🎉Congratulations to our U18 and U16 Girls!🎉

This weekend saw both our U18 Girls and U16 Girls win the Kent Cup and Plate in two entertaining and impressive games of rugby played at The Paddock!

U18’s

On Sunday, the Under 18’s had their toughest game of the Kent season in the Cup Final against a well drilled BeccsValley team.

BeccsValley had most of the ball in the first 15 minutes but the BullOaks defence remained strong and organised. After a big first quarter the BullOaks found their feet and started advancing in attack, which resulted in a superