
a club but also showcase our facility to the wider community.
Two words to sum up our on-field performances this season would be, “Beyond belief! “We have gone beyond our original goals set at the start of the season and have already reset them. Our 1st XV have won their league and have additional opportunities for silverware! Putting out four senior sides is amazing when you take into account the difficulties clubs across the country are facing.
We are a community club, Daventry has a population around 40,000 people and we play a significant part in the area by offering a safe and comfortable environment for players of all ages to meet, socialise and actively participate in Sport. We engage with local business and
provide them with marketing on our social media sites, in return they provide our member with discounts or the club with sponsorship. A school’s program encourages children to play rugby and at our last event there were over 300 kids who turned up from schools within our area. We support the local rotary club on its annual “Santa run” and have raised funds for many other local charities.
Without our valued sponsors we don’t survive, it’s as simple as that. Sponsorship and membership are the main sources of income as we do not control the bar or bar facility. This is run by our sports club of which we are a member of. So,
Tom, the committee, players, members, and supporters all behind Daventry Rugby Club it looks like it’s going places and will be providing a safe and enjoyable place for us all to enjoy for many years to come!
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It is apparent that the club is really well run and like many clubs have had their ups and downs so to see it thriving in the manner it is, is quite something to behold.
Without a doubt they are passionate about everything they do whilst engaging with the local community. With
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sponsors are vital to us and this is why last year we appointed a sponsorship secretary, a role solely focused on engaging with businesses, agreeing sponsorship packages and maintaining the relationship with them.
The friendships formed over many years at Daventry Rugby Club make this a truly special place for me. I started my early life with a career in the military serving in the Royal Navy and never thought I’d find somewhere in life that would equal the friendships I made in those days, however, I did at Daventry. Watching young players grow into young adults, seeing them on their journey through life and having families of their own is special as well. I think the family vibe is one of the greatest things at our club. I also take great pride in seeing the amount of hard work that unpaid volunteers are prepared to put in, giving up many hours of their own time, to help the club, this is what makes us a great club, people of like minds pulling in one direction!
I joined the club as a mini player and progressed through the ranks to U19s and then on to senior rugby. I left the club in 2016 having played my rugby elsewhere and re-joined this season as Head Coach.
The main challenges we have faced have been on keeping the players focussed, going back to basics at times to help the team with
decision making/game plans and growing the club. From struggling to produce 2x senior teams each week, we now have 4x regular teams out.
Our main coaching philosophy across the club is to keep things fresh, not relying on the same training methods and experimenting on different ideas. Some will work, some wont. Coaches and players learn from what they have achieved, good or bad. We
base our methods around the club culture, we have brought in set club rules, and everyone has trusted the process.
I can’t explain the mood at our club at the moment!! I’ve not experienced anything like this before. Joining a club on its knees, no social, bar not open and barely 40 members. We now have 100+ senior members, 40+ training and well over 150+ supporters watch the teams each week. The club has come together in difficult times and completely turned around against the odds.
Our 1st XV have played 22 games and won them all finishing as undisputed league champions! The 2nd XV also sitting top of their league, losing just 2 in 18 games throughout the season so far. The 3rd and 4th XVs are currently playing friendlies and will enter the leagues next season. Our aim for the remainder of this season is to consistently to get 4x senior teams out each week and for our 1st and 2nd XV to win the league which we have now accomplished. Keeping all players fit and healthy is essential as we push them to be the best they can be for themselves and for Daventry RFC!
With my step dad being a huge rugby fan I was encouraged to play rugby although football was my first sport. I had the fortune to be coached by a teacher, who was also a big Rugby fan, at school and who coached at the Saints. He made a big impression on me and my love of the game went through the roof! So as an 11 year old I was swiftly taken down to my local club; Daventry. I have had the honour of captaining the 2nd XV and will soon be putting my boots on to turn out for the Vets team in my usual position as Outside Centre. We are a real rugby family in our house with my wife Sarah having played at a high level and our son Ellis has been throwing a rugby ball about since he was two. Our daughter Thea, who I’m sure would make an outstanding player, will at some point pull on a pair of rugby boots; her spirit and energy will make her a formidable player.
I can’t speak highly enough about Daventry Rugby Club and the great enjoyment it has given me over the years. Anyone who walks through our doors is made to feel welcome and it is heart-warming to see our younger players coming through to senior rugby but to see our club thriving so magnificently!
I`ve known Daventry Rugby Club for most of my life and trained for a very brief stint there some years back in my early youth as well as many local events and family parties there. It would be fair to say that the club has had a full revamp this season and the atmosphere is better than I can ever remember.
In the matches I have been fortunate to attend I found their game management has been excellent and all the players have bought into the one mindset. Attention to detail, whether it’s bringing on an extra water bottle or organising their physio differently has all contributed to a structure which is not dissimilar to a wellrun business. Knowing good friends Sam Dudgeon and Tom Brady personally it no surprise
to me to see their contribution really having a fantastic effect on the overall club!
What particularly impresses me is the way in which the club engages not only with our local community but with club members. Demonstrated recently when a local brewery was invited down to showcase 4 x ales, all club members were given the opportunity to vote on which ones we would stock. My own business EPM Group is a club sponsor and when they reached out looking to attract sponsorship we were only to delighted to step forward and support them.
There is one word I would use to describe Daventry Rugby Club: Inclusion. The time and effort that has been being injected into this club goes beyond belief and surely secures its success for many more seasons to come! Thank you for the dedication!
Since the start of Allen Ford Daventry’s partnership with Daventry RFC last summer, we’ve enjoyed contributing to their renewed focus on driving peak performance and commitment.
While players and staff put in the hard yards, we hope that by providing new post protectors, a warm-up kit, and a sponsored backdrop for interviews and presentations we’ve added an edge in approach and mentality.
While we can’t claim responsibility for the excellent form of the 1st and 2nd XV, we hope these additions to the club helped make marginal gains in such a competitive sport.
We loved seeing the 1st XV win the Counties 2 Midlands East (South) league with a 100% record and hope for success with the 2nd XV as they look to overhaul their league’s leaders.
With tough competitors coming up, we’ll be here to cheer them all on as proud supporters!
Being a new business owner in Daventry, and a big rugby fan to boot, it made sense to connect with my local rugby club. To say that I am impressed by the way the club operates and engages with our local community is an understatement.
Since I opened in November 2021, I have been looking at new ideas and opportunities to work with the club whether in providing T-shirts, with the Daventry logos for bar staff, to jackets for club membersto our main stay of business by providing a professional service and discounts for our menswear range.
Having played rugby in my younger days, and for my county, until a leg break forced me to hang my boots up, I have been able to witness that Daventry operate in the healthiest ways in all areas and in particular with their sponsors and members. The attention to detail and regular communication between the club and myself really makes all the difference and can’t but help make you feel a part of this club. It really seems that Daventry Rugby Club have great vision for their future and are operating ahead of the curve. I would like to wish the `Undefeated Champions` all the very best of continued success for many seasons to come!
PALMER PALLETS
My rugby playing career started at Daventry Rugby Club aged 8 and lasted up until I was 21 when work commitments meant I had to hang my boots up. I enjoyed a spell at Long Buckley and a trial for Northampton, my usual position being 2nd row forward, I recall always being impressed by the equipment at Daventry, in particular their training pads were better than other places I had trained, which I loved working on, the club seemed to be ahead of the game back then! Many of my friends from our Colts team are still good friends to this day, not untypical of rugby clubs.
This season has been a great achievement for the club and very importantly has had a very positive effect on the town. In the games I have watched fitness has undoubtedly
played a crucial part and to have finished the season undefeated champions, and well ahead of our nearest rivals, deserves to be applauded. My company Palmer Pallets are a club sponsor and we have always liked helping out when we can.
Change can be a difficult thing to embrace however the club seems to have embraced this and have developed a very strong and open structure. Ex-players have been the backbone and brought a transparency to our club which fosters real camaraderie amongst individuals, members and supporters. My daughter Ava is 9 years old, and nothing would please me more than to see her get involved with Daventry Rugby Club and the wonderful group of people who have all come together and made a little bit of history for our club and town!
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I am based locally to Daventry RFC and when the word got around that I could help with physical challenges I was visited by one of the clubs forward players. At first I wasn’t sure whether he would fit on my table but we managed ok. What has been amazing is that since November 2021 i have had a steady flow of players come through my practice.
I am also a club sponsor and the feedback I receive about the club is extremely positive. It is apparent that they provide a fantastic service to the Daventry community and beyond. It is quite an achievement in any sport for a team to go all season and remain undefeated.
I would like to congratulate everybody at Daventry Rugby Club on such an outstanding season and I very much look forward to hearing more good news about their successes for many more seasons to come!
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I had the good fortune of attending Cheltenham College where we were blessed with some great rugby coaches. Two of our Rugby Masters were Eddie Butler who captained Wales in the eighties and Roger Hosen who played 250 games for the Saints scoring 1,463 points.
I left the college aged 16 and after meeting some friends from the town I made my way up to Daventry Rugby Club and started playing for he Colts team. Myself and the great Athlete Bob Hinton were pulled out of that Colts side to play 1st XV rugby; I was eventually to lose my place to my son Jordan who has also played for the club. That was 40 years ago and at the beginning of last season a challenging knee injury made it impossible for me to continue playing.
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It is really with great pleasure that I see many of our senior players, including our team captain this season, who have come through the ranks and our U15`s that I had the great honour of helping coach. I realised what an enormous responsibility it can be to coach these young men and influence their future! Daventry Rugby Club have
emerged from some tough times and during a stint captaining our 2nd XV I got chatting to one of our payers as we sat in the away changing rooms who spoke about the camaraderie and support he was experiencing saying “I have never know anything like this before!”
This season our boys are as fit as flees and the results speak for themselves. However, the most important development in our club is the positive attitude and the coming together of everybody. From watching our older members engage with our players with a handshake and smile or a bit of banter amongst friends; it is truly a great site. Daventry Rugby Club has been a hug part of my life and my families. From the days transporting my son`s team around with my wife Fiorella to watching my wife’s mum Molly giving out pom poms at matches, which the guys loved, it is fabulous to see this healthy new culture emerge. These days everyone’s a volunteer and quickly make themselves available whenever possible. A recent WhatsApp message asking for helpers to clean our changing rooms was responded to by a barrage of willing volunteers; I’ve never seen such a gleaming, cleaner space in my life! Many hands make light work at Daventry Rugby Club!
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I am originally from Daventry and now live locally in Long Buckley. In my younger years my school friends, who were club members, badgered me regularly to join them at Daventry RFC so at the age of 16 I conceded and decided to pop along. My rugby journey was of and running and I quickly became a second row forward, onto the colts and then 1st XV rugby. Unfortunately, I missed last season with a calf injury but hope to return for the 23/24 campaign and help the guys compete in the higher division.
Rugby has become a bit of a family affair for the Rolt`s with my daughter Elouise, aged 9, playing at Long Buckley RFC which, like Daventry, has a magnificent mini and junior structure and reputation providing opportunities for young people throughout our local community. My son William has had a similar path to myself with rugby and usually plays 2nd row or wing. William is 17 years old now and took up the oval ball around 1 and 1/2 years ago. He has recently started his career in the Armed Forces with the Royal Engineers, which we are all very
proud of, and tells me that camaraderie in the barracks Is very similar to when he is with his rugby mates. Like many clubs Daventry have experienced their ups and down over the years but in the true spirit of our game friends have come together, returned and brought with them more friends. The
standard of Rugby has been exceptional this season and Sam Dudgeon and his team should be immensely proud of what they have achieved. My company SEO Moves Ltd are delighted to sponsor the lads and give something back to a club that has been a big part of my life. For me the friendliness of everyone
at Daventry Rugby Club and the friendships I have made is what makes our club stand out; for me it’s been a real Bromance!
I would like to congratulate all those people who have made this season such a memorable one and well done again to the Undefeated Champions!
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I am originally from Cheltenham but moved to Daventry around 12 years ago. Around 2015 I was on a Halloween do, and dressed as a rugby player, when I bumped into Sam Dudgeons brother Gareth who asked me if I would entertain the idea of playing rugby. I said I would love to having played before and during my time in the military. The rest is history as they say, and it wasn’t long before I was back playing social rugby for the club’s 3rd & 4ths.
It is quite an amazing feat that our club recently, with the inclusion of our Vets, put out 5 teams. Having a young family, it was inevitable that my young ones started playing for the club too. Many of the players at Daventry are dads so its great to see the clubs next generation already coming through.
My son Henry and daughter Fearne are amongst these young players and naturally i also stepped up to help out with coaching. It seems i have come full circle from my own introduction to rugby and still remember and have fond memories of my old coach when I first started as a player.
The club is really thriving at all levels just now with our 1st XV flying the flag of success,
finishing as undefeated Champions, something we are all very proud of. We have a bunch of finals to look forward to before we end our season which will, I’m sure, see some silverware come our way.
My company Severn Sky Engineering are club sponsors and it’s been great to give something back to a club that has given me so much. For me it is the people at Daventry Rugby Club that make the difference, I don’t know of a more friendly and welcoming environment. Congratulations to everyone on an amazing season and best wishes for many more years to come!
moorland of Dartmoor occupying the West. Due to our proximity and more importantly atmosphere within the club, we have tended to retain players and members with relative ease; this coupled with a strong farming representative of course!
I think like most rugby clubs recruitment at junior level can often be sporadic, what with other sports and interests coming in to play, but we are proud to have age groups running from U6’s through to U18’s.
I think the best way to describe Tavistock is an ‘ambitious club who know where we are’. There are always projects running at the club and ambitions that are being worked towards, but I think we manage these well. Little and often, especially in the current climate, we have been very aware that feet through the door and rugby being played is our biggest goal and I would quite comfortably say we are meeting this.
“An all-encompassing community hub for anyone to be part of-and enjoy!”
I first joined the club as an U11 back in 2001 and played up through the juniors and colts system into both 2nd XV and 1st XV rugby. I moved away during the 2010/11 season
and had a couple stints at two great clubs, Loughborough Town RFC and North Tawton RFC, before returning home in 2016 as player/coach of the senior squads. I have now taken a step back from coaching and am enjoying as many years as I can manage in the 1st XV until some young pup comes in to takes my shirt! I am part of an excellent committee and acting as fixtures secretary, player
registrar and writer of our club magazine ‘The Moorlander.’
Tavistock have always been a very family orientated club, with a fantastic social scene and junior set up. We are lucky in the sense we are situated on our own away from any rivalling clubs with Launceston RFC, Plymouth Argaum RFC and Okehampton RFC being our closest rivals in each direction with the vast
Off the pitch things are running swimmingly; I have mentioned our great committee already but I think it would be unfair not to single out our Chairman Henry Sanders, his family and our Treasurer Andrew ‘Griff’ Griffiths for our successes. With Henry’s business head and Griff’s immaculate management of our finances, no project seems to be too big or too unrealistic. Since Covid broke in late 2019 we have had a full interior make over of the clubhouse, including a much needed
revamp of the ‘Pete Garland Bar’ from one of our sponsors Jed Bolt. This was merely the start however as the club went on to purchase ‘Stevens field’ which occupies our training area and 2nd XV pitch, giving us all year round access to 2 out of 3 of our fields. The third we rent from local farmer Layland Branfield who has been a great support to the club over the years.
There are of course numerous other projects in mind and I am sure if you asked any one member of the club you would develop quite the wish list, not because there is great need but instead we have built the fundamental foundations to widen our spectrum so to speak.
On the pitch, watch this space… We are at the business end of the league season and things are looking good for the 1st XV but I wont Jinx things! As for our 2nd XV we are hoping they will be accepted in to the main league structure for the 2023/24 season for the first time in our history!
The club takes great pride in our Core Values of Rugby Union rooted in everything we do; not because we are told that this is the way it should be but because that is rugby and that is why we play. I can safely speak for all our members when I say we’d be gutted if anyone ever left the club having not enjoyed their stay.
On a coaching front, our Junior set up is very tight knit. Headed by our Junior Chairwomen, Hayley Sample, there is a real buzz around the juniors. With all our coaches being volunteers ranging from the ex-player to the helpful parent, to the rugby newbie, they are all encouraged to bring their own ideology and coaching styles to the club. As all coaches know, you can have the worst session in the world or that one session you deliver that gives you a real buzz; the latter being the reason we turn up week in week out, come rain or shine to develop the new era of Tavistock
Rugby Club Moorlanders!
This season the club have been looking to put in place some in-house coaching workshops from minis up to seniors to share best practise. This has been masterminded on the back of some club work shops around coaching players with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). Our safeguarding officer Jo Tracey has worked tirelessly to ensure every single coach and volunteers is up to date with and able to access coaching courses and opportunities throughout the season.
Obviously success on the field brings happiness to players and spectators alike and as I sit here writing this, positive results are coming thick and fast for all the senior sides. The juniors are going from strength to strength and a recent competition win
for the U8’s in the Bradford Building Supplies, Bradford Community Cup will see them get the opportunity to train with the Exeter Chiefs players and watch a game. This win has stemmed from a real club and community effort to ‘vote’ for our U8’s in a recent social media poll against other clubs in Devon.
The link between Juniors and Seniors is growing year on year, we regularly get Juniors up watching on a Saturday and Seniors up watching on a Sunday. There seems to be a want to play for Tavistock 1st XV perhaps stemming from the inclusion of a ‘Junior Day’ masterminded by junior coach and ex-player Paul Greenhill which saw our mini’s partake in a morning of coaching and kicking competitions before cheering on the senior sides in the afternoon.
As the saying goes, a way to someone’s heart is through their stomach… I and every other TRFC member would argue with anyone who claims their club has better food available than us! Long time member and club legend Lisa Hair and her company ‘Front Row Catering’ are the heart of the club and give a reason for every single opposition team to travel to the Moor to play Tavistock! For
as long as we have Lisa and her team, I think the mood will always remain high!
We have had a number of success stories at Tavistock RFC. Historically the likes of Graeme Dawe, Phil De Glanville (former England Captain) and Dave Trick all had International honours for England after sporting the red and black of Tavistock. Currently the club has two particularly notable names in Luke Northmore and Clara Nielsen playing their rugby in the men’s and women’s premierships.
Clara played up through the junior system and was a figurehead in our girls U15 and 18’s squads, Clara left the area for University, captaining a BUCS winning side at Exeter University before signing for Bristol Bears. This earned her selection in the first ever Female Barbarians squad before she returned home where she now turns out for Exeter Chiefs.
Luke’s rise to the top has been through shear hard work and determination. Taking up rugby relatively late, he made quite a name for himself playing for the 1st XV at Levels 7 and 8 in the Western Counties and
Devon/Cornwall leagues. You ask any current TRFC member and they will no doubt recall his 4 tries against Lanner or 4 tries against Torquay as memorable highlights!
Luke left Tavistock in 2016 to attend Cardiff Met University where his rugby skyrocketed and he was selected for England students and named BUCS player of the year before finally signing for Harlequins RFC. Luke was called up to the England training squad in 2021 and although yet to make his first cap is a name on the lips of many regular rugby watchers!
Currently we do not have a women’s side at the club. We did have a side back in the early 2000’s but with players travelling from a far it was short lived. We had a highly successful girls section founded by Mhairi and Kirsty McCall which supplied a number of players to the Devon set up between 2004 and 2017. For various reasons such as coaches retiring and girls moving on to University, and of course Covid, the girls set up has taken somewhat of a sabbatical. This being said the club has made girls and women’s rugby a priority and is on the verge of reinstating our teams hopefully in time for next season! Fingers crossed!
Without are community support and sponsors the club would not be what it is today. We host numerous VP and Sponsor lunches throughout the year but also invite businesses to have an all inclusive day at the club with their employees to enjoy the food, beer and rugby on show!
For a club at level 8 our support base is huge, it is not uncommon to have 100-200 people supporting on a Saturday. Let alone the support we receive in our annual ‘Locals Vs Legends’ Boxing Day fixture! A real highlight of the year for many Tavonians!
As a club we also produce 3-4 ‘Moorlander’ magazines a season. These magazines host a variety of content ranging from club updates, history of the club, stories from ex-players and general nonsense! However, they are a great source of information and collectiveness between us as a club and the local community. Sharing online editions also allows us to keep in touch with those members who live afar!
We are blessed with support from our sponsors! Every year local businesses sponsor each individual shirt
of both the 1st and 2nd XV. This coupled with full shirt sponsors and those regularly renewing their annual sponsorship for advertising boards and general need within the club is something words could not do justice.
Tavistock Rugby Club is very much a nucleus of the town, an all encompassing community hub for anyone to be part of and enjoy. It is often cold, it is always windy and the road gaining access to the club is a real pain but week in week out the club thrives and offers somewhere for everyone, rugby fan or not you are guaranteed a great day with good friends!
campaign that we had the makings of a good one and could push for the top of the table and win outright based on the 2nd half of the previous season. There was no talk about promotion as a target, and each week has been taken as they come, with an added sense of the unknown having 2nd other teams join our league this season.
Injuries have on the whole been a lot less this year, with fewer players seeking the physio every week. Our physio puts this down to a new stretching routine that has got lads in better shape pre match. So touch wood and with a fair wind the club as a whole could potentially lift 4 trophies within the Seniors and the Colts also have a potential final in the making.
JOELTo be honest this season has probably gone beyond anyone’s wildest ambitions. I felt at the start of the
A possible hangover from covid times, player availability has been a bit more random, but it could be argued it has actually benefitted us with both teams buying into the principles and ethos of how we play; the results speak for themselves!
This has seen a large percentage of players turning out for both sides with availability and competition for places.
Ambitions for the season, now we are so close to the end, are to win as many trophies as possible, playing the expansive way we have all season, and having some fun doing it, even if it is serious fun! At the end of it, we then retain everyone for next season and add in those Colts staywing around the area with possibly other players joining us who want to play the Moorlander`s brand of rugby!
The first game of rugby in Tavistock which we have recorded, was played on Saturday 17th March 1876 on Whitchurch Down. An interest of rugby seemed, for a long time, to be maintained only by a small number of public
schoolboys of all ages. This was the era, not of Rugby, but of Rugger. Half a century on from these small, and unproductive beginnings, a small group of enthusiasts took the plunge and formed what we now have as Tavistock Rugby Club.
On January 3rd , the club played it’s first match and lost heavily to Liskeard-Looe seconds. A week later, against Plymouth Argaum Floaters, the margin was narrower. A training routine had been established, with regular Wednesday evening sessions at Plaisterdown Camp. A pitch had finally been established, albeit a temporary loan by Kelly College at Hazledon, 20 years later Plasterdown was
to be vacated by the army in July 1971, losing some of their players and their pitch. From September 1971, home fixtures were played at Ogbeare Farm, Chipshop, on a field owned by Mr. Brian Soper. Okehampton RFC donated goalposts and a marker. In 1973, with some of the original players retiring such as Harold Westwood, and some new blood joining, a headline was hit that Mr Dick Seeley had scored a try within the first minute of one of his first games.
Still in 1973, Princetown Rugby Club was forced to close after losing a member of its prison officer members who had been transferred to other prisons. Tavistock RFC stepped in to take over responsibility for the remaining fixtures, and at the same time acquired the use of the Recreation Field at Princetown for a small rental. For a time, this was used as a training ground and as a backup to Chipshop. The Lydford Parish Council, who owned the field were never happy about the arrangement, and there were complaints that the facilities should not be made available to an organisation outside of Princetown. In 1974, a fresh home for Tavistock RFC was acquired at Mary Tavy, where they stayed for just shy of 15 years. In 1985 a deal began to emerge after talks
had been had about Sandy Park, Tavistock Soccer Club had discovered this, years before in the nomadic period before it was given Langford Park. When the transaction was finalised in Conveyance, signed on September 1st 1988 under which the club, in the names of 4 trustees, Bill Oliver, Geoff Beynon Angus Colville and Barry Shipton, bought the land for £25,000.
Now almost 150 years on from the first ever game of what was Rugger, to the present day of Rugby, stands the well-loved, Tavistock Rugby Club at Sandy Park. In May 2022, we celebrated our 50th (+2) Anniversary, where players, partners, members old and new, got together in Tavistock Town Hall to relive stories of the past and present world of TRFC.
I used to play rugby at school and with Grangemouth RFC’s youth section, but for various reasons didn’t transition into the adult game. Years later I took one of my sons along to Falkirk’s Mini section when he was in P1, and that rekindled my love for the game. Eventually, I was invited to join the Committee as they felt some of the skills I’d picked up during a career in banking and finance might be useful to the Club and from there it became an increasingly important part of my life. I’ve built a whole new circle of friends at Falkirk, which is great.
The Club took some difficult but necessary decisions a few years ago, which meant that we had to endure a bit of a rough patch on and off the pitch while new plans and people were put in place. Our Mini section had collapsed to around 35 kids
We put a Club development plan in place in 2016 and that’s guided our priorities ever since. We’ve focused on getting the Committee and coaching structures right, sorting out the commercial aspects of the club, building a one-club culture and developing stronger ties with the local community. We’ve known for a long time that we needed to invest in our changing facilities, but
across all age groups, meaning that we had to field composite teams and we’d also lost a lot of volunteer coaches. But we were fortunate that the new Mini section convenors we brought in, Derek and Kerry Stanners, really understood what needed to be done and how to instil the right culture and organisation to make it all work smoothly. From there we’ve grown to around 160 kids and over 30 coaches. It was a similar story with our youth rugby set up which had reached a point that it was no longer viable on a stand-alone basis, so with the SRU’s support we formed `The Kelpies` in collaboration with several neighbouring clubs. That helped stabilise player numbers and they have since grown fourfold in as many years.
In terms of our senior squads, player retention is getting harder each year and it’s a national issue. There are many, many opportunities afforded to our young people these days so creating a
it was important to ensure that the right “foundations” were in place first. Now that they are, we’ve taken on the responsibility for operating the changing pavilion from the local Council and we’re in the process of investing over £700k to upgrade it. We’re building extra capacity plus new gym and physio facilities, which can be used not only for rugby, but as a not-for-profit community asset for other
rewarding, fair, suitable, enjoyable environment is key to success. We have created a partnership between ourselves and Falkirk College where we can access their Olympic Standard weightlifting Gym and games hall on a Tuesday night from November to March and that has certainly helped. We’re then able to focus on game specific structures and shapes on a
local sports clubs and 3rd sector organisations to use.
The upgrading of our changing facilities and gym is massive for the Club and the other sports organisations who will have an opportunity to use it. In the first instance our members will not need to pay a monthly commercial gym subscription as they will be able to access the club gym with cardio machines and weightlifting equipment. This is
Thursday evening at the club, or on a synthetic surface if the weather is particularly bad in the worst winter months.
We need to ensure that these youngsters, who are our future senior players, coaches and committee members, can continue through the club into The Kelpies youth set up for secondary school age children and then ultimately into senior rugby, hopefully
a benefit to all our members but most significantly to our players. We have a strength and conditioning coach who is part of the senior coaching team, and he can tailor individual position specific programmes for all our players. We also have a physiotherapist that works with us and we will now be able to give her a dedicated room in our new facility rather than set her plinth up
at Falkirk for those who see us as their parent club. We’re committed to funding local Rugby Development Officers in partnership with Scottish Rugby and 2 local High Schools, which is another Rugby Development pathway for any boy or girl.
The coaching philosophy we work to within the minis is just to make it the best possible experience we can for our young players. We are a truly inclusive club and recognise we have kids of different experience levels and we are there to encourage and support them all on their own rugby journey. We aim to coach and develop not only their rugby skills but equip our young players with good life skills that they can use out with the game. In the Senior section of the Club, our philosophy is that in rugby you have a very short career, so don’t find yourself standing at the bar in 20 years’ time saying I could have done this or that. Commit to the club and training to get better and better. Be the best version of you, learn and embrace the club and its culture. Nothing happens by chance, if you commit and practise as often as possible you will get better and taste success. That philosophy is the fundamental reason for our current success.
in a changing room or the main club house bar area. All these things will help to give the players the best possible medical and S & C back up to assist with their rugby journey. while we have already secured grant funding for our Sunnyside Pavilion project from the SRU, Sports Scotland and others, we are still fundraising ourselves online at www.givey.com/ FalkirkRFC
Finn Russell came to the club as a graduating 18-year old. He was brought in by a former coach who knew him and his family. Finn played for just over a season with Falkirk before we moved him onto a premiership club which led to his eventual
ALISON SIME SUPPORTER AND SPONSOR
I am a local lass than started my relationship will Falkirk RFC through fiends I knew from school who were always talking about the enjoyment they were having at the rugby club. Laterally my son Jamie joined the club aged 12, a versatile player, he was able to play both back and forward positions. Any sport involvement is great for children; my own daughter Katie was a great swimmer competing at County level and Jamie’s appetite for getting stuck in on a rugby pitch made him many friends which he still has today. He is currently out in Australia enjoying a year out!
The games I have managed to attend this season have been fantastic and the level of skill has been high. The club are blessed with a real plethora of great people who all come together to make Falkirk such a great club to be part off. From Bill`s post-match analysis and man of the match awards to the ladies events there is something for everyone to enjoy at Falkirk RFC.
signing Professionally for Glasgow Warriors. The Russell family link continues to this day with Finn’s older brother Harry captaining the club and his family and Finn being regular visitors and supporters of the club.
Falkirk RFC is truly a fantastic club. A warm welcome is afforded to everyone and the atmosphere is always inclusive, exceptionally good to be around. I am a local lad and I grew up only 2 miles away, so this is my local club. I played football myself, however my family of cousins and nephews have played and still play so I have been a frequent visitor for over 30 years supporting from the age of a young teenager, uncle and now sponsor.
Rugby does a lot of things well, the importance of giving youngsters an opportunity to engage with different people, develop people skills and just enjoying the game. For example, my nephew plays for Under 18’s and will be taking on a new role of club spokesperson for SRU on behalf of the team. The younger society now are so reliant on phones and computers they hardly leave the house, so the good aspects of the local sports make it a fantastic thing to be part of.
Your Equipment Solutions is a company that is always
focused on local community involvement, creating great relationships with key board members to drive positive exposure of what sport can achieve and influence in health and wellbeing on a daily basis.
Alex my Brother was getting more involved with the club supporting his son and introduced me to Bill regarding a Contra Deal as the Rugby club had hire requirements and with this like-mindedness both parties quickly developed into YES HIRE being a main sponsor with a 2 years contract with the aim of being a long term partner.
Falkirk have overdelivered as a group and are gaining confidence all the time. Regardless of how the season ends for them it had been a great achievement in the 1st XV division. Off the field, I think things have developed fantastically and the pavilion will be a great asset in retaining the talent and attracting other players.
It’s the people that make the difference to the feel of the club and its members and board always give a warm welcome and are very appreciative of the support sponsors give them.
Last year was the 50th anniversary of the current incarnation of the Club, but its origins date back to the to the early 60s when I.C.I. Grangemouth employees Bill McMillan and Lyn Jones, both passionate rugby men, set up the I.C.I. Grangemouth Rugby Club. After a decade, the players decided in 1972 to move and form Falkirk Rugby Football Club. Lyn Jones chose the Club’s colours in deference to Cardiff, which at the time was the strongest club side in the world. Our industrial heritage extends to our ground at Sunnyside, where the pitches were laid on the site of an old iron foundry and the changing pavilion used to serve as the foundry’s washhouse. The Club moved into Division 7 of the Scottish National Leagues in the 80s and then progressed under the Presidencies of first Jimmy Hardwick & then Jim Holden. Our first ever promotion was secured in 1990 and then a decade later the Club enjoyed a golden period under the
guidance of President Alex McQuade. Alex not only presided over a Scottish record five consecutive league championships (from National Division 5 in 2003-2004, to National Division 1 in 20072008) and a Shield final win at Murrayfield in 2007, but also oversaw significant investment into playing surfaces, training floodlights & a stand. The Shield winning side of 2007 continues to drive the Club forward, with prop forward Matt Dodd as our previous President and his secondrow team mate that day, Bill Faulds, the current incumbent.
The club is in a very good place and has been progressing well for the last 4/5 years. We have created a great link between the senior and junior sections of the club, where younger members and their parents regularly come along to watch the senior XV’s and vice versa. Our clubhouse is vibrant on match days and international weekends when the summer/autumn/6 nations test matches are being shown in the club and older members,
senior players, junior players and their families mix and mingle together. This generates revenue over the bar, keeping our treasurer happy!
Recently we have had 3 players take the step up to semi-professional rugby in the Super 6 competition, and 5 who are currently in the Caledonia Senior Representative Rugby squad. All these players are back at the club and fully involved in the next stage of our club’s rugby journey.
To date we are having a very successful season with our
1st xv who are currently sitting in second place in Nation Division 2 and with only a handful of games to go we are very much in the race to win the league and promotion. Our 2nd XV had a very successful season last season finishing 3rd in their respective league. This season has not been so strong but that is due to a number of players who have won promotion to the 1st XV or who for a multitude of reasons have had to move on or have been forced to retire, however, we are bringing youngsters up from our U18 squad who are getting valuable game time and training in a senior environment meaning they are learning all the time, this will hopefully lead to some of them raising their hand for selection to the senior 1st and 2nd xv squads. The average age of our 2nd xv is currently around 20 years of age. Our ambition for this season with our 1st XV is to win the league, with our 2nd XV it is to be competitive and win more games than we lose, developing our youngsters along the way, so some of them can challenge for 1st XV honours over the next couple of
years. We need to continue to develop our midis particularly our under 18 players so we can prepare them for stepping up into Senior Adult Rugby. We don’t currently have a Senior Ladies team but it’s our ambition to create one in the near future, given that we have lots of girls coming through our Junior Section and a thriving Girls programme running at our partner school Falkirk High. There is a feed for them at Mini and Midi level and the right thing for us to do is ensure they can continue their rugby journey with Falkirk RFC. When we do set up a Senior ladies team, it’s important that it’s properly resourced and that they have suitable facilities, which is a key objective of our renovation
of the changing pavilion. We do very much consider ourselves to be a community club and we’ve worked hard to broaden and deepen our links with local schools, businesses, other amateur sports clubs and charities, such as Falkirk’s mental health charity, FDAMH, with whom we are developing new health and wellbeing programmes for the local community. Our philosophy is that no child should ever be excluded from playing rugby for financial reasons. We run Easter and Summer Camps for children aged 5 to 18 that are free to children who live in and around the rugby club (Camelon), this is supported by the Camelon Community Sports Hub. We
also offer reduced or free child places for disadvantaged local families and supply “pre-loved kit” to try and encourage them to take up the game.
Without the generosity and relationships we have with our sponsors we would simply not be able to run our club as successfully as we do. We are able to keep our Junior section memberships as low as £60 for the whole year because of the fantastic sponsorship of local companies. Our Junior members receive approximately £60 of kit for their membership with the rest of that section being sponsored by local companies and the fundraising events of our Junior Sections Parents and Guardians. We have some long-term sponsors who have always backed and supported the club to which we are all truly thankful.
We are a club for everyone, whether you want to play rugby or watch it or just want to use the club as a place to mix and socialise with other people. The rugby club is a safe place, and our core values of inclusion, respect, friendship and belonging are at the forefront of everything we do. It is ultimately all about making people feel good about themselves and others. There are opportunities for everyone
at the rugby club to ensure their Health And Wellbeing are being looked after, this can be keeping fit and exercising regularly by playing or joining our voluntary maintenance team of retired former players and supporters who stay active. We are a young Club based in central Scotland, outside of rugby’s traditional heartlands, but anchored in a local community where rugby values can make a positive difference to people’s lives. Players are at the centre of our Club, and we want our Club to be at the centre of the community.
Our vision can therefore be summarised in the phrase “Making Rugby Central”.
DUNDAS DENTAL
I was born and bred in Falkirk and my first introduction to the rugby club was through my son Lewis Collier. Lewis and his classmates had been encouraged by a teacher at Larbert High school to get involved with the sport and rugby club and so 11 years ago we both went along, and the rest is history as they say. Lewis is now 22 and still plays, but mostly for his university side these days, at Strathclyde University or for Falkirk’s seconds when he has the time.
This seasons performances, by our 1st XV, can only be described as exceptional
and hopefully we can finish strongly and become league champions.
My business Dundas Dental have sponsored the club for many years now and we enjoy helping out when we can. What makes Falkirk Rugby Club such a great place to be part of is the People. I am a regular attender at club events including ladies’ nights which are always great fun.
I would like to congratulate everybody at the club on their efforts to make our club on and off the pitch into such an important and thriving part of our community. Good luck to the both our rugby and football teams up in Glasgow on the 15th and 29th of April!
“Delighted
be associated with the success of Falkirk Rugby Club.”
It was really through the club dinners that I became involved with Falkirk RFC when some friends invited me along to these occasions. That was well over 20 years ago so it’s great to still be involved today! After I started attending the various club events It wasn’t long before regular Six-Nation tours became part of my yearly holiday plans which I have many great memories of.
This season I have been to many of the home games, at Sunnyside, and don’t ever recall witnessing such a high standard of rugby. The development of our younger players ensure rugby will be played at our club for many more season to come. Off the pitch, exciting changing room developments, which our company GRS Homes have had the privilege of being involved in, Ryan Marshall our Design Director was very much involved in the changing rooms project, and the continued facilities expansion of the Pavilion will offer tremendous and positive benefits, to not only rugby, but to many other sports and individuals throughout our region.
My company GRS Homes have sponsored the club for 12 years now and we thoroughly enjoy supporting this great club whenever we can. Falkirk Rugby Club have many proactive individuals that helps make everything come together. However, I feel a special mention has to go to Mark Crawford who has been outstanding in bringing the whole facilities project together.
Myself and all our staff at GRS Homes would like to congratulate everybody at Falkirk Rugby Club on being chosen as Rugby Club Magazines `Scottish Club of the season 2022/2023` sending everybody best wishes for their final away fixture on April 15th and continued success for the next 50 years!
GRS Homes has been in development since 2002. Managing Director Graham Scott has set the companies benchmark high. Using only the best and exclusive materials coupled with inspirational creative design GRS Homes offers a standard that others can only aspire to! It has created a strong reputation for high quality developments and has had the honour of being recognised by the House Building Industry winning several prizes and nominations at the Scottish Home Awards.
“ Delighted to be associated with the success of Falkirk RFC both on and off the Pitch! ”
I live locally and have always been a rugby fan so around 25 years ago myself and some friends decided to go along to Falkirk Rugby Club and support the teams.
This led me to sponsoring the club, something that I have enjoyed doing in various ways including shirt sponsorship, for around 20 years now. It’s great to see the club performing so well, and it would be an outstanding achievement if they were to gain promotion too. The future of the club, through the development of younger players, seems to be thriving at the moment and off the field the new facility plans are very exciting.
The club is fortunate to
have so many willing and good people who all come together to help out. Bill Faulds, Mark Crawford, especially with the new pavilion funding, and the likes of Jennifer McKenna to name but a few. Graham Scott of GRS Homes and I have always tried to contribute our services at cost whether it was with the new car park or other initiatives. It is fabulous to see that so much has been transformed in a relatively short period of time at the rugby club.
Falkirk Rugby Club provide a great service to our local community, and I would like to encourage everyone to keep going and doing what they are doing. Congratulations to everybody on such a fantastic campaign so far, and on being selected as Scottish Club of the Season 22/23! Delighted
I live stone’s throw away from the club and have been frequenting there from the age of 16. I always found Falkirk RFC to be a very welcoming place and somewhere you could relax and be amongst friends.
Through my son John-Joe playing there, over the last 16 years, usually in the backs with his preferred position being scrum half, I was lucky enough to become more involved in the coaching setup. This allowed me to see the club from many different perspectives including from our community’s position.
The local connection is vitally important, and Falkirk RFC have been able to offer local children a stability through the rugby club. JohnJoe is 24 now and currently not playing due to injury but always still supporting the teams and his friends. Over the decades the club have `grown their own` through the commitment of many diligent and committed club servants and we arrive at a point in our history where there is an exciting flow of rugby players coming through. I don’t really
feel that different clubs or sports are competing against each other, so much these days, but more that sport is competing against life and or technology distractions.
This season the 1st XV, a young squad, have performed with a level of maturity which has sustained them all the way through. The players didn’t seem to need to force anything, and their decision making was much better than previously; all in all, they have been performing at a high standard and are an absolute pleasure to watch.
The planned facilities expansion is very good news for club and community.
Improved facilities really offer local people, and in particular the younger members of our community, the opportunity to be part of a great hub; not even necessarily for them to play rugby but to be part of something where they can make friends and grow alongside the outstanding values and disciplines that sport offers.
My company Innovative Environmental Services have sponsored the club for the past 7 years and I really enjoy giving something back to a club that has given me and my family so much. For me what makes Falkirk Rugby Club such a great club to be part of is the people. Over 5
Around 30 years ago I worked for a company who were supporters of Falkirk Rugby Club, and they invited me along to the club to partake in the atmosphere and perhaps a drink or two. I already had many friends at the club anyway and so it was a comfortable place for me to spend time. This was back In the days when Bill Faulds, the current President, was a player!
Although I don’t get down to the club so much these days I always receive regular feed back on how
decades there have been custodians who have held and improved the club for the next generation, and I am glad I too have been able to play a small part in that. On more than one occasion I have been stopped by a local person who I may not have recognised at first to say hello; on one occasion a young and tall bearded figure approached me to say hi and remind me of who he was and how I use to coach him. For me these are the truly rewarding experiences where two people have had a positive influence or moment in each other’s lives!
they are doing. Its great news that they are competing at the top of their league. To be recognised as Scottish Club of the Season 2022/2023 doesn’t come around without a lot of hard work and commitment.
My company AJ Glazing have supported the club for many years and more recently we have been a sponsor for the past 4 or 5 seasons. Myself and all our staff at AJ Glazing would like to congratulate everybody at Falkirk RFC on another great season and wish them all the very best of continued success for many more years to come!
“V
I joined Stockwood Park Rugby Club in 1987/8 season having played previously at Dunstable since 1976 after leaving the Army and moving to the area.
The demise of rugby in schools has meant that clubs have to coach all aspects for and across all age groups. As a club we are committed to remaining an amateur player club and be a friendly place for people to come to and feel welcomed and at home.
Our playing philosophy is based around an open style of play, and to that end we are especially keen to develop coaches from within the club; the current head coach is a former player.
The mood is very upbeat at the club at the moment, however, there are concerns about the financial future, which is a common theme with clubs at this level!
Stockwood have had a number of players who have gone on to play for Bedford first team but none in the very recent past. Last season was as positive as we could have hoped, the 1stXV team won promotion and the Ladies had a very successful season too!
Our main goal for season 2022/2023 is to consolidate our position in the league and continue recruitment at all levels with a special focus on our Ladies and junior teams. Our Ladies are very much an integral part of the club, we have run some touch and walking rugby sessions through the summer months and we are very much a community club having frequent school training sessions at the club with some tournaments which are open to all. We ensure progression for our younger players mainly through supporting them in a friendly, safe environment
which they can be part of, and our coaching is based around enjoyment and family involvement. Club sponsors are vital however we are struggling to get as many as we would like, our current main sponsor is an ex first team player whose company is called M P Drywall. I can honestly say that since my first day at Stockwood Park Rugby Club I have felt both welcomed and at home; this amazing atmosphere is all that one can wish for!
Old Lutonians RFC was formed by July 1946, when Luton Modern School old boys returning from World War II, encouraged by the enthusiasm of Bill Shepherd, held a meeting at their old school, and banded together to form a rugby club. There had previously been an Old Modernians club which played occasionally during the 1920s and ‘30s, but 1946 is regarded as the start of the current club. Initially the club was part of the sports section of the Old Lutonians club, which enabled it to put out an appeal for old school rugby shirts, as well as drawing on schoolboys when the club found itself short due to national Service call-ups. After a first season playing at the school, the club moved to Stockwood Park, where the washing facilities were nonexistent, and required a player to cycle up the hill from the town each match day carrying two tin baths, which were later filled with cold water and heated up over gas rings.
The club quickly went from strength to strength and in the 1951-52 season, it fielded a fourth team for the first time. Just before Christmas 1951, the first clubhouse was opened, in a disused hat factory in the centre of Luton. In 1954,
Pat Heanue became the first player from the club to be selected for the East Midlands. From the early 1950s the club played in the East Festival at Southend, and in 1954 it first toured South Wales. Then in 1956 the first overseas tour took place, to Holland; three matches were played and two were won. In 1960 the club reached the finals of the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham for the only time, losing narrowly to the eventual winners, London Scottish.
As the club’s reputation grew for both its strength and the attractiveness of its attacking play, it started to attract players who were not alumni of Luton Grammar School. Therefore in 1964 a decision was taken to become an open club and take on the name ‘Stockwood Park’. The reputation of the club continued to grow, and by the 1970s the club had one of the strongest fixture lists in junior rugby.
Stockwood Park won the Bedfordshire Cup for the first time in the 1972-73 season, and have since won it a record 14 times. The 197374 season was probably the most successful ever across the club, with the senior five sides winning 126 matches, drawing 2 and losing just 28, whilst the Colts won 22 and lost 8. In this, the first season when four points were awarded for a try, the 1st XV scored a then record 752 points in 38 matches, whilst the 5th team notched up 789 in 23 and the Colts 883 in 30. During this period the 1st XV went 50 games without defeat before going down narrowly to Bedford’s 2nd XV in November 1974. Shortly afterwards the club made its first appearance in the Nation Knock-Out Cup, again losing narrowly in Northumberland, to Morpeth.
The success of the club in the 1970s and ’80, saw
Stockwood Park placed in Midlands 1 when leagues were initiated in 1987. Having held its position in Level 5 for four seasons, the club was then competitive at Level 6 until the turn of the century. The club decided to remain entirely amateur, building its strength around home-grown talent, developed through the Mini and Junior section which had been started during the 1970s. This stance meant that for a number of years the club struggled to attract players who had no prior affiliation with it, but over the subsequent years this has proved to be a strength. The club had fielded a women’s side every season since 2010, having first raised a team around the turn of the century. Stockwood Park is proud to be a community club which welcomes new players, whilst relying overwhelmingly on the products of the mini and junior set up. Having competed well at Level 8 for the previous three seasons, it was rewarding to see the hard work on and off the field bear fruit with winning Midlands 3 East (South) in 2021-22.
If you wish to know more, would like to join or have any questions please contact:
Anthony HarmanEngineering
Manager,Bulk Fuels CERTAS ENERGY
E Mail: anthony.harman@ certasenergy.co.uk
Telephone: 07814661936
POTTED HISTORY OF BISHOP AUCKLAND RUFC
LTD (CLIVE BOOTH)
The origins of our club can be traced to Michael Gill, a businessman in Bishop Auckland, who had for many years advocated the establishment of a rugby club in the town of Bishop Auckland. However, his aspirations were derided by his friends and colleagues on the grounds that Bishop Auckland was a football town and therefore a rugby club would never be successful – a challenge if ever there was one!
It was local government reorganisation in 1974 which introduced an initiative whereby school facilities could be opened up for use by a Community Association with a fee-paying membership.
That was the catalyst for the formation of Bishop Auckland Rugby Union Football Club.
King James 1 School in Bishop Auckland was one that took advantage of this initiative. The School
Headmaster was Tony Howells and the newly appointed Community Association Warden was Ted Robinson and both were former rugby players. Mike Gill had also involved himself with the work around the establishment of the Community Association.
The initiative provided an opportunity to establish a rugby club as the key essentials of a pitch and changing facilities were available and so Bishop Auckland RUFC was born, becoming a member of Durham RFU in July 1976. The newly formed club used first the Wear Valley Hotel (now demolished) and then the Queens Hotel in the Market Place for club meetings and socialising.
In 1979 the club acquired its own clubhouse by taking a lease from the Church Commissioners of the former pub, The Vulcan in Peel Street.
By now the club was thriving, running two men’s teams and it was at The Vulcan that a Colts team was formed. Many who played as Colts in that era have gone on to retain close bonds with the club through the years and to this very day. On the social side, club nights spent in The Vulcan are the stuff of legend.
In 1981 the club trustees entered into a 99-year lease with the District Council of Wear Valley (now Durham County Council) of 13.5 acres of arable land at West Mills, our present home, where we have three pitches and in 1992 our own purpose-built clubhouse was opened there.
As may be expected, the club as had many a hurdle to clear down the years. However due to the dedication of such stalwarts as Ron Williamson, Keith Wilkinson and Mark MacNair we have battled on to become the thriving community-based club that we are today.
We have two men’s teams and a women’s team all of whom are extremely successful and in the junior ranks more than 250 players are registered to play across 12 teams.
Our full-time steward Dan Lewis and his wife Donna do a fantastic job in running the clubhouse where they have built up an excellent reputation for our club as a venue for weddings and other private functions. The income thereby generated is of course ploughed back into the club to improve facilities and meet the needs of the entire rugby union playing membership. In 2019 the club was incorporated, becoming a private company limited by guarantee.
Our sponsors are extremely important and valuable to our club, and we never underestimate their worth! Whilst multinationals like banks and other such institutions do not seem to have any interest in supporting “small fry” like ourselves, businesses who are locally based and serve the local community can see the contribution that we also provide to that community. They are willing to give us support by taking out the various sponsorship packages that we have to offer.
Our main sponsors are S G Petch Ltd which has a car dealerships throughout the area although originating in Bishop Auckland, Ebac makers of dehumidifiers and washing machines also originating in Bishop
Auckland, D Stewart Scaffolding Ltd of West Auckland, Hathaway Roofing Ltd of Bishop Auckland and Fifteas Vintage Tearoom of the Market Place, Bishop Auckland. To them, and indeed to all of our sponsors who take out sponsorship with us in whatever form, we are extremely grateful!
I joined Bishop Auckland in 1988 while playing at King James School. Our teacher suggested we joined a club, and Keith Wilkinson (former player and President) was also teaching at the school and took us along to training.
Finding time has been a great challenge in navigating our club into the position we are in today! There are so many regulations, reporting requirements, and of course coaching obligations - it is often difficult to keep up.
Money is also a constant issue as rising running costs often stifle progress. Equipment is expensive, travel costs rising and even grass cutting can cost a lot of money these days!
Certainly on field, we are working hard to have our men’s team promoted into Division One - and to
JUNIOR
Originally a footballer I had never played rugby growing up but had many friends who did and so I always maintained a connection with rugby. Having gone through an ACL injury in my early 20`s coupled with starting work at a relatively young age curtailed my own sports career and I ended up becoming more involved in the management and coaching area of sport.
When my sons Ben and Tom came of age, they started playing rugby and are still very much involved today as fans and players, although Tom who plays flanker is out whilst awaiting surgery and Ben who started as a four-year-old, at Bishop Auckland, has just completed his first season of Colts rugby playing number 10. Both of my boys have the club at their heart and have ambitions to play 1st XV rugby. The club has come a long way in its own development with the retention of our young players who are now coming through to Colts and on to Senior rugby being an important factor.
Bishop Auckland Rugby Club have also been blessed with some great people, past and
maintain our status in the top amateur league for our Women’s team. We are also constantly focussed on engaging and encouraging young players to take part and enjoy Rugby at all levels.
We aim to provide an environment where anybody can enjoy the sport and with the camaraderie that rugby brings. In order to get there - my philosophy is quite simply. “= + :)” Treat everyone as equals! Keep Positive. Keep Happy!
Our focus is to make training fun and beneficial and put a lot of emphasis on being good members to create an environment where we want to work and play together - full of respect and enjoyment.
Our club atmosphere is very positive and highly ambitious at the moment. We feel we are performing really well whilst learning a lot about our abilities within the team.
While we don’t have huge links with professional teams, several of our players have gone on to be successful in the professional environment. Alec Clarey is one noticeable and recent success. He plays at Premiership club Saracens, having started his rugby at Bishop Auckland. He is still very much involved in our club too. We also have several Ex-Premiership players
present, including our current group with Clive Booth, Peter Gallone and Steven Colwell. Others like Taff Evans, Danny Ross, Paul Brooke and Gareth John have and continue to be an inspiration to myself and many others.
These volunteers have their own individual talents whether it’s getting things done or patience when coaching our younger players, all contributing in their own way to make our club work. I suppose my job, as I see it, has always been focused on player retention.
There is nothing better than seeing our 1st XV competing so well as they head towards promotion with a litany of players who have come all the way through our ranks. The integration of our U16`s, Colts and Seniors can bring its own challenges although Colts and Seniors training together on a Thursday evening is a great help. I have always loved been a part of Bishop Auckland Rugby Club and feel that whilst coaching It was always important that I treat everyone the same and as an individual.
It’s been a real family affair for me, Joanne and our boys. The atmosphere this season has been magnificent and I would just urge everyone to keep doing what they are doing as it is obviously working!
in our Ladies team, and both of our senior coaches have represented England (one as a player and one as a coach).
The 2022/23 squad has been our most exciting team in a decade and that has shown in our performances. We play a great style of Rugby and I think that has been represented well in results (Played 15, lost 1!) Our goal is Promotion. The challenge is keeping everyone fit and maintaining performances under pressure as the final months unfold.
Women`s rugby has been a fantastic (almost) nine year journey from conception to Promotion to Championship
One. We have made this transition ‘organically’, from our own resources, enthusiasm and dedication. We have an amazing team, full of incredibly dedicated players, who should be very proud of their part in this journey. We are now the highest ranked amateur team in the County and are proud to be County Durham’s standard bearers for Women’s Rugby in the Championship.
We are probably the largest sports club in the town, and as such - our members and alumni are spread far and wide. We engage with communitybased projects, music festivals,
charities and businesses - who in turn support us wherever possible. I would like to think that the last decade has really cemented our place in the awareness of people within the town as a very professional club with great facilities. Our profile has been raised through a strong media presence, and a
growth in both spectator and participants since the world cup of 2003 and onwards. Our sponsors are absolutely integral to the running of the club and the progress of our club as it moves forward. We engage with them often and value them as part of the teams and club as a whole.
From joining Bishop Auckland Rugby Club in 1988 to leaving the field after games last weekend - I have always
considered it a place I love, and the membership, a family. Some of the people in our membership are family to me and it is heart-warming to see those kind of relationships developing right across our club. Rugby creates bonds which last much longer that a playing career too. I love to see former team-mates at pitch side supporting their kids, who are developing in our junior or senior teams.
Our founder Steve Petch’s first garage was in Bishop Auckland and naturally we have always considered the town to be our spiritual home. I moved from the area some time ago, but both my sons Gareth & James played for the club as well as spells at Stockton; another great local club where I also played. My earlier rugby started at Barnard Castle School which had a great rugby producing reputation with some great talent coming out of the school during my era including fly half Rob Andrew who debuted in January 1985 against Romania at Twickenham. For the next 10 years Rob was England’s regular fly-half earning 70 caps, including 2 as captain before spending time as the RFU`s Director of Rugby. He was of course credited, during his time in charge of Newcastle Falcons for discovering Jonny Wilkinson! The outstanding Underwood brothers came through our school too and
I joined Bishop Auckland Rugby Club in 1992. I was playing in a Sevens Competition for Durham City, Durham and the team I was playing for got knocked out of the competition and Bishop Auckland were in the Final but running out of players due to injury. I lived in Bishop Auckland and was aware a Durham City Player/Coach,
were the first set of brothers since 1937 to dawn the England jersey on the same field of play.
I can’t speak highly enough about Bishop Auckland Rugby Club and their outstanding contribution to local rugby. The speed of their development has been quite something whilst facing many challenges on route. To now be is such a healthy position and thriving is a remarkable achievement by all those involved with the club. Women`s rugby is a real tribute to the club and their production of the next generation of players ensures that rugby will continue to be played at West Mills Playing Fields for some time to come.
As a company supporting local sports clubs is important to us as we feel we share many similar values. Myself and all our staff at S G Petch Ltd would like to congratulate everybody at this great club on being recognised as Northern club of the Season 2022/2023 wishing you all the very best of continued success for many more seasons to come!
Fergus King MBE, was going to coach Bishop Auckland in the next season, I played for Bishop in that game, and we won; I went back to the Bishop Auckland Club House for some celebratory drinks, met the Stewardess’s daughter & decided I wanted to play for Bishop Auckland… we married 5 years later!
When I first joined the Club the main challenge, was finances, the club managed week to week and it was really through the determination of many volunteers that the club kept going, some donated to the running of the club, raising money in various ways. We then decided to
appoint a permanent club house manager, with some commercial awareness, and looked to promote and use the club for more than just rugby. That combined with a re-launch of the Mini / Midi / Junior Section around 2005/2006, and an army of volunteers we had, took the club to the position it is in today.
Steven Colwell has already commented about our Rugby ambitions which I support 100%. Off Field, we need to continue to grow and improve the Club and Facilities to not only cope with growth, but to continue to offer the very best value for all stakeholders.
In 2023, we will add solar panels to the roof of our building, to reduce costs and reduce our impact on the environment. Improvements will be made to the carparking facilities to allow access for people with disabilities. Beyond that, we now need to increase our changing room capacity and add a new function room. If all this can be achieved, we will then look to improve the training and playing areas, to include improved lighting and maybe 4G pitches.
When we first started our Junior Section, our vision was affordability for all, we charged £1 per session, no
membership. However, with the increasing membership and costs associated with Rugby we were forced to change that approach. Our volunteers are superb! The membership appreciates all they do, including our management that run the club, however, as we improve, expectations grow and more and more is expected of the club. While the Senior men’s teams are going from strength to strength, the youth section continues to flourish, the success of the Ladies Team is the pride of our club and the talk of our Town. We are also very focused on continuing player and membership growth, to add a 3rd Senior Men’s team and to add a Development Senior Ladies Team which would be another great achievement for Bishop Auckland Rugby Club!
West Mills Playing Fields
Bridge Rd
Bishop Auckland
DL14 7PA
01388 602922
www.barufc.com
“
RFC 1ST XV
I have been involved with the club since 2009 when I was invited to do some coaching and ended up as head coach and sometime player – the club is in my home village that I moved away from in 1989 and returned to in 2007.
I have been involved with St Agnes for some 38 years now and when I first moved to the area I was introduced to the club by a known member!
The biggest challenge we have is player retention and availability in the seniors. As a small club we often struggle to put XV players on the park however we are relatively happy with our standing in the Cornwall league and operate a healthy rivalry with Perranporth RFC a couple of miles away. Significant promotion could be disastrous for us.
Making friendships that will last a lifetime!”
I have been involved with the Club for 38 years. I moved to the village and was a teacher in the local secondary school and wanted to play rugby! I was asked to train the lads at the club, decided to play for them and the rest is history!
As a small village club, originally with just one senior team playing on a farmer’s field, we faced many challenges. It was imperative to develop our ‘player base’, players individual skills, build our facilities, including our clubhouse & pitch, and develop the club`s community ethos. We then enhanced and supported village life with the development of our mini/ junior section.
Now our main focus is to develop our teams and for our senior and mini/ juniors to complete at the most appropriate level possible for their ability and to continue to play a significant role in our village community. The mood at present is one of positivity, since returning from the covid break.
We have had a number of players that have played for more senior clubs in the county. Some have represented the Cornwall clubs’ teams with a lot of our youth players linked with Truro College and Exeter Chief’s Academies. Through Head coach Simon Smith we have had a coaching link with Cornish Pirates too.
we are now 4th in the league with a record of Won 11 Drawn 1 and lost
4. With 565 points for and 194 against. Our goal is to win promotion to Counties
2 Tribute Cornwall, to have a successful run in the Cornwall County Plate and be competitive in the new national Papa John Cup. For our mini/junior section we are aiming to also be competitive with the more senior and larger clubs within the county.
We are a true community club at St Agnes, undertaking many activities locally including fundraising events and taking part in the village carnival.
Our sponsors are very important to us, as many of them are local and within the village and it is important that we work with them for mutual benefit. As a true grass roots rugby club St Agnes RFC is a place where it is possible to make friendships that will last a lifetime!
As a local community rugby club, we have been through cyclical periods of struggling for players. We have gone from a rented farm field for a pitch to a custom laid pitch, with the support mainly from the local community, donations from local firms and individuals and the combined efforts of players, committee and supporters.
The club atmosphere is very positive this season helped by having great facilities, good numbers for training, excellent results in the league and strong camaraderie amongst the players.
Support from local businesses has been essential to us. We have a Vice President section, which provides substantial income and also have advertising board for local sponsors. The local pubs strongly support the club and contribute towards the running costs by providing post-match food and a donation of a keg of beer behind the bar.
St Agnes is a genuine village/community club, supported by the village and in turn supporting the village. We provide facilities for all age groups and encourage family involvement as much as possible.
Our coaching philosophy for seniors is to try to emulate the much lauded 1-3-3-1 system for the forward and then use this platform to release talent strike backs to score on the outside. The general mood is positive in the seniors having a fairly successful year so far. Our main goal is to finish in the top three in the league, and, as always, to beat Perranporth home and away! The main challenge is always player availability– new recruits have helped too and the juniors, youth and minis are exceptionally popular!
We were lucky enough to have British Lion and World Cup winner Josh Lewsey represent us a few times and on one occasion we lent the opposition one of Josh’s mates, a certain Dan Luger! I have also formed a strong relationship with Cornish Pirates who have helped us out with training etc
Being a small club in a small Cornish village we are a complete community club with strong links to local business through support and sponsorship. The local pubs and hotels are generous and other businesses actively support us. We are truly part of the St Agnes parish. Without sponsors generosity we would struggle. St Agnes is all about community and fellowship. We maintain very strong links with the “old boys” and this creates superb atmospheres after matches in the club or pubs. The sense of community here shines through!
I have been part of the club since I was a child, my dad Dave, affectionately known by most as Harry and who my son is now called after, played before me and now my son has joined the club too. It was really my dad’s love of rugby and of St Agnes that started off the family tradition; unlike me he was a backs player and a handy full back in his day, myself and Harry are definitely front row forwards.
Injury has really hindered our 1st XV this season but taking everything into account we have competed really well. We are currently putting a lot of effort into expanding our M&J section across further age groups, at present we have U7s – U12s. The minis section is booming, having new players arriving weekly, even from other clubs and we are having a great season with all players really enjoying their rugby. With up to 180 children at times coupled with other clubs brining their juniors when they play us, E.G. Truro, takes the numbers of total players up
by another 70 or more; which is quite a wonderful and picturesque sight to behold at St Agnes as we sit on the Northern Cornish Coast! Our main challenges of the 22/23 Season are getting more local children involved and building for our future. St Agnes is definitely a community club, many of the great businesses sponsor the club across all teams. Sponsors are very, very important and without them we wouldn’t have the resources that we are able to provide to the teams. Rod Smith is one of our long-established sponsors with his business RBS Groundworks Ltd, who I also
work for, he has consistently supported the club for 12 years now; Rod has always enjoyed helping the club out in any way he can. St Agnes Rugby Club has been part of my life from the very beginning, I wouldn’t change it for the world, the team of people we have here are great and it always feels like one big family!
Founded in 1972 St Agnes RFC proudly maintains the values, ethics and standards of all that is good in the game of rugby football both on and off the pitch We are a competitive ‘grass roots’ club, which strives for playing success in all sections and age groups while upholding the core values of rugby; teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship. We aim to embrace all that is good; Rugby is a competitive sport, but fellowship, enjoyment and building friendships are equally as important as success. The coaching, mentoring, management and caring of our players and members is at the core of our success.
In 1972 St Agnes RFC formed and was a proud ‘pub team’ changing and showering in various local village hostelries, driving to our pitch at Wheal Buston, where we had telegraph poles and a large piece of ‘4 by 2’ as our posts and crossbar. With wives and girlfriends washing the kit and preparing the postmatch food. We have come a long way since those times, to the fine facilities we now have at Enys Parc.
During the past 50 years we have had our successes. Playing in Cornwall junior cup finals, the quarter finals of the National Junior Cup, the winner of two consecutive Cornwall Plate Competition; only covid in 2020 stopping us from gaining our third win. We have been champions of Cornwall two in the RFU national leagues, winners on a number of occasions of the Alan Barbery Cup for the best league results by a Cornwall club, along with the Tommy May Cup from Cornwall Rugby Referees society for fair play and support of their officials.
As a club in 2022 we now have a very strong mini section; our junior section teams are amalgamated with Perranporth RFC and go from strength to strength, whilst our 1st XV plays in Cornwall 1, as a club we are proud of what all our players and teams have achieved at all levels. Our successes are the result of the players, volunteers and supporters we attract along with the ongoing support and sponsorship of local businesses and our vice president’s society.
For our 50th rugby celebrations we welcomed Plymouth and Exeter Medical RFC for a game against St Agnes 1st XV, we also welcomed Perranporth RFC 1st XV for a game against ‘Giles Barbarians’, an invitation team put together by Harry Hirst, son of our former Mini’s chairman Giles Hirst. It is so pleasing that Perranporth RFC our near neighbours and friends, have been able to join us for our celebrations.
St Agnes RFC is a place to make friendships that will last a lifetime. We will nurture you from the mini and junior rugby section to our senior team; until you can take your place as a volunteer or committee member or become one of our may loyal supporters after you have ‘hung up your boots’.
To you all I thank you for your contributions today. Please enjoy yourself at the club; It is your club and it will provide you with what you want, with your continued support, both as members and volunteers. We need your support throughout the club at all levels this next year as we emerge from the pandemic and I encourage you to play or watch, enjoy the bar, come to events at the club and generally use the facilities as much as possible. Glenn Gibson, Chairman.
WHAT DOES ST. AGNES
RFC MEAN TO YOU?
President, Chris Blackmore, ask current players, former players, coaches and vice presidents: What does St Agnes mean to you?
OLI PRESCOTT
FORMER PLAYER AND COMMITTEE MEMBER
Having moved to the area with my wife, St Agnes RFC provided us with a community to join and friends to share the field with. Friends whose children have now run around the same field with my own children; friends who we will always have!
PHIL CARSON FORMER PLAYER
St Agnes RFC is a unique group of sport loving people. It enabled me to meet likeminded individuals, who worked together, on and off the pitch, even providing me with childcare for me to play on occasions! Lifelong friendships were forged in the earlier years of our lives, with rugby being the happy fulcrum, leaving me with many, many happy memories!
SIMON SMITH
HEAD COACH 1ST XV
St Agnes Rugby Cub is all about community, fraternity, and people. It is enjoyment, it is challenge, and it is home!
NEIL COTTON
FORMER PLAYER AND CHAIRMAN OF ST AGNES RFC
In 1975, fresh from the far North East, I turned up at the outdoor sheds of the Peterville, changed and was taken up to Goonown and told ‘enjoy yourself on the wing’ – I had never met a winger before on a pitch!
Anyway, the drinking was good and soon everyone became best friends and colleagues, and so began the best of playing times for over 25 years. A truly amazing team capable of winning by over 100 points, and losing by even more.
Although the boots have been hung up after over 500 games for Aggy, playing where the age of the second row exceeded 105 years, I am still welcomed with open arms by friends. May your next 50 years bring you all the joy, comradeship and fun that I have enjoyed. Look after what as is undoubtedly the most valuable asset in St Agnes.
GLENN PARROTT
FORMER CAPTAIN
I was 17 when I first played for Aggie in 1983 following a conversation with a stalwart of the club, Geoff Sinclair. I returned to Aggie in the late 90’s, along with my brother, Simon. It was a pleasure being asked to captain the side after a few years. We had some great experiences both on and off the pitch. When I finally hung up my playing boots, I got duped into coaching for a few seasons.
Aggie was always a really social club and the aftermatch hullabaloo was as enjoyable as the rugby- and a lot less painful!
I think what makes Aggie such a special club is the way the village supports its local team, it’s not just the players but also the hard-working Committee members and local businesses who all pull together to support ‘their’ club. This support has seen the Club go from strength to strength over the years and the Club now has a thriving junior section which will hopefully take the
Club forward for the next 50 years.Down the Glen came the Aggie men – happy birthday!
GLENN GIBSON
PRESENT CLUB CHAIRMAN
A true amateur village rugby club that is important to so many, where we can meet with our friends and remember the places we ‘ve been and the memories we have made over the years.
MARK BOECK
FORMER CAPTAIN AND COMMITTEE MEMBER
This club has been responsible for giving me lifelong friends, some unforgettable fun times and is, in a way, an extension to my family! 48 years done, hopefully many more to come.
CHARLIE BRANDON CLUB CAPTAIN
St Agnes RFC to me means community, family and a place for growth. We have seen boys turn to men and men into fathers, A place for growth both mentally and physically. It is exactly what village rugby should be. Makes me proud to put on the red and black shirt and take to the park.
THE SARGENT BROTHERS FORMER PLAYERS AND CAPTAINS
A brilliant rugby club with family at its core; from the first team down to the mini/juniors on and off the field.
The club has a great history of siblings running out together and proud to have been able to take the field as four brothers and be part of this special club.
GERRY JONES FOUNDER
MEMBER OF THE CLUB, FORMER CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT
The club was formed, and I heard only by chance, having just moved into the village. I attended the first meeting down at the Peterville Inn and with a passion for rugby I volunteered to be team secretary. I insisted that everyone had to be contacted
by post card for the next game, not many telephones around, what the hell was a mobile phone, they were still 20 years away. But, hey, we’re still here with some wonderful memories, old friends, some long gone who contributed a lot, And oh all those wonderful tours. Just ask one of the old members who were there for them all!
St Agnes RFC is more than a rugby club, it’s a family. I have been part of this family for most of my life, playing for many years and supporting for the rest.
I now have the privilege of running the Minis and have also been able to introduce my son to the club (This is the third generation of the Coleman family as my dad also played here) We can now enjoy our rugby together (and I don’t need to worry about him chasing the wrong shaped ball) Everything I do is to make sure the club continues to blossom for all to enjoy in the future. Here’s to many more years of tries, scrums and conversions!
In 1984 I walked into the club as a stranger and soon made friendships that have lasted a lifetime. Great fun, on and off the field, and great memories. A club that fully embraces, and is embraced by the village-a true community rugby club.
Many have mentioned the legendary Rugby Tours, in particular to Jersey. We were legends in our own lifetime with Jersey, who welcomed us back every year as the best social side that had visited them. Champagne Sunday and Cardinal Puff are never to be forgotten. We could play a bit as well, and in 2002, captained by Glenn Parrott, won the veterans 10-a-side tournament.
PAUL HAYES
CHAIRMAN
I played for St Austell RFC in the 1980s and 1990s, my first season was 1985-86 which was the last season at the Club’s old ground Cromwell Road before moving to the current ground at Tregorrick. I played just over 300 times before leaving Cornwall to work upCountry in 1998. I returned to the Duchy in 2010 and was invited to get back involved by my ex-teammate Steve
Murley who had just taken up the role of Director of Rugby. The Saints had just gone through a tough period with successive relegations seeing them drop down to level 9 and there was a need to rebuild the Club both on and off the field. I took up the role as First Team Manager and joined the Executive Committee in 2011 and became Chair in 2012-13.
I have been Team Manager ever since, I stepped down as Chair in 2018 for three years
due to work commitments before returning in the 202122 season.
Following the creation of a league structure by the RFU for the 1989-90 season, St Austell RFC started life in Cornwall Division One (Level 9). Despite some near misses it took six years for the Saints to gain their first ever promotion into the Cornwall and Devon Leagues. The next sea change occurred after the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa which saw a wider acceptance of professionalism across a previously predominantly amateur game. A bandwagon started rolling and St Austell RFC joined it using some of the “windfall” from the sale of Cromwell Road to Asda to recruit players. The club began to climb the leagues gaining three promotions in five years to reach South West Two (Level 6). The Saints remained in SW2 for three seasons, but it was proving increasingly hard going in a fiercely competitive league.
Relegation in 200001 brought an increasing realisation that the payment of players and coaches for a club like St Austell was not sustainable. It may have brought short-term success, but the financial pressures
were building, and the committee of the day decided that as custodians of St Austell RFC they were duty bound to protect the interest of future generations of rugby players. The brave decision was made to revert to a completely amateur status to protect an ever-dwindling bank balance. This triggered an exodus of players who had no love for St Austell RFC or connection to the area. As players left the club crashed through the leagues over a very difficult six years. Those experiences have made St Austell RFC a non-paying club and we would have to be sure of reliable revenue streams to even contemplate going down that route in the future.
After four successive relegations the Club only had one adult team now playing in Cornwall One (level 9) with virtually no spectators attending. The Youth Section had dwindled to less than 100 members and there were gaps in certain age groups. The one positive was that the club was gradually stabilising, and it started to focus on developing local talent and an exciting crop of young players started to emerge.
Promotion again in 2009-10 proved to be the catalyst for
the Club’s current resurgence as a rugby force in Cornwall. With Steve Murley and Paul Hayes taking the reins in 2010-11 the progress continued when the Saints finished second and gained promotion to the Western Counties (Level 7).
A new “Whole Club” philosophy was developed called “The Saints Way” placing the emphasis on developing local young players through the Youth Section. The aim is to be the most professionally run amateur Club in Cornwall and success would be predicated on how far the talent and commitment levels would take the Club. We do not have a recruitment strategy as such because the emphasise is put on retaining players who played through Age Grade teams and an emotional connection with the Club and the Community. The approach has seen the Club go on an upward trajectory over the last decade taking the Saints to five Cornwall County Cup Finals since 2012 including winning it for the first time in 2017.
Promotion to South West
One in 2019-20 meant a return to level Six with a squad drawn almost exclusively from the Town, Clays and Bay of St
Austell. The Saints missed out on promotion to Level Five on the last day of the 202122 season by the narrowest of margins. However, the 2022/2023 season has witnessed an outstanding and consistent performance finishing the campaign, as Champions and on 100 points, after a convincing win away to North Petherton ( 1326) on their last league game of the season.
In 2022-23 the picture is
very positive, there are three senior teams – the Saints at Level 6, the Sinners at Level 9 and the Spartans playing friendlies but with ambitions to join the league structure in 2023-24. The Saints now attract crowds of more than 500, and regularly hit the 1,000 mark for Cornish derbies. Even the Sinners are attracting gates of 200 which is a welcome boost to match day incomes. Our Youth Section continues to go from
strength to strength with over 300 youngsters playing every Sunday. St Austell RFC have bucked the national trend with the re-establishment their third team. Over 90% of the 70 registered adult players who turn out most Saturdays have come through the Youth Section underlining that the current success is a ‘Whole Club’ triumph.
The story of St Austell RFC may not be very different to many other rugby clubs throughout the land who have suffered triumph and hardship over the years. What makes St Austell RFC different is the fantastic community spirit that flows through the club connecting the past with the present and laying foundations for the future.
Our aim is to be a selfsustaining but ambitious amateur Club. The shortterm playing objective is for the Saints to become a competitive Level Five side underpinned by a strong second team (The Sinners).
Off the field we are looking
to maximise our match-day revenues and non-rugby income streams. We constantly develop our match-day experience to make it a great day out for spectators while hopefully increasing our income. There is a highly successful pre-match lunch before every Saints game and the occasional Sinners game. The demand for seats at the three-course lunch is high with every game sold-out. We have developed an outside facility selling food and drink to create extra capacity and have entered into a reciprocal agreement with the neighbouring football club to provide additional parking to meet the needs of bigger
• Emphasis for young players is on fun and enjoyment while they develop their skills. We have established development milestones at each age grade so that progress can be assessed.
• Player and coaching pathways to help continuous improvement for the talented and most committed.
• Increase the numbers achieving representative rugby and County recognition.
attendances.
We have obtained approval from the Caravan and Motorhome Club for a “5CL” or certified location that can accommodate up to 5 caravans and motorhomes. This will bring in valuable additional income during the summer months.
Plans are being drawn up to redevelop the ground floor of the Clubhouse to create cubicle based changing, showering and toilets to support our Girls and Youth teams. It will also provide a grand and welcoming entrance to the Clubhouse with improved accessibility to the bars on the first floor. The aim is to start the build during our Diamond Anniversary season 2023-24 marking the 60th year of the Club’s formation.
Our approach is The Saints Way! And our vision is: A community-focused Club providing rugby, fun, and fitness for “One and All” across the Town, Bay and Clays of St Austell.
We have a fantastic group of volunteers who are involved in maintenance and supporting match days with stewarding and running the pre-match lunches.
Current Head Coach is the former Cornish Pirates and Redruth number eight Kyle Marriott. Kyle spent a short spell as a Forwards Coach in 2012-13 while recovering from a serious knee injury. He returned to Tregorrick as a Player-Coach in 2018 and has made a massive contribution to developing an exciting style of play that has seen all our senior sides competing at the top end of their respective leagues. Kyle captained the Cornwall County Side to a 37-24 victory over Cheshire at Twickenham in the Bill Beaumont Cup in June 2022.
The current squad is a good mix of youth and experience. Matt Shepherd came through our Youth Section playing for the Saints from 2009-10 to 2013-14 before moving to Launceston in National League 2 South. After one season at Polson Bridge, Shep moved to National League 1 side Plymouth Albion where he made 124 appearances over five seasons. He moved to national League 2 Redruth for one season before returning to his hometown club St Austell RFC in 2021. With 24 tries and 295 points Shep was top try and points scorer for the Saints in the 2021-22. He has already surpassed that this season with 33 tries and 400 points racked up, and with the Cup competitions to come he looks on rack to break all records.
• Planned transition from U16s to Colts and then onwards into the adult game.
• Organically grow our girl’s section to eventual establish a home grown Women’s team.
There is a real feel-good factor at Tregorrick with all three senior sides enjoying good results on the field. Senior training sees 40 plus in attendance creating real competition for places.
The Youth Section continues to thrive with over 300 young players and teams at all levels from U6 right through to Colts.
St Austell RFC has no formal links with other Clubs but have strong relationships with our nearest neighbours Lankelly-Fowey RFC and Roseland RFC. There is nothing like the atmosphere of a full-bloodied Cornish derby and the new league structure meant a return of the longstanding rivalries with Truro RFC and Wadebridge Camels RFC. Bragging rights are firmly with the Saints at the moment having completed the home and away double over both sides in 2022-23.
The Saints missed out on promotion to Level Five on the last day of the 2021-22 season by the narrowest of margins but this spurred them on to achieve it in the current
• Onboarding new parents to help them understand the core Values of rugby and the philosophy of the Club.
RICHARD
THE DUKE OF CORNWALL
I use to play for another local side against St Austell but was never on the winning side! The local pub I run also holds a St Austell RFC supporters club and I am also a player sponsor. I get down to the club as much as I can and have enjoyed some tremendous performances from the 1st XV. St Austell area a great community club and to have made club history this season is quite an achievement. Myself and our staff at The Duke wishes everyone at St Austell Rugby Club all the very best of continued success in the higher league next season!
season. They put the seal on a magnificent season with an emphatic win to secure promotion in front of a jubilant home crowd at a packed Tregorrick. The home faithful were treated to a scintillating Saints display that delivered a dozen tries in a typically high tempo performance that confirmed their coronation as Champions of Regional 2 South West. Promotion will take St Austell RFC to Level Five, the highest level the Club has ever achieved in its history and a fitting way to start the Diamond Anniversary
season in 2023-24. The Saints have scored 1,017 points this season nearly 400 more than their nearest rivals, besides being potent in attack they also have the meanest defence. They have conceded just 239 points, 100 less than the next best record, and testimony to their hard work and determination. Unbeaten at home, the Tregorrick supporters have been treated to 102 tries and witnessed some fantastic rugby along the way. Focus is now switching to the Cornwall County Cup and the Papa John’s National Cup Competition and the aim will be to make good progress in both competitions.
This is the first season that our second team, the Sinners, have been in the RFU league structure and the pre-season ambitions were to be competitive and hold their own against some very strong Cornish first teams. The Sinners however have exceeded expectations by adapting well to life in Counties 2 Cornwall. While Championselect St Ives remain unbeaten this season, there has been an exciting tussle for second place between the Sinners, Saltash and Veor.
One of the biggest success stories of the season has been
Kingswood,
London Apprentice, St Austell PL26 7AR
01726 74056
MIKE
I moved to St Austell 23 years ago and got introduced to the club when my boys were keen to continue playing Rugby and I was looking for a new club. Although Tom, Ollie, Sam & Ollie don’t play at the moment, mostly playing other sports, they have been a part of the clubs playing setup and still have friends there. Charlie, my 2nd oldest, is prop for the 1stXV who have had such a history making and successful season throughout the 22/23 campaign. Although work and family commitments have kept me away from the club more than I would like I have been
able to get to some matches and watched some games via video link; one at 1am in the morning from Australia- I did receive a mention from the match commentator on that occasion! The style of play, energy and fitness have been quite outstanding with some victories in the last quarter of matches which was down to fitness I believe.
I cant really speak highly enough about St Austell RFC, my own experience is of gratitude and respect for the many people, coaches, players, fans and members, who all come together to make this club such a friendly and warm one to be part of! Well done!
VALLEY GARAGE
I was born and bred in St Austell and wandered into my local rugby club over 20 years ago. I have been a spectator ever since and have many great friends at the club. I attended all home games this season but was unfortunately unable to get to the away matches. The level of intensity and commitment by the players was something to see. My company River Valley Garage have sponsored the club for over 15 years, and I really enjoy helping out whenever I can.
St Austell RFC are a great community club who offer a safe place for young and old alike. The committee, players and families really make the club a fantastic experience for anyone who crosses our doorway. A huge congratulations to the Champions and to all those who continue to put in such hard work and commitment to make our club and town so proud!
the restoring of a third team at St Austell RFC for the first time in 20 years. They currently sit joint top of the Cornwall 4 Merit Table with the sights firmly fixed on finishing top of the pile.
We have a growing group of talented girls who are enthusiastically developing their skills. The numbers are involved continues to increase and our aim is to organically grow in the coming years to establish a women’s side at St Austell RFC. We are very much a community club with a large geographical catchment area across the town, clays and bay of St Austell. We regular host competitions for the local primary and secondary schools and support other local sports clubs like St Austell Running Club and St Austell Tennis Club who base themselves at Tregorrick. The local community radio station Radio St Austell Bay (RSAB) broadcasts from the rugby club.
St Austell RFC’s nominated charity is Cornwall Hospice Care who have one of their hospices, Mount Edgcumbe, next door to Tregorrick. During the summer of 2022 we hosted a fun day in support of Ukrainian refugees who have settled in Cornwall. During the pandemic Tregorrick became a centre for the Schools Immunisation Programme to ensure local children still received their Tetanus, diphtheria, polio, Measles, mumps and rubella jabs during the period of Covid restrictions placed on schools.
Sponsors are more important than ever especially as community Clubs no longer receive any financial support from the RFU. Living on a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean brings many benefits including dramatic landscapes, wonderful beaches and access to the sea on three sides of the County. The downside can be the distance from other areas of the Country and the Saints regularly face away trips of 3 to 5 hours coaches, players, volunteers and their families
Without our sponsors we simply could not sustain level 6 or level 5 rugby at St Austell RFC especially as the new league structure reduced the number of teams from 14 to 12. The reduced income from the loss of two home games has had a significant impact on our revenues. Sponsorship is critical in helping to make
up this financial deficit and enabling the Club to meet the spiralling costs of travelling, energy and inflation.
We have seen incredible loyalty from our sponsors who are largely small local businesses who were experiencing the same pressures in their operations. During the Covid lockdown many of our sponsors continued to pay their
sponsorship during the 202021 season even though no rugby was played due to the restrictions in force. We also received several donations from our members during that period and their generosity ensured St Austell RFC was in a stable position when rugby restarted in 2021-22.
There is a tremendous sense of belonging that binds the generations together
as the Saints Family. The Club has endured some tough periods in its history, and it was the loyalty and dedication of the players and volunteers of those eras that have created the fantastic Club we have today. From the youngest U6 players starting out on their rugby journeys to the oldest veterans of yester year, they all share the same love of rugby, Cornwall and the Saints.
This was perfectly illustrated with the sad loss of a former Club Captain Robert “Guppy” Pollard who passed away in January 2023 at the age 54. The outpouring of grief was humbling to witness and over 1,000 people attended the funeral at Truro Cathedral. Mourners included the U13 team that Guppy used to coach, former teammates, players from the Saints, Sinners and Spartans, supporters, and representatives from many Cornish rugby Clubs.
From 1933 to the 1954-55 season, with an intermission for the war years, rugby in St Austell was centred upon the Hornets Club. When the Hornets made the move to Newquay, it left a rugby void in St Austell and several years elapsed before the efforts of two men, Wilf Vernalls and Des Robbins, brought about the formation of what has become St Austell RFC.
The Saints’ founding fathers are remembered today with Des Robbins’ initials on the refurbished gates which were moved from the old ground to Tregorrick, while a plaque in memory of Wilf Vernalls is in the main stand.
On July 31, 1963 the Inaugural meeting of the club took place with the early meetings of the club taking place in the old YMCA. For home matches the club played at Cyprus Avenue in Par Moor with changing facilities borrowed from the nearby Heavy Transport Social Club. St Austell RFC played its first game against a senior side on April 11, 1975 losing 12-21 to Penzance-Newlyn.
On April 7, 1976 the Saints gained their first win over a senior side beating Truro 13-5. A further success against St Ives 19-11 a fortnight later opened the way to senior status the following season.
The Circus Field at Cromwell Road was purchased in 1967 for £950 through the generosity of Mrs Cobbold Sawle who donated half of that sum back to the club immediately. The Club grew from strength to strength and by the late 1970s the Saints were a real force in Cornish rugby with several players going on to represent the County. The high point was undoubtedly reaching the Cornwall County Cup in 1978 when the Saints were narrowly beaten by 7-6 Camborne.
The second pitch was added in September 1981 at a cost of £8,000 with a loan from Restormel Borough Council. In 1986 the Club sold its Cromwell Road ground to Asda so ended an era and a new beginning.
The move to Tregorrick Park coincided with a pivotal period for the game of rugby. Since the formation of the RFU in 1871, the amateur ethos was so enshrined in rugby that leagues and payment of players was steadfastly shunned by the Union game. The change started with the adoption of a league structure for the 1989-90 season and St Austell RFC started life in Cornwall Division One. Despite some near misses it took six years for the Saints to gain their first ever promotion into the Cornwall and Devon League. The next sea change occurred after the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa which saw a wider acceptance of professionalism across a previously predominantly amateur game. A bandwagon started rolling and St Austell RFC joined it using some of the “windfall” from the sale of Cromwell Road to Asda to recruit players. Under the tutelage of former county coach Terry Pryor the club began to climb the leagues gaining three promotions in five years to reach South West Two (now known as South West One). The Saints remained in SW2 for three seasons, but it was proving increasingly hard going in a fiercely competitive league. St Austell finished ninth out of 12 for the first two seasons before a 10th
place finish in 2000-01 saw the Saints relegated back into the Western Counties.
Relegation brought an increasing realisation that the payment of players and coaches for a club like St Austell was not sustainable. The committee of the day decided that as custodians of St Austell RFC they were duty bound to protect the interest of future generations of rugby players. The brave decision was made to revert back to a completely amateur status to protect an ever-dwindling bank balance. The stopping of payments inevitably triggered a player exodus and the club tumbled through the leagues before landing back in Cornwall Division One in 2003-04. These were difficult times for the club, in the three seasons from 2000 to end of 2003 the Saints played 62 games and won just 13, conceding 1,928 points and scoring just 855.
Far from being disheartening, the period proved an inspiration as a loyal group of players and members worked tirelessly to put sides out and turn the club around. In many ways it restored the spirit of the club that many felt had been diminished with the move from Cromwell Road and the advent of league rugby. St Austell RFC continued to fulfil its fixtures no matter the results; the pride and the passion of representing the club and providing rugby for the St Austell community was burning brighter than ever. The present-day members owe this group a debt of gratitude, it is thanks to their efforts that St Austell RFC is still a going concern.
With the club gradually stabilising, it started to focus on developing local talent and an exciting crop of young players started to emerge. Ex-player and coach Richard Lamb returned to coach again and in 2004-05 the Saints not only won promotion back to the
Cornwall and Devon league but also won the Junior County Cup. Many of these young players now form the backbone of the side today.
The Saints slipped back into Cornwall One, but promotion again in 2009-10 proved to be the catalyst for the Club’s current resurgence as a rugby force in Cornwall. With Steve Murley taking the reins in 201011 the progress continued when the Saints finished second and gained promotion to the Western Counties.
As Cornish entrants in the National Intermediate Cup in season 2012-13 the Saints went on to become SW Intermediate Champions and were just one game from Twickenham before losing away at Brighton in a highly-charged and controversial game.
Promotion to South West One means a return to level six in the RFU league hierarchy after an absence of 12 years, the highest-level St Austell RFC have ever played at matching the success of the Terry Pryor era. What makes this feat so special is that in the club 50th season it has been achieved with squad drawn almost exclusively from the St Austell Bay area and the Clays.
What makes St Austell RFC different is the fantastic community spirit that flows through the club connecting the past with the present and laying foundations for the future.
The Saints have now reached the Cornwall County Cup Final five times since 2014, winning it for the first time in the Club’s history in an epic clash in 2017. Promotion in 2019-20 saw the Saints return to level Six and they are pushing hard for promotion again in 2022-23.
The 2023-24 season will be 60 years since the formation of St Austell RFC and the Club will be looking forward to celebrating the Diamond Anniversary in style.
of space behind the Saints line down the Panthers left edge, Cleary kicked early and despite Welsby’s best efforts to stop the try, Izack Tago dived on the loose ball to score. Clearly converted, 6-12 they trailed.
The visitors thought they had their third try. Welsby threw a great cut out pass to Will Hopoate on the wing who cut in to score but the referee ruled forward pass much to the Saints’ dismay. It remained 6-12.
Saints went for a onepointer with eught minutes to go, but Jonny Lomax’s effort went wide so it remained 6-12. Shortly after Lewis Dodd went for one, but the hosts were awarded a penalty for blockers obstructing the kicker.
Penrith Panthers Team
Stephen Crichton, Taylan May, Izack Tago, Sunia Turuva, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, James FisherHarris, Luke Garner, Zac Hosking, Isaah Yeo.
Interchanges
Jack Cogger, Matt Eisenhuth, Spencer Leniu, Jaeman Salmon.
18th Man
Lindsay Smith
Tries: Izack Tago (52), Brian To’o (78)
Conversions
Nathan Cleary (2 from 2)
Saints Team Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Will Hopoate, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges
Saints took the lead in the tenth minute. After both sides had good spells of pressure on the opposition line, Curtis Sironen collected a Jonny Lomax pass and broke through the Panthers line and found the supporting Jack Welsby on his inside who wasn’t going to be caught in open field to score under the sticks. Tommy Makinson converted, 0-6 Saints led.
Penrith came within inches of levelling the scores minutes later. Saints fumbled the ball in midfield and the hosts moved downfield off the back of it, Nathan Cleary then threw a dummy near the Saints line before sliding towards the line, but a remarkable tackle from Welsby forced a fumble from the Panthers half, 0-6 it remained.
The Red V lead was then further increased. Saints opted to run the ball down their short side and Lomax found Konrad Hurrell who powered his way over from close range. Makinson missed the conversion, 0-10.
Despite both sides having some good chances to add to the scoreline, defences stood firm. So Saints led 0-10 at the break in Australia. The only real sour note from the first 40 for the visitors, was that Makinson was forced off earlier on in the first half and
failed his HIA so wouldn’t be returning for the rest of the game. Louie McCarthyScarsbrook passed his and was able to return to the game.
Saints had a chance immediately in the second half to add points to their tally. A Welsby kick was fumbled by Stephen Crichton which gave Saints possession in the Penrith 20, the hosts got caught offside from the scrum and Saints opted for two. Mark Percival took on the attempt and nailed it, 0-12 the Red V led.
Penrith then grabbed the first try of the second half 12 minutes in. There was a lot
Penrith then grabbed a try with 90 seconds to go. A high kick was not dealt with by the Saints and Penrith recovered the loose ball and moved it right for Brian To’o to score in the corner. Cleary converted, 12-12. Both sides had early touches on the ball but were unable to come up with a score. Saints kicked the ball back to Penrith and a great hit by Hurrell knocked the ball out of Crichton’s arms. Saints then moved downfield and Dodd NAILED the one-pointer this time to make St Helens WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS for the third time in the Club’s history, and the first time the competition has been won by an English side in Australia in the Super League era!
Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
18th Man
James Bell
Tries: Jack Welsby (10), Konrad Hurrell (16)
Conversions
Tommy Makinson (1 from 2)
Penalties: Mark Percival (1 from 1)
HT 0-10
FT 12-12
GPET 12-13
Attendance 13,783
Let’s paint the picture here… James Roby.
The captain of St Helens. One of the finest, possibly greatest-ever, players to take to the field for our club and play the sport of rugby league as a whole. A proud local man who has done it all in club rugby; League Leaders’ Shields, Challenge Cups, Grand Final wins, Man of Steel… He was also part of the team who became the World Club Champions back in 2007.
Who would have thought back then that 16 years from now that James would still be one of Super League’s top performers at the age of 37, and that he would skipper the St Helens team that made history by going to Australia and beating the back-toback NRL champions in their own backyard to be World Champions once more?
As stated before, Roby has achieved a lot in the game, but he believes that the Saints’ World Club Challenge victory over Penrith Panthers was THE pinnacle moment of his astonishing career, and it was only fitting that it was decided in dramatic fashion.
“It was a massive game, I think going to Golden Point at the end made it that bit more special,” an emotional Roby said.
“When Lewis (Dodd) kicked that goal at the end, that feeling was just unbelievable and I am just so proud of everybody involved in the club, the organization. First and foremost the players, what they are willing to do, and how they just find a way to keep going
and grinding out these wins is truly special.
“It’s got to be right up there. I’ve been lucky enough to win this trophy before when I was a young lad. Back then I probably didn’t appreciate the hard work and the effort that went into it. I’m later on in my career now and I’m just so glad I re-signed for one more year because I get to experience those moments.
“To be a part of this great team is so hard to try and step away from when I know what they are capable of, how special of a time it is, and what a team this really is. For me, I’m lucky to call myself captain of this team and it is a privilege to get to lift trophies off the back of all the lads’ hard work.”
Much was made of Phil Gould’s comments about Penrith being ‘able to declare at half time’, which truly summed up most Australians’ view of Saints as the underdog in the World Club Challenge. But led by Head Coach Paul Wellens and the captain, the team wanted to prove people wrong and do our club and Super League proud.
“We knew full well going over that people had written us off. The media and general public in Australia probably didn’t give us the respect we deserved, or that we felt we deserved, but we had the ambition to change opinions. Hopefully, we did that in the best possible way by beating the NRL champions.”
The Panthers have not lost at home much in the last few years so that only adds to the magnitude of the Saints’ victory.
For the over 1,000 St
Helens fans who made the trip, the result will of course live long in the memory as will the celebrations with the players and staff following the game. Roby shared too just how much it meant to be able to have those happy moments with the fans who were in the stands on the World Club Challenge night.
“It was fantastic for us to see so many people from St Helens go over and be behind the sticks. They were singing most of the game! It was memories created for us players and for them as fans. Getting the win makes that trip so much more special for fans and more worthwhile.
“As a hometown lad, it was great to see so many familiar faces in the crowd! People I’d not seen for a while too. So going over and spending a bit of time with the supporters after that win, say thank you for all they’ve done backing us. Maybe that got us over the line in a very tough game, it’s a very fine margin and everything counts so we’re grateful they were there supporting.”
Saints spent three weeks in Australia and worked hard throughout, but Roby paid his thanks to the club staff for their organization of the trip and believed it all came together perfectly to get the big win in the end.
“To come over as a club team was a special privilege because we are all already very close and the best of friends if you like, but we got to come together as a group, we knew we had work to do but we got to experience the Aussie lifestyle before
knuckling down, changing locations, narrowed the focus and I think it was fantastic.
“To call yourself the World Club Champions is unbelievable and every one of us will remember that for the rest of our lives.”
A third World Title for St Helens is one heck of a way to start of our 150th year, it truly is ‘History in the Making’.
For James Roby, who has declared this will be his final campaign as a Saint, he is aiming to write even more successful chapters in his storybook career this year.
“There are more trophies to be won and I am very confident in us as a group, as a team. I understand I’m coming to the end but I am just enjoying it, I’m along for the ride if you know what I mean? Hopefully, we can pick up even more silverware before the season’s out and I enjoy my time with this great club.
“As a kid, that is all I wanted to do; grow up and play for St Helens. Luckily, I’ve managed to do that and I couldn’t dream of anything more.”
MIKE
I have been involved with Bec Old Boys for 11 years. After captaining the 1XV for 3 years, I am currently a member of the player’s committee. I assist with the day to day running of the club, whilst also still being an active player for our men`s teams. I also work on the recruitment and social media team.
The wholly inclusive atmosphere at the club drew me to Bec, whilst also being a competitive rugby club. The club shows respect and professionalism in victory and defeat, and we are proud of the ‘one club’ atmosphere that we have created. In the last 11 years, I have been a
part of the journey to expand Bec Rugby, with the club now producing 3 men’s teams, a Vets team and a women’s team (post covid) every week.
Stability is the major challenge both on and off the field. In the past, team sheets greatly varied from week to week - this had a large impact on the 2s and 3s. With an improved coaching structure and investment in facilities we seem to have stabilised this. Off the field, we are reliant on a huge team of wonderful volunteers - keeping former players around to assist with the running of the club is key for this club to be successful.
Our coaching philosophy is based around giving the players structure within which they have decisions to make based on the
game situation and what they see in front of them. This allows us to give players ownership of the game plan, building the confidence to use it and play what they see.
We then coach that across the whole club so that players can move between teams easily when required. Bec has always been a club for the players, and they are the ones on the pitch on a weekend so we look to give them the tools and understanding to play and enjoy their rugby.
When it comes to our Ladies team, The Bec Belles, we put skill development first, with a focus on improving players basic skills – whether experienced or not - to improve their overall sporting ability, we do this whilst also
having the odd bit of fun and encouraging new players to learn the sport in an inclusive environment.
The Club was formed in 1930 originally playing it’s matches at the School playing fields in Beechcroft Road, Tooting. Bec then became a nomadic club playing at the School, Twickenham RFC and Old Mid-Whitgiftians before securing its own ground at New Addington, Surrey.
It’s playing glory days were in the post 2nd World War Years until the early 1960’s when clubs such as Saracens and London Scottish appeared in the fixture list. During this period Bec were fielding 5 XVs each week.
Disaster struck in 1976 when the clubhouse was destroyed in a fire. Consequently, the ground was sold and unsuccessful attempts to secure a ground near to Tooting were made.
Finally, the Club resumed its nomadic existence by returning to playing 1st & 2nd XV fixtures at the School, which following the 1971 merger with Hillcroft became Ernest Bevin Academy; lower XV’s played on Garrett Green and a clubhouse at Openview in Earlsfield was shared with Battersea Ironsides.
This arrangement was not entirely successful as the new school was only playing football and requisitioned the rugby pitch. In 1992, Bec moved as tenants to Sutton Grammar School’s grounds but this turned out not to be a good decision as player numbers fell dramatically and sometimes the Club struggled to raise two XVs.
At the turn of the Century, fortunes changed dramatically with a return to Openview when Bec secured a long lease on the Ashcroft Academy Sports Ground (our beloved Hill which has been described as being steep enough to make a Sherpa gasp for breath) together with a clubhouse sharing arrangement with the Wandlea Bowls Club.
Although nominally an Old Boys Club, the members have always decided to keep the Old Boys name as a mark of respect of the Club’s history. The ground at Addington was acquired as memorial to the Old Boys of the School who were killed during the War and it is fitting that the name should be unchanged. We are, it is believed, to be the only Old Boys Club that does not have a school attached to it.
Bec has had ups and downs during it’s 90 odd years, but it is fair to say a Corinthian spirit runs through the club’s DNA. We try to play at the highest level we can
and always will with smiles on faces but also with steel.
One of Bec’s most recent successes has been the creation of the Bec Belles RFC, our Ladies XV, that has been “tearing up trees” since it’s formation during the Covid years. After a year in a development league, they are now playing against sides from Richmond, London Irish, Barnes and Sutton and Epsom amongst others.
Bec has a history of notable players, particulary Bob Hiller, an Old Boy who went on to play for Oxford, Harlequins, Surrey, England (who he captained) and twice toured with the Lions; to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971. Bob was kept out of the Test side on that tour by JPR Williams but rumor has it that Bob taught JPR how to drop kick and so secure a test series victory.
It is unfair to single out more recent notable players but suffice it to say that our reach is long with associations with the Sydney Harlequins and Ponsonby in Auckland. So, wherever players end up and they see somebody wearing a polo shirt with the legend “Love the Hill”, they’ll know that they will have a good time reminiscing about their time playing for Bec Old Boys RFC.
The mood down at the club is fantastic, with new players joining our training sessions every week. This is also reflected in our recent scores across all our teams. The two training sessions, provided by our experienced coaches, are excellent and inclusive due to the structure and delivery of them and we are averaging 35 to 45 players down at training each night! We are then able to put out 4 full teams at the weekend. A great social scene, put on by our social officers, allow us all to share beers and ‘highlights’ from the pitch before continuing on into the night. We also have social events that invite the wider community to our games, including the Bec old (old) boys and our partners and family.
Since rebuilding after Covid and a change in personnel, all teams are having extremely successful seasons on the pitch. Our 1XV are currently undefeated and have scored wins of 86 – 0 and 101- 0 (whilst also not conceding any points at home after 8 games), the 2XV are at top of their league, our 3XV are pushing for promotion in their league and our Bec Belles have just got their season underway, winning 1 from 1, after a hugely successful season last year.
On the men`s side, we met at the end of last season and set our goal as a squad for the 1XV to go unbeaten, alongside wanting to be the best defensive team in the league. After scoring 322 points and only conceding 41 points after only 8 games, we believe as a squad that we are on a good path to achieving our season objective. For the rest of the club, the goal is to keep improving in terms of results, performances and numbers of players available and continue to put out 3 strong teams each weekend.
For our Ladies XV, our goals are to win more than we lose and develop enough players at the club to have 30 registered players that can play. One of the challenges that we have faced is that we’ve moved up a league this year and with that comes a higher standard of rugby. This is going to take a while for our players to acclimatise to, but it’s a challenge that we are looking forward to and as a relatively small club, it’s amazing to get the opportunity to play some well-established teams - Richmond, Sutton and Epsom and London Irish –and show people what we are about!
We are Bec Belles (part of Bec Old Boys RFC) based in Earlsfield in London. We were founded in May 2020 and are in our 2nd full season. We are currently competing in NC2 South East (West) – having been promoted in 2021/22. We have a wonderful blend of experienced and new players, and as cliché as this sounds, we really are a club that caters for all (last season 1/3rd of our squad was made up of brandnew players).
Over the years we have enjoyed bonding with the local community and business in order to build the reputation of our club. As we share the same town with a larger local rugby team, Battersea Ironsides, we have always been keen to ‘mark our territory’ in Earlsfield and welcome as many people as possible down to our games. Whether it be through sponsorship or volunteer work in the local area, you will always meet someone who has heard of Bec Old Boys rugby.
On numerous occasions, we have volunteered to clear up the local river alongside the residents of Earlsfield and we also raised money during the pandemic to raise money for the Dons Local Action Group. As our tour to Athens was cancelled due to coronavirus, the boys and girls of Bec decided to travel the distance to Athens and back virtually by running, walking or cycling around the local area. This kept all the players in contact with each other and allowed the club to continue to operate when we were all stuck in doors!
This season, we have taken our connection with local charities one step further by asking every player member each week to bring an item of charitable donation to every game, whether it be tinned food, bathroom products or stationary. These are then collected by our club Charity representatives and dropped off at the local food bank. We have also raised money by having collecting donations at monthly social events.
Every year thus far, we have succeeded in gaining sponsorship from a variety of
businesses and companies which support the club in a number of ways. From breweries to letting agents, to bars and interior designers, Bec have always been extremely grateful from the support that we have had over the years in order to continue to build our club and we have enjoyed building great connections with the local community.
Most Saturday mornings, you will find our boys down the local brunch café, getting themselves prepared for the match that afternoon and
Notable players that have graced our shirt include Oxford Blues:
• Richard Baker who subsequently played for Sale;
• Pete Johnson and Stan Walker who captained a Loughborough College VII to victory in the Middlesex Sevens.
• Mention must be made of Bob Hiller, an Old Boy who went on to play for Oxford, Harlequins, Surrey, England (who he captained) and twice toured with the Lions; to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971. Bob was kept out of the Test side on that tour by JPR Williams but rumor has it that Bob taught JPR how to drop kick and so secure a test series victory.
bonding as a squad over an eggs royale and a cup of tea! In return for having a great relationship with local businesses, we have been able to enter into summer 7s tournaments with new kit, thanks to the wonderful donations by the community.
Bec Rugby, based in the heart of Earlsfield, is filled with players off all abilities who have one common interest – to play rugby well and with a smile on our face. We are incredibly proud of the inclusive, supportive, competitive and social atmosphere that we provide, and we welcome new faces to the club every week.
Bec Rugby has something for everybody, whether it be to develop or fine tune your rugby skills, improve your health and conditioning, try something new or form new long-lasting friendships over a beer. We invite everyone to come down to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights to see what we are about and also see why we will always ‘Love The Hill’.
Steve Stainton has been with Cockermouth Rugby Club for over 15 years now having played most of his rugby for Macclesfield RFC before settling down in the Lake District. This season Steve has stepped in as club president, after the sad loss of friend and former club president David Coulthard, he recently told Rugby Club Mag:
David was such a big loss for our club and I’m certain that Cockermouth RFC would not be in such a healthy position as it is in today if it hadn’t been for his tireless work and efforts over the years. His legacy lives on and his wife Cath and daughter Julie, our bar manager, are still a valuable and important part of our club! My decision to become president was inspired by David`s example and whenever I feel like I need some inspiration I reflect on his dedication to Cockermouth RFC.
As a club, and partly due to our location, we tend to grow most of our own talent.
One of our lads is over at the Falcons at the moment and at least 85% of our 1st XV have come through our junior ranks. We are coming out of some challenging times but stronger than ever. With an exceptionally talented Colts team overseen by excellent duo Stephen and Cathryn Reed plus the young players we have coming through I am very excited about our future. Our
senior players proved that they could sustain themselves at a higher level and this season, with the best defensive record in the league thus far, we have much to be proud of.
Our club has maintained itself with a very strong old guard who have shown relentless commitment to ensure rugby continues to be played here! One of my personal hero`s, and our club chairman, Jeff Peet never ceases to demonstrate his love and passion for our club. Sadly we have lost some wonderful people over the years who will always be remembered but it is also heart-warming to see we are also attracting some young members too, like Vince Brand, who has stepped up to pick up the baton!
Now that the ship has been steadied Cockermouth
Rugby Club with such an able and committed group of members, supporters, players and sponsors can continue to watch and enjoy our club flourish for many more seasons to come!
After a slightly shaky start we have managed to put out 2 senior squads this season with a litany of players who have come through our youth system amongst them. Sitting 2nd in our league behind Upper Eden, at the moment, is a remarkable achievement when I look back over our history!
I’ve been with Cockermouth RFC for 25 years now having lived and played most of my rugby at Egremont before playing at Moresby and then moving my family through to Cockermouth. As a club we reached a position at one point where it was touch and go whether we could
continue. However, going on we did, and it was down to a core group of people like Colin Bell & Dave Coulthard whose determination kept us afloat and lifted us into the position that we are enjoying today. Steve Stainton, who came to us a little later, is also someone who deserves a lot of credit; a vital contributor in moving Cockermouth forward; demonstrated recently when he took immediate action to sort out our frozen pipes and plumbing problems with the help of one of his friends.
As a club we have always felt that our youth should and must play the most important role at Cockermouth RFC. Many of our current 1st XV have played since the age of 10 and our 2nd
XV have a committed group of players who rain or shine always turn out each week and if for whatever reason they have a call off, we utilise them on the bench to bolster our 1st XV or they have been known to help out other local teams like Keswick who may need numbers. In fact, one of our youth teams combine with Keswick youth to form a full playing squad!
There is a great camaraderie amongst our players and members which is not unusual amongst this great sport. I still keep in touch with a New Zealand lad who played for us and then returned home with a girlfriend in toe who then became his wife. Quite a few of the players from our youth teams of past years have now
grown up and play senior rugby, are married with families and are now producing our next crop of players.
Cockermouth Rugby Club is all about the great people we have been blessed with over the years whether coaches, players or parents. We always harbour an attitude of respect for other clubs and teams we play against especially if they are going through their own battles because we know only too well what’s it’s like to be down and nearly out. However there is one thing we do know through experience and that is: ‘although situations can seem quite desperate at time anyting is possible if you just keep going!`!
I moved to Cockermouth from London, just over two years ago and one of my new neighbours introduced himself to me, which was Steve Stainton. As friendships generally develop, we started talking about sport and Steve’s enthusiasm for Cockermouth RUFC became very apparent and he invited me to come up to the club to watch a game. As a long-distance supporter of
Leicester Tigers, whilst in London, it was really fantastic to get back to the game and rugby! What became obvious about the club was the really friendly nature of everyone: Players, Supporters, Volunteers. It was a real community base and focal point!
I was very recently asked to join the committee, so it is very early days to talk about plans and how I can best contribute; to say the least! However, because I have quite an extensive background in business and corporate sales,
I would like to use my talents to attract further sponsorship and funding as well as other projects. Like everyone at this time the cost of running a home or business is quite a problem for everyone and the cost of running a community focused Rugby club is no different. Our sponsors provide invaluable support to keep us going which we are so thankful for. However, it is my aim (subject to committee approval of course!) to search for additional funding through grants or perhaps further title sponsors.
Saturday afternoons are a bit of a ritual at Cockermouth, great Rugby, great supporters. Awesome volunteers and a cheap pint. The community aspect is really something special and it’s fantastic to pop up on a Sunday morning to watch kids as young as 3 or 4 with their parents getting involved with some simple Rugby drills. I think the parents enjoy getting muddy more than the kids sometimes!
The mood is very good and buoyant. We are currently very well positioned in the league (2nd @ 14/1).
The Colts are always good to watch and are a product of the players coming up the ranks with a view to getting onto the 1st team.
We are absolutely a community club! This is one of the key features of Cockermouth that make it special. There is something for everyone…As previously described Parents/Toddlers through to the Colts.
Volunteers play a very special part in the club, but more are always welcome of course. The grounds are used for a number of sporting opportunities including archery. We have a very good social media presence which helps to engage the local community and local business alike and keeps everyone up to date with the latest results.
Sponsors play a vital role in keeping our club running and are invaluable in securing the financial future of Cockermouth Rugby Club and we would like to thank everyone who has helped us out. We offer several ways to sponsor the club including the pitch side signs through to opportunities to sponsor a particular match or the match day ball. However, this is a side of our club we would like to develop to meet the increased costs of just switching the lights and heating on, perhaps exploring going off-grid and improving the facilities to help engage a wider community audience.
I first got involved with the club in the early 80s as a 15/16-year-old playing for the U17s then progressing to open age, through the second and first teams. I then went on to coach the U14s around 2005 for one season, I had a bit of time away returning to coaching the U10s in 2016 through to Colts level; pushed by my wife Kathryn who has been their first aid and team manager. The main issue we faced was navigating ourselves through Covid and keeping the lads/team interested, at any opportunity and via the guidance of the government and RFU, I would get the lads training as much as possible and keep them engaged in staying together and playing rugby until we got back playing full contact. Our most recent challenge has been securing the funding for buses so we could enter the Cumbria/North East league. Key to keeping the players together and getting them to where we are today was ensuring that everything we do, has a large proportion of enjoyment, engagement and respect from us as a coach and vice versa response from the players.
Kathryn and I are exceptionally grateful for the support form our dedicated parents/guardians, who are a
great team behind the “team”. There are a number of key words I use when coaching: respect, trust, resilience team work not to mention hard work at the colts level, but I always look to ensure we have fun at training and ask the lads to enjoy what they do individually and as a team on game days regardless of the outcome, if the boys give a 100% and enjoy them self’s in the process that to me is real success!
Over the last couple of years, we have had several players represent Cumbria U16s via the England RFU DPP pathway affiliated with Newcastle Falcons, most recently we have had two U17s players represent Cumbria U18s. We also have one of our players that has successfully worked through the DPP program and was selected for the Newcastle Falcons Academy starting last season at U16s now with the U17s, progressing well having played in a number of games/ festivals playing Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Wasps, and Yorkshire academy to mention a few.
We are also in the development stages with Struan Hutchinson, England Rugby Coach Development, as part of the transition of Colts into the open age game, Struan has been attending our training session giving
support and advice. We had a slow start in the NE/Cumbria league with several of our players unavailable due to other commitments, but now we are gaining decent squad numbers we are really starting to compete well with a number of wins, but we’re only halfway through the season? Also we have progressed through the Cumbria Cup U17s competition and we are now in the final due to be played 5th March. With this being the first year at Colts most of our players are U17s so just to compete and learn from each game and look to try and get into the top four playoffs would be a great achievement! One of the main challenges is keeping the players fit to compete and ultimately work on confidence as individuals with a team ethos of playing for each other.
Cockermouth Wasps have had some tough times over the years as have many other teams, but the club has several volunteers that have developed our club across all levels and made it an inclusive environment with a solid plan for the future. The door is open and there’s always a friendly face to greet you! It’s important to see where the future of our club lies and this is evident, in so many ways, within the youth setup. We have a great coaching team and most recently we have had
two coaches that have taken part in the England RFU mentoring programme, they are now our coach mentors and helping and driving the development of coaches and players at all ages within the youth setup. We always look to get parents & guardians involved, this is apparent on game days. Kathryn my wife manages the Kitchen i.e. organises food, serves and clears up; Kathryn always has volunteers at all age groups that actively get involved, hopefully making them feel part of the club!
With open age games there’s always great support from the town and beyond from sponsors to just someone looking to watch a game, have a few pints and a good craic. Sometimes committees are over looked at clubs as they are just excepted to turn up organise a few things and play rugby, but there’s so much more and a lot of moving parts that go on in the back ground that we do not always appreciate. Cockermouth Rugby Club owe a lot to these people with their dedication; we would in short not exist if it wasn’t for these individuals, we need to remember they also give up so much of their own time as volunteers, and in many cases.
As a family we moved into the area in 2000 and having played rugby since my school days it was a natural migration to the local rugby club.
The two main challenges were playing numbers and financial. The club is fortunate that it owns its own land. Several years ago, the club was under financial pressure and therefore a piece of the club’s land was sold and with the receipts of the sale a 4G pitch was built to compliment the two grass pitches and the remainder invested to secure long term financial stability.
Around the same time the club made the decision to employ a full-time Rugby Development Manager with the main responsibilities to engage with the local schools and grow the children’s numbers which in turn would potentially feed into the adult game and referred to as “grow your own”. This provides a programme for our youth section
which delivers sessions on Coaching, S&C, Nutrition and psychology/wellbeing. This model has proved to be very successful and has seen a boost to the numbers, both male and female, participating in the game.
With the growth in numbers, the club is looking at building an additional 4 changing rooms to those already at the club to support the range and diversity of teams playing at the club. This building will also house a new gym as the current facilities are in an old squash court and will support all the members with modern facilities and be available to the local community in turn.
From P1 to senior rugby, men and women the club works to develop the person, not just the player. We have had lots of players reach fantastic levels of success on the pitch and that is through the support they have received off it.
The club was formed in 1865 as West of Scotland Football Club and first based at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Glasgow as an offshoot of the West of
Scotland Cricket Club. West were one of the founding clubs of the Scottish Rugby Union which was formed in 1873.
After WW2 the club became homeless and played at a variety of grounds across the city. Great efforts were made to find a new home and it was not until 1960 when West played their first fixture at Burnbrae, Milngavie and remains the home of the club to this day.
On having our own grounds, in 1960 the club was able to attract players of quality unable to join any of the local F.P. sides who retained their ‘closed shop’ policy. West was thus the only senior open club in Glasgow at that time and any distinguished players moving into the area joined West. This led to a memorable era for the Club and in 1964 P.C. Brown became the first West player to be capped since before the second world war. Sandy Carmichael followed in 1967 and Gordon Brown in 1969. Over the next few years, a succession of players was capped for Scotland and indeed for England when Lionel Weston played for them at scrum half.
The league structure was introduced into Scotland in 1972 and the club moved up and down the main leagues and last played in the top league in the season 2010/2011. The senior male
team bounced between Nat 2 and Nat 3 and remains in Nat 3 today. 2015 was a key year as that is when the 4G pitch was built and the employment of the Rugby Development Manager to then build the club up to what it is today.
The mood around the club just now is very positive. Everyone is pulling together as we build our vison for the club and lay out what the next stage of the club’s development. Players (both junior and senior) coaches, parents and spectators are all excited by the direction the club is going and the development we have made over the past few seasons within our junior set up and the growth of our woman’s team. The club does have an issue with volunteers to run the whole club and an issue encountered by many sporting clubs. It takes a lot of effort to run the club and hopeful that volunteers will come forward to ensure the on-field success can continue to be supported.
The club has a rich history in providing Scotland Internationalists with several having gone onto play with the British Lions including Sandy Carmichael and Gordon Bulloch. A more recent player has been Robert Harley who started at West in the Mini Section and has gained more than 20 Scotland caps with the last being in 2021.
Our senior men’s 1st XV has had a fantastic start to the season, winning 10 out of 12 games and the 2nd XV men have won 10 of 14. Our senior women’s squad has not had results go their way, however the team spirit and the work from the coaches has been fantastic as the season has
been plagued with injuries.
Our minis (P1-P7) have saw around 160 players playing most weekend. Our midi squads have been competitive across all age groups with our U18s finishing second on the league and making the semifinal of the National Boys Scottish Cup, roughly 210 players have played rugby from August. As a club we are very proud to have nearly 500 players put on the red and yellow from 5 years old to adult rugby!
The main goal in the competitive competitions has been to provide a coaching and facility framework to allow the players to be competitive and enjoy their rugby in the respective leagues. All clubs strive for success and West is no different as we wish our senior sides to be as successful as possible but is a byproduct of the providing the framework. This season has our Senior Men 1st and 2nd XV competing for promotion in their leagues.
Around 2015 in conjunction with Glasgow Caledonian University a women’s team was raised and in a short time has grown with around 40 plus players registered with the club. As mentioned, it has been a difficult season with many players unfortunately with injuries, however the work from our coaches have allowed us to play all our matches and keep the rugby going forward. However, the standard of rugby and the commitment from the players tell us that the section will continue to grow and go from strength to strength.
We have junior girls from U12s – U18s active at the club. The section was hit hard by covid, but we have a dedicated coaching group who have helped retain many players and support them in getting games. We have plans put in place to support the local schools to help grow the numbers within our junior girls and get them playing more rugby.
We are very much a community club proved by the large numbers we have at the various sections and that we provide facilities for other sporting and leisure groups within the area. Unfortunately, sponsorship is an area that we have not progressed very well since COVID. There has been no volunteer taking this forward but is in the process of being re-invigorated but will be next season before this kicks in. There are still a few sponsors but mostly in kind and very grateful for their support.
Sponsors are important as there are two aspects to this as it provides a small financial income but more importantly allows us as a club to engage with the businesses of the local
community. As already said, I am hopefully we will see a vast improvement in this area for next season.
The club has a rich history being one of the founding clubs of Scottish rugby. However, with the advent of professional rugby amateur clubs have had to adapt to the ever-changing rugby landscape. West is very much a community club with good facilities that is providing an outlet for all ages, genders and backgrounds to have the opportunity to play rugby. Players come to West to socially play rugby, compete to be within our 1st XV and many of our junior’s progress into the Scottish Rugby and Glasgow Warriors academy set ups. No matter the rugby journey, the club will always support and encourage players and coaches to feel at home and find their best version of the game. It is the joy given to those playing that makes the effort of running a club such as West worthwhile.
I first joined the club in 1959 as a schoolboy, educated at Wallasey Grammar School which was the club’s “feeder” school for players in those far off days! Alas, the school no longer functions and the playing of rugby in the nearby schools is not very large. Although I was in the schools rowing club and didn’t play rugby at school the idea of the camaraderie of the game shown by my friends attracted me down there where a gentleman called Maurice Eggleshaw, Second Headmaster at the school, was the club’s Honorary Secretary and heavily involved in it’s administration, he was quite a character and recruited players from anywhere he could get them, he encouraged me to take up the game and I started off in the Colts playing on the wing. Hopelessly inept I simply kept on trying, some say I never improved! Despite that I played in all the teams as I grew with the game, we had as many as six adult sides in those days and we’re amongst the elite of the English game along with our local rivals, Birkenhead Park, Waterloo and Liverpool. I progressed and I eventually got my first First XV selection in 1972 & I was made Vice Captain in 1975-76, I’ve chaired most every committee became President and have been serving my club as Honorary Secretary for nigh on 15 years! I owe the game
a great deal and you can only get out of something what you are prepared to put into it; a maxim I stand by for ever. In the modern era the main challenges we face are retainment of players, the finance to keep the club going and finding willing volunteers, nothing new there and the same for all clubs I imagine.
We are fielding a very good team right now and brought back Alastair Saverimutto as our Director of Rugby & Head Coach, he eventually played in an England shirt and started off at the club when he was 7, he has transformed what were already a decent team into a very good one, the players have responded to his coaching, his vison and his game strategy, they work hard and have great belief. We manged to recruit a few quality players & are now top of our league & in the Cheshire County Bowl Final looking forward to promotion on the long, but achievable, goal of moving steadily up the league structure. The club’s a great, happy, fun place and we intend to keep it that way, our Junior/Mini section is very successful, thanks to all the volunteer Coaches and administrators and we hope to re-launch our Women’s’ team too very soon. We have a soccer club who share our pitches and 5 squash courts too, along with three courts converted into gymnasia. Our philosophy at New Brighton is to keep the
club inclusive, to help our community and make a happy & safe place to be!
Founded in 1875, we have moved several times during the years and have been at Reeds Lane since 1933. The club has grown over the years with the advent of Squash and now Racketball, and we field three adult teams, when numbers permit, and Age Grade Rugby right through all the different ages. The club has been at the heights of the game in the 50s, 60s and 70s reached the equivalent of the play-off for level 2, now the championship, in 2005 but we’ve struggled somewhat since then but we are on the way back!! The mood at the club is excellent, vibrant and buzzing at the moment! We have fielded a
British Lion, no less than 25 Internationals at various levels in past years plus 13 International Trialists, 7 Barbarians and literally hundreds of County players mainly to Cheshire winning the County Championship twice, once when a majority of the Cheshire team were made up of our First XV. In our centenary year 1975 we toured Canada & have toured in France, Sweden, Holland, Romania, Portugal, Ireland plus the inevitable Isle of Man & Jersey! We hosted New Brighton from Christchurch New Zealand and ran out 12-3 winners, we are now looking towards our 150th year on 2025, something else to look forward to is the Papa John’s Community Cup so maybe a trip to Twickenham beckons, who knows!! We’ve performed there too in the Twickenham Sevens! Our ambitions this season are simply to be successful on the pitch and have fun off it.
Back in 1969 we actually played against the touring Springboks, they were unable to travel to Ireland and, as we were playing a team from
Northern Ireland, we were asked to combine and they would come down and visit us, the combined team lost 22-6 no disgrace at all, and what a day in the club’s history that was!
We are very much a community club and welcome all our neighbours who surround the club with free membership, we have made sure to have a Defibrillator fitted on the building which has been used by the locals several times, and we hold community events organised by our very own Ema Wilkes who runs the local Neo Community charity.
Our sponsors are extremely important and
without their financial support we would be lost, we enjoy great support from our two major sponsors, Harper&Woods, the best estate agents on the Wirral and from the Italian themed restaurant Capeesh over in Liverpool, not to mention long standing sponsors like D Morgan Plc and many others over the years.
New Brighton is a great club to be part of maybe it’s the club’s heritage, maybe it’s because it’s such a very welcoming place and maybe it’s because it offers a great future to our young people to have a sporting focus in their lives where the whole family can congregate and enjoy themselves!
My journey with Marlborough Rugby Club started when I brought my two sons down to Marlborough RFC to play in the Mini/Junior section around the year 2000. I then became more directly involved when I joined the club Committee as Treasurer in 2015. It’s my local club (even though I am not originally from the area) and just wanted to get involved in supporting community rugby.
Marlborough is a relatively small market town (the 16th largest in Wiltshire) with a
AMANDA PALMER
Our senior coaching philosophy is an enjoyable, performance lead coaching environment which is inclusive and transparent for all.
Marlborough Rugby Club are building, collaborations between seniors our Colts and age grade rugby providing clear pathway to senior rugby. Younger players joining the seniors, will receive an electronic welcome pack. Coupled with being paired up with a senior player buddy for an initial period while they settle in.
population of under 9,000. Many of our local rivals have populations 2-4 times bigger. We also don’t own our own facilities and play on Marlborough Common which places many difficulties on us e.g., it is very difficult to develop new facilities and we cannot charge for entry or parking (the Common has to be accessible to all.)
We have plans to reach Level 5 and are currently doing well in the league, pre-covid we had looked to create a social 3rd XV and recently have also started a girls rugby section.
The atmosphere around the club is very positive at the moment, we are sailing high in our league and off the field have made many improvements with newly refurbished bar and the addition of two more changing rooms with associated showers plus a meeting room.
Our main goal on the pitch this campaign 22/23 is to achieve promotion. Off the pitch it is to make the club more profitable (mainly addressing the bar) and to develop a new training area on the Common. Being in an affluent town we have a big challenge on many of our Colts going to university and then
not returning to Marlborough. However, this is a challenge for many other clubs too.
As mentioned, we recently launched a girl’s section and also provide coaching for girls at the local secondary school. The new changing facilities described above were specifically designed with Women’s rugby in mind. We ran summer evening touch rugby pre-Covid but have yet to re-instate this.
As a club we have made great efforts to engage with our local Community being active members of the local Sports Forum (a regular gathering of all the sports clubs in Marlborough); provide free coaching at local primary schools and the main secondary school and work closely with Town Council and local charity groups e.g. we provided free facilities for the Queen’s Jubilee picnic on the Common and support the local Rotary club in hosting car boot sales located next to our club house. We are also fortunate to have a many local sponsors of the club…well over [80] different companies sponsoring everything from a single player to being a named sponsor on the 1st XV shirt.
Sponsors are very important at Marlborough;
we can’t charge for spectator parking or entry to watch our games so this removes an important source of income that many of our rival clubs enjoy. The generous support of our sponsors is a major source of mitigation and (in my view) we would not be able to sustain our current playing level. We provide top class coaching (Elisi Vunipola, uncle of Billy and Mako, and a 50+ cap Tongan international is our Director of Rugby. We also provide professional physios and medical support and off-site training facilities.
To me Marlborough Rugby Club has given me the opportunity to work alongside a great bunch of people whilst enjoying such a nice buzz and being involved in the wider rugby community… seeing 300 kids training on a Sunday morning with big smiles on their faces is something to behold!
I have been involved in Marlborough Rugby Club since 2001 when I joined just for the social side after having moved to the area from South Wales and knowing no one. I wanted to meet people and to be involved and help if I could; I ended and playing and subsequently becoming captain.
One of the challenges for clubs is always the availability of players, many of which have other demands on their time and then of course there are the inevitable injuries to deal with. One of the main challenges for an expanding club like Marlborough is that we don’t have the pitch area we would like and with over 300 minis and juniors on a Sunday space is incredibly tight. We do our best to cope with this by staggering training, but it does mean the small space we do have gets very worn and used. Plus, as we are a common, we are unable to have permanent fixtures like floodlights which means portable lights for training during mid-week. On the pitch we would like another training area and anything we can do to have more permanent lights would make
a huge difference. Off the pitch we continue to develop our clubhouse and are aware that we need to expand our kitchen and have a physio room.
The ambition of the club is to get into national leagues and remain competitive at that level. We really hope that this is the season we can gain promotion!
Our philosophy as a club is to `Welcome, Inspire and to Excel. ` also to follow the RFU TREDS methodology. The senior section is more result orientated and therefore can deliver where possible success which gives additional positive exposure for our sponsors.
Our juniors are more about development whilst playing and enjoying rugby! Our mood is very good and very positive at the moment.
Facilities have improved as the club, we have made use of the lockdown period, and with no rugby to invest as such, more went into our changing rooms; these have enhanced the clubhouse.
The senior playing section has started the season well with very good numbers which is helping to generate an excitement in the club.
We have concentrated more on player welfare and their injury rehab, conditioning
and run nutrition sessions. All this inspires the players which then adds to the club’s overall positivity.
Manu Vunipola at Saracens is the son of our head coach Elisi Vunipola who played internationally for Tonga. We also have players Will Reeve, Gareth Smith, Inosi Laqekoro and Ben Fulton who have played for the Army XV and 7s sides. Ben has also played internationally for Wales Deaf. Mitieli Vulikijapani also played for the club and the Army, he has gone on to now play for Hull Rugby League.
Last season was a season where we struggled with several injuries and also the unavailability of players due to army deployments. It meant our 2 senior sides were mid table but were looking to target this season for 1st team promotion.
Once we identify players as capable of competing or training at senior level they are introduced and made part of the larger senior squad. We try to give them game time and ensure we stay in contact if they progress to university so that they feel Marlborough is their home club and they will come back and play when they can. Senior coaches also help with junior coaching so
that the playing philosophy is passed down and helps the juniors be aware of the style of play in the seniors. We also have girls’ rugby but no women’s. The girls are keen and enthusiastic. Hopefully numbers will increase to the point where we can have matches rather than joint club training with other clubs. Touch rugby is played by good numbers in the summer for fun too.
As a small town we hope the people are proud of the style of rugby we play and the level we play at. We have many local sponsors who we encourage to attend games, lunches and social events where possible. Their involvement is massively important and along with bar revenue these are our biggest source of income. Without sponsors we would not be able to develop as we have done over the last 25 years. It is only 25 years ago that we had no clubhouse, had to change and shower at different locations to where we played.
Marlborough Rugby Club is a real community club with a real community feeling to it. Enjoyment is at our heart and is the key part of everything we do!
From founding the RFU to pitches on The Common – the history of Rugby in Marlborough!
Rugby in Marlborough has had a chequered history. From being one of the founding clubs of the RFU (the world’s first National Rugby organisation) to the current day on The Common, Rugby and Marlborough have never been far apart.
Something to set the piece up as active involvement in the formation of the RFU in the Pall Mall restaurant in Regent St is something that very few contemporary clubs can ever link back to. This sets Marlborough apart from just about every other club, whether ‘Nomads’ or MRFC, which still incorporates the Nomads identity and lineage today. Marlborough Public School formed their own team in 1861. (Now known as
Marlborough College).
In 1868 Marlborough was represented in the rugby world as Marlborough Nomads. They played in red, white and blue vertical stripes. This team comprised of masters and ex pupils from Marlborough College and army personnel from the local army camps at Tidworth and the surrounding area. A relationship which is still happening today and is as strong as ever. Unfortunately, the team played all its rugby at various grounds around the London Area, Richmond, Blackheath, West Kent, The Gipisies and Ravenscourt Park, as they had no base.
Marlborough Nomads were a well-known, and respected Metropolitan Club. In 1911 they amalgamated with Roslyn Park. The Nomads had several English Internationals through their existence. Including Alfred St. George
Hamersley, he was also Instrumental in the formation of the RFU. He was their first secretary; he was also a major influence in creating the rules of rugby football. Based on the rules of Marlborough College football code. Where no hacking was allowed. (This was a practice adopted by schools at this time). He introduced rugby football to the youth of South Island of New Zealand and also into British Columbia in Canada, and brought about Vancouver RFC, he was also the Rugby President of British Colombia. In 2015 Marlborough College have named a sports field after him and it is called The “Hamersley” Field.He was a solicitor and barrister in London ,as was many of those who was at the original Pal Mal Restaurant In 1872 when the RFU was formed. This is probably why the rugby community refers to rugby
laws rather than rules. At this meeting the average age was reported to be 23.
In 1930 a Marlborough RFC reformed and played up to the second World War. They played in Royal Blue Shirts and white shorts. They first played on a field at the top of Savernake Hill near to Savernake Forest. In 1934 the team played on the Marlborough Common for the first time, adjacent to “Free’s Avenue”. Their base was the Sun Inn, where they showered and entertained the visiting teams.
1967 saw the revived team play their first fixture against customers of the Sun Inn. The Sun Inn being represented by the “Sun Downers”. It was a close match resulting in a 3-0 victory. A penalty was given to M.R.F.C. after a crooked feed by scrum half Roger Swanton. The Match was designed to be a prelude to
the 1967 season and sought to generate support in the Town. Following this match a fund-raising event of cheese and wine was held in the Town Hall. Their colours were Amber shirts and white shorts. This was the cheapest strip at the time, and no other club in the area had a similar strip.
Marlborough RFC (reformed in 1967) had a similar situation to the Nomads, up until the year 2000 when a club house was finally secured on Marlborough Common. It was funded by the substantial Lottery Grant, Sport England, the RFU plus local fundraising efforts. At that the time changing and showering was done at St. John’s School, Cherry Orchard. Home and visiting teams would play and drive the 1 mile, to and from the common in all weathers and then entertain at a small cricket pavilion at Elcot-Lane. This building was surplus to the needs of the local Education Committee.
Back in 1978, there were merit tables based on fixtures, but no formal league as there is today. During late 1990’s the strips changed from amber to black and amber, with black shorts and when the league’s first started MRFC was put in Dorset & Wilts Division 2, through the 90’s the club progressed to the Southern Counties, and then a lot of players retired and through mis management in 2007/8 the team were demoted to Division 3 North. During this time Marlborough forged links with the Army Camp at Tidworth ( one of the largest army garrison’s in the UK)and since then the club progressed up the leagues
and are now one league of National League. In level 6. The quality of rugby and type rugby played now is greatly influenced by the Pacific Island Coaches and Pacific Island players from Fiji and Tonga. Our current coaches are Elisi Vunipola related to the current English Stars and Tonga International Taufa’ao Filise from Tonga and Cardiff Blues. At club level, Elisi played for Sanyo, ACT Brumbies, Caerphilly RFC and Bay of Plenty.
Taufa’ao Filise was picked up by the Blues (Super Rugby) for their 2005 Super Rugby campaign, and then signed for Bath Rugby on a year contract following that. After his season with Bath, Taufa’ao moved to Cardiff Blues for their 2006-2007 Celtic League
campaign. He was part of the Cardiff teams that won the 2008–09 Anglo-Welsh Cup and the 2009–10 European Challenge Cup. On December 19, 2015 he became the Cardiff Blues most capped player with 183 first class appearances. [2] Filise finished his career playing for the Cardiff Blues in the Pro14. During his 13 years in Cardiff, Taufa’au amassed 255 appearances, with 9 tries and became a cult figure earning the nickname “The king of Tonga”.[3] His final game for the club was the European Rugby Challenge Cup final in Bilbao, which Cardiff won 31-30
MRFC also have a strong Seven-a-side team’s for Male and Female led by James Davies. Nomads still exist in the club through our Seven’s adventures and 2nd XV who are called Marlborough Nomads. MRFC also caters for all ages from under 6’s through to Colts. Our Club Captain is currently “Welsh International Deaf” Ben Fulton, a very talented centre. Thanks to Alec Thomas for compiling this history and on Marlborough.news via Neil Goodwin.
I first joined Sudbury Rugby Club following a Year 4 Schools tournament organised amongst the local primary schools, this gave me my very first taste of the sport and I have simply never looked back since. Now at the ripe old age of 29yrs I am proud to say that since that day it has been my only club, providing many lifelong friends and copious amounts of stories to go with them.
For ourselves, as with most rugby clubs, our Mini & Junior sections are our life blood, and as such it is our goal to provide the best Rugby Experience possible whether you be 6 or 66 years old. Now I certainly don’t claim to be privy to the magic formula for this but I’d like to think our key philosophy is to ensure a oneness at the club, where everyone knows one and another and interact in a safe place and hopefully when little ‘Billy’ joins at 6 for his first taster session, chooses to keep Sudbury RFC in his life for as long as possible.
It is a downfall on my side that I am not as versed in our history as well as I should be, the majority of my club history lessons have been received
via many an ‘Old Boy’ during post-match festivities whom have regaled quite the fantastical tale, which albeit outstandingly vivid, entertaining and hopefully true I won’t pen to paper before some fact checking. I can advise however that the club was formed in 1925 and as such we are rapidly approaching our centenary year, something which is most exciting for our members and will be for us to do justice for all those individuals that have come before and made Sudbury RFC what it is today.
I may have somewhat of a bias opinion on the club at the moment, however I believe there is a very positive mood throughout for this 2022/23 season. Success on the pitch is always a key factor and our 1st XV performance meant we finished 2nd in our respective league last season which traditionally would have led to a play-off fixture for promotion, but following the league restructure we found ourselves move up into the new and quite handsomely named Regional 1 South East (Level 5), alongside this the gents representing our 2nd XV were outstanding and earned themselves promotion following a 1st place finish.
In addition, over the summer we welcomed a new senior coach our 3rd in as many seasons but such is the way with any competitive industry, but his fresh take on the game has reinvigorated the men’s senior section for what is going to be a season of unknowns.
Our Ladies XV also mimicked these successes finishing 2nd as well but unfortunately just missed out on promotion also, but for a group that were playing in their very first season, rightfully are a huge source
of pride for the club and is a testament to the Girls section we have had in place for some years now.
As with any new season there is going to be the unknown and with our 1st XV this is even more apparent following the league restructure which placed the team with very few familiar opposition, in fact two thirds of the league the club has not played against this millennium, therefore although quite boring we understand that at least the first half of the season is going to be taken as a period to consolidate ourselves within the league and then once everyone has had a chance to weigh each other up, we will be in a much better position to set
our targets and push on from here, this again will be similar for the 2nd XV within a new league also, but am happy to say is no secret that the ladies are looking for a top place finish and obtaining that promotion they just missed out on previously.
The beforementioned are the challenges on the pitch, however off the pitch comes with its own struggles none more so than finances which unfortunately at this time has become so apparent even in the top tier of our game, again there are no simple fixes to make everything better but for ourselves the priceless value of volunteers is going to rise through the roof, something which I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has helped out at Sudbury RFC and imagine is something other Chairs will echo at their respective clubs also.
For us transitioning from Youth into the Senior age groups is of the utmost importance, this is most evident in that 80% of our senior squads, both Men’s and Women’s, are made up of individuals that have come up through the various age groups and make that final step into the adult game, I myself am an example and currently still play with 2 other gents whom were part of my u8s team many years ago and such patterns are evident throughout the squads we have.
We are continuously trying to improve this step as can be quit the daunting challenge for any 17/18 year old coming up against fully grown and experienced adults, but for us the key is breaking this barrier down so one is not simply chucked into the deep end, many of our senior players help partake in coaching sessions for the various age groups trying to pass that experience on whilst also building a repour with players and their parents which we find hugely beneficial to achieving the oneness in the club also.
We also find a huge tool to bridge gaps between club sections is opening the Saturday match day up to all, this obviously is nothing new but have found that
having a dedicated Mini/ Youth luncheon or match day experiences where some of the younger age groups get taken round the club by senior players and introduced to everyone from Physios to Bar Staff and even the Opposition, this helps achieve a huge level of engagement and has given us some great feedback from parents and guardians.
As touched on previously we are hugely proud of the Girls and Ladies sections at the club, our Girls section is now in its 6th year and continues to go from strength to strength running out multiple teams across the age groups and also benefitting from cluster programmes with other clubs throughout Eastern Counties a concept which I find essential for the continued growth of the Girls game.
Our Ladies XV are a direct result of the successes of the Girls section which produced a crop of very talented Ladies whom decided to continue their rugby and move up into Adult Rugby, one particularly nice story I find is that one of our Girls coaches actually formed part of the last ladies team Sudbury fielded some 20 years ago and decided to dust her boots off fully with the inception of the new ladies team in 2021/22, she has also managed to coerce some other former team mates to out for training although we are still working on getting them out for matches.
There has also been representative honours for 2 of the ladies whom have donned the Blue and White of Sudbury, Steph Hanratty a current member of the team will be representing England Deaf at the 7s World Championships in 2023 and former Girls player Connie Powell whom I am sure will be much more well known in the next coming weeks is part of the England Ladies Team over in New Zealand for the World Cup.
We are fortunate at Sudbury to have a larger clubhouse which within a relatively small community allows us to work with various groups to benefit both our parties, alongside private parties for all ages our clubhouse has been utilised for Polling Stations, Fitness Classes, Farming Displays, Quizzes and all other manner of events, we also have regularly weekly community clubs that host themselves at the club allowing us to provide a service to members and nonmembers alike. We also have strong connections with the local Cricket and Hockey Clubs having players that represent multiple sports benefitting from the seasonal seasons for each game.
Finances unfortunately can be the biggest controlling factor for any sports club and we are certainly within that bracket, we are hugely dependent on the generosity of Sponsors and endeavour to show our appreciation as much and however we can as without them the club simply wouldn’t survive, so I will take this opportunity to thank all those that have sponsored us in the past and for all our new sponsors with this 2022/23 season.
It’s a testament to the game, which can bring together such a wide range of different individuals from each walk of life and covering every business possible all in the likeminded pursuit of a funny shaped ball.
Every Rugby Club is a great place to be part of, and I have been lucky enough to experience clubs all over the UK, the game is what connects them all and the different peoples involved is what makes them special. We at Sudbury Rugby Club have our own group of unique individuals, who endeavour to install the ethics of the game and provide a friendly space for everyone and anyone to enjoy, so rather than trying to describe us further I’d just like to invite anyone reading this to please come visit and find out for yourselves.
CHAIRMAN
I have been involved at the ONs since 1983 when I returned back to Northampton from College. The Old Northamptonians is a Sports Association convened in 1919 in memory of the staff and pupils from Northampton Grammar School, who gave their lives during WW1. A cricket section was started in 1922, a rugby section in 1923 (our centenary year) and a football section in 1946. The Grammar school became Northampton School for Boys in the 70s when I attended the institution. In the 6th year I played football at the ONs so when I discovered rugby at College, I naturally came back to the ONs Rugby club, and I have been here ever since.
We are very fortunate that the club is in a good state across the board. The Old Northamptonians Association run the clubhouse and the grounds for which we pay what is effectively a ‘ground rent’. As a consequence, we cannot generate large sums of money and our constitution prevents any paying of players so we will always be an amateur club. This is not a particular issue, and it also means we don’t have the issues associated with managing facilities that many other clubs have. We can put out 4 senior men’s sides, a Ladies side, men’s, and Ladies Academy sides (U17/18) and minis and juniors from U6 to U16. The current playing membership is over 600. Our main problems are finding opposition and the fact
that we only have 2 pitches at Billing Road. We do have a service level agreement with Northampton School for Boys across the road where we have access to their pitches (and they to ours). The affiliation between the club and the school continues to be strong where many of the M and Js attend the school and many of the school sides are coached by our coaches on a Saturday.
Our ambitions at the club are to provide rugby of a high standard to as many players as the facilities allow. The club is fully inclusive, and we can accommodate players of all ages and abilities in both the men’s and lady’s game. Our adherence to the RFU standards is strong and we believe we provide an environment where players want to play for the enjoyment of the game.
Coaching at the club is probably one of our greatest assets. We have a great team of volunteers coaching and managing the teams at all levels and our success is a
credit to all of them, most being existing and former club men. We believe in respect and teamwork and accept defeat graciously when it happens.
The history of the club has already been mentioned. The 1st Team is currently at the top of Midlands Regional 2 East. Last season the club won all the local cup competitions (Alliance, Lewis Shield and Oceanic) for the first time in the Northampton Alliance’s history. This is a great measure of where we stand in the East Midlands, particularly with the number of clubs found in the surrounding area.
I like to think that we are a happy club. That is not to say that we don’t have problems. With the number of sides playing that is only to be expected. However, these are fairly easily managed through our management teams and tend to be sorted before they become major issues. Our overall playing numbers and activity in the bar would tend to suggest a good level of satisfaction.
We are affiliated with the Northampton Saints and many of our junior players over the
years have been part of their EPD squads. In recent times we have had Tom Collins and James Grayson turning out for the Saints, Rotimi Segun for Saracens, and Tim Cardell for Wasps, who all came through our M and Js. And of course, we have Bob Taylor as our fixture secretary, who is well known throughout the rugby hierarchy in England.
Our 1st team currently top their league (Midlands Regional 2 East). Hopefully we can remain there, and should we get promotion we will again have to deal with being a wholly amateur side in a league where many players are paid. All other teams are in Merit leagues and are performing well, not least by fulfilling their fixtures. The highlight is probably off the pitch where home games with our 3rds finish with a cheese board for both sides, with beer, immediately after the match
Our goal for this season is for the 1st team to finish in the top three in their league, to continue putting out 4 senior teams on a regular basis, to maintain the production line of players coming through the Academy in to the senior teams and to retain the Alliance Cup (final to be played at Franklin’s Gardens.)
Our Women’s and Girls section is now fully affiliated into the main club. We are the main Ladies community club in Northampton and have teams at all the current age levels. We attract players from a wide area who are looking for a progressive set up in a still growing area within the sport of rugby. Many players get selected for representative sides in the Midlands and beyond.
We are a genuine community club providing the sport of rugby to players of both sexes from U6 to Vets. We provide this in a fully amateur environment and, with the exception of our 1st team coaches, all teams are managed and coached by volunteers. We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated and hardworking team providing rugby for over
600 playing members. The club house is used for a range of local activities during the week but at the weekend the venue becomes a rugby clubhouse of the traditional style
As previously stated, we do not have to generate huge amounts of money to play at Billing Road. Our main source of income is through playing subscriptions, but we have a number of small sponsors who kindly donate to enable us to spend additional monies to improve the match day experience for the players. Most have personal connections with the club, and they get involved with the various activities open to them as part of their sponsorship deals.
Our main sponsor is Colonial Construction, a local firm owned by a former player and coach who has a great interest in local rugby in general. We also have a very proactive Exec member who deals with sponsorship and who does appear to be quite persuasive.
I am very proud to be Chairman of the ONs. Any success we have is due to good coaching encouraging a level of play which brings out every player’s natural abilities. We always strive to play within the RFU values, and I would like to hope that our opposition realise this and appreciate playing a side from the Old Northamptonians.
It is our Centenary year and there are a number of initiatives arranged to celebrate the fact, notably Four nations tour early next year and a Grand Ball in the summer where we will get as many current and former players along to this milestone for the club
TERRY ALLEYNE CHAIRMAN
I have been with the club since it started 45 years ago. The main reason for joining the club was that the ground was close to my home and easy to travel to and many of my school friends were also going along.
Not having facilities such as a clubhouse like other teams we played meant we had to use a local pub to provide food and refreshments after games. We had to also overcome some issues with the local residents who did not want a rugby club playing in the Hurlingham Park.
Our aims are very simple, we want all our members and parents to enjoy there time at the club on and off the field of play. In addition we are looking to develop and attract more under 14’s to under 18’s boys and girls as
this has always proven to be a challenge due to our location. Our senior four men’s and two women’s teams all train on the same nights and the coaches make sure that all the teams learn the same moves and calls, so that any player can easily transfer up and down the teams, without feeling out of place on match days. As for our youth section coaches, they are all encouraged to improve their coaching skills by taking RFU coaching courses which the club will pay for. This also helps to development the junior and youth players with up-todate coaching techniques for young players, which makes training & playing great fun for everyone involved.
Our club was the brainchild of some local school teachers in 1977, who saw that a sports area in a local park was not utilised that
often and that it might provide rugby for local school children and adults on a Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The club was formed with the help of Cliff Morgan, the Welsh fly-half and British Lion, who also became our first President of the club. In the first few seasons the club was made up mainly from former pupils and teachers at two schools, Henry Compton and Christopher Wren, from opposite ends of the borough.
The club is very buoyant presently with all men’s, women’s and youth sections doing well and being successful in all aspects. There is a very good atmosphere around the club. We have had some internationals play for the club at various times from across the globe including Holland, Sweden, Norway, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Recently we have had two of our former youth players sign up for professional contracts with Premiership rugby clubs: Olly Hartley with Wasps and Olivier Stirling with London Irish. We are also very proud that one of our original women’s players Charlie Veale from twenty years ago progressed from the club to play for Wasps Women before being capped by Scotland. Another former women’s player Helene Caux, moved to Wasps Women’s 1st XV, now playing in the Allianz Premier 15s.
Last season was a great time for everyone as all our sections were competing for promotions. Our 1st XV finished 4th in their league, which was what their minimum aim was. Our 2nd, 3rd and 4th XV’s all got through to either Merit Tables finals or cups. Our women’s 1st XV finished second in league and our 2nd XV gain promotion by winning the league. As for our youth section all our age groups from under 7’s to under 13’s won many matches and tournaments during the season.
This season our ambition is to keep on improving on and off the field of play and to build stronger links with our local community and schools.
Ensuring that younger players enjoy a smooth transition into the senior game is something the club has not been as successful at as we would have liked however, we are getting better at our approach and attracting more older children to join the club and play rugby. There is an initiative now in place to encourage our players who leave the club to go on to university, so that they return and play the odd game during mid-term holidays just to keep them somehow involved with the club with a hope that they would return and play for the senior teams when they finish their studies.
Our Women’s team was established 20 years ago and has proved to be a great addition to the club and is an integral part of our setup. Women’s rugby
brings a lot of young people into a sport that’s fun and enjoyable to play. The women’s squads over the seasons have improved greatly and they are playing at a very high standard in the leagues. We also provide touch rugby on Wednesday evenings that anyone can join in to play and is a very social game to take up and enjoy.
The club collaborates with many local businesses that are happy to sponsor the club with variety of interest that not only benefit our club, but the players and parents. Anyone from the local community can visit the many club functions we hold at Hurlingham Park throughout the season. 95% of our youth players come from the local schools in the borough as we continue to promote the club to the many schools in the area. During the COVID pandemic our youth section ran a very successful charity event that involved passing a rugby ball from Twickenham RFU to Murrayfield that raised over £60,000 for the friends of Charing Cross Hospital, this enabled the hospital to purchase a vital piece of medical equipment. Our
men’s and women’s members raised money doing several events towards a testicular cancer charity when one of our players unfortunately was diagnose with the illness recently.
If we did not have the support of our local sponsors it would be very difficult for the club to operate as it does, as we cannot generate enough money by other means as we have no clubhouse to bring in addition funds.
What makes our club unique is that anyone can rise through the ranks of our various teams and have a fun time socially also, with men and women mixing together in a local pub we welcome all our opposition and guests with over arms. One of our main aims is that everyone plays rugby to the best of their ability in all matches and socialise even harder after the games!
Hammersmith & Fulham RFC are the envy of many clubs in London, as we can run and put out four men’s teams, two women’s teams and have approximately 450 children playing rugby on weekends from September to April even although we
don’t have the resources of a clubhouse and use local pubs for our social activities. This was evident when we were recently approached by the RFU asking if they could do some filming about the club, which is being shown during England matches at Twickenham during this season’s Autumn Internationals. This is a fantastic achievement for our club and members who make the club what it is; a very friendly community club!
WE can be contacted on Instagram:
@hammers_rugby
@hammers_rugby_women
@hammers_rugby_juniors
LILY GANDER
LADIES CAPTAIN
I have been at the club for around 13 years now. I started playing rugby for Stanford as a stubborn 8-year-old who didn’t want to play rugby with the boys, so got in contact with the then ladies captain and we started a girls team up; I haven’t looked back since!
That rugby club has been such a massive part of my life since I was so young, I honestly cannot see me being where I am today without it. I suppose there was no initial attraction, it was the most
BETHANY SEAMANLADIES VICE CAPTAIN.
The Club is at a heart of a community. Boys and girls have started here as young as 4 and have gone through the club all the way up to the men and women’s team. The support each and every member gives to one another makes the atmosphere unbeatable.
The weekend couldn’t be better spent than watching a men’s game, socialising and then repeating it all again on Sundays for the women. The club feels like home and members see it this way, making it such a special place in many people’s hearts. Even when members may leave more often than not, they find themselves back where they feel they belong. It’s a special place and that’s why it’s so important for many.
local club and my younger brother was playing there at the time. It’s a shame there’s no glamorous story, but such a small decision to turn up one week has had such a huge influence on everything.
The instant feeling of belonging, community and togetherness is what made me stay all this time, I think. Our club opened in 1975 and one of the founders, Bert, is still very much involved- down the club every week and at every committee meeting. Once you’re in, you’re always in!
Stanford Rugby Club is pretty much notorious for its social side. Win or lose, rain or shine, you can guarantee everyone is always up for a laugh. I think the lockdowns did tarnish things a little, but it didn’t take long for the mood to come back. We are surrounded by rugby clubs that play somewhat at a ‘higher standard’ of rugby, but we will always win the social part. I’ve seen so many players come and go, but more often than not they always come back, so we must be doing something right (Ill reassure you now, the standard of rugby isn’t always it).
The best is when players from other clubs finish their match elsewhere for their club, but will come back to Stanford for post-game celebrations and drinks because they are mates with the Stanford lads. That’s how you know you’ve got the right volunteers, players, committee, and general vibe. I am a firm believer that rugby
is never just about the rugby, and I truly believe our club shows that. I reckon one of our biggest claims to fame is Emily Scott. Emily has played for Harlequins and England and was also selected as a member of the Great Britain women’s national rugby sevens team to the 2016 Summer Olympics. But it all began when she played at age seven in the boys U8 team at Stanford-leHope RFC.
We’ve still got her signed shirt and picture in a huge frame hanging up on the wall in the clubhouse. She’s been such a role model to so many people in our club, including myself. I remember one of our previous chairmen, Kyran McDonald, pointing at it and telling me all about her.
That’s probably one of the things that got me so passionate. I still see her over at our pitches sometimes, either practising her kicks or doing 1-2-1s with young players. It really does give you goosebumps to watch; such a successful athlete coming back to our facilities where it all started. For her!
RUSSEL JACKSON STANFORD RFC CHAIRMAN
I would say the biggest challenges we have faced getting to where we are now would be the constant financial pressures faced by an amateur club that relies almost solely on player subscriptions. We are very much a workingclass club whose members always have to juggle their work commitments with their commitments for continual training and playing. We have occasionally gained some sponsorship from local business, but this only covers
a fraction of our costs making us rely heavily on member contributions.
Covid has had a massive negative impact not only on our playing teams but also our facilities. Our club has been unused for the best part of two years, and we lost the connection that we used to have with the local community. Now we can open restriction free again. Our aim is to provide a safe, clean, sustainable facility and focal point that will be able to support, fund and grow sport within the local community.
we have a positive mentality and drive to progress both on and off the pitch. Our ethos is that we are a family friendly, inclusive club that prides itself on social recreation. This has led to increased numbers for our teams and improvement in how we can train and therefore in how the teams play when it comes to game day. It’s a great way to make life-long friends.
The Stanford Sirens prides themselves on being the friendliest team in the league each season. They play attractive, attacking, and assertive rugby and have a squad built on being comfortable taking risks and trying things out.
The overall arching philosophy at Stanford Rugby Club is that
They know that if it goes wrong the player next to them will pick them up and pat them on the back. We have, and always have had, a mixture of players from mothers, sisters, daughters and partners of players in the men’s teams to people who have seen it on tv or fancied giving it a go and have ‘got the bug’, never to look back. Even players from other clubs who we have played against love our vibe!
ROBLike a number of clubs, we suffered a significant number of young players leave our mini and youth section after Covid restrictions were first lifted. It became apparent that we would be unable to field teams across the mini and youth age groups and a few of our coaches moved across to another local club and took the remaining players with them to combine between the clubs to enable those to play and enjoy their rugby.
We intend to start to introduce the youngest age grade first, leveraging a number of ex- players who have children with the expectation that we can start to build the coaching staff once again and build from that position next season.
We have a relatively young men’s first team with 4 players under 21 and a further 5 players under 23. Those players have all come through our mini & youth section. In the past we have seen great value in playing Colts rugby and then working with the senior coaches looking for the right opportunity for each individual to experience their first taste of senior rugby. It’s all about making sure the player is equipped to manage the situation they will be introduced to both in the quality of the opposition they will face and the position they will be asked to play.
The Men`s 1st XV started the season with a degree of nervous anticipation given we had been out of Essex 2 for several years and understood it was going to be a significant step up for the team. Now looking back and approaching the Christmas break its clear that the team and our performances have gone from strength to strength.
We have produced some exciting, fluid rugby with was topped off by a dramatic last play try to win against Billericay RFC which involved five continuous offloads during the dramatic finish. We also acknowledge we have a lot to learn. Whilst our squad is packed with plenty of talent we are still developing our phase play, structures and tactical nounce which is being tested against the well drilled outfits we are coming up against. That said, spirits are extremely high in the team with the bar takings as evidence.
The Men’s 2nd XV, whilst yet to have a game, are supporting the 1st XV both on and off the pitch. The goal is to grow the club to the point at which an established 2nd team can get squads out every Saturday. The ladies continue to make significant headway in developing their team and although they have a few less games than the men, they are always an event. The Women’s team is really a shinning gem of the club and is a great source of pride that we can support a fully functioning ladies set-up.
What is important to mention about Stanford is that there is a real family
I like to think that our Stanford Rugby Club is right at the heart of our local community. All our players live locally and most grew up around the club having played here as children. Two local businesses, LE Brands & Sons and 4 Tronic sponsor our first team, providing us with the kit and equipment we need to do some egg chasing. The club (and the bar!) is always open to anyone that wants to come down of a weekend and give rugby a go!
atmosphere. Lots of the current members have been playing and socialising for many years and often since colts. There is a real sense of passion for the club from both playing and social members which has pushed the men and women’s teams to some great results. We have been lucky enough to have some new members join this year and they have slotted straight into the club, a testament to our open and inclusive attitude!
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Our aim is to provideasafe, clean, sustainable facilityandfocal pointthatwillbe abletosupport, fundandgrow sportwithinthe localcommunity.RICHARD THOMPSON MEN`S 1S VICE CAPTAIN
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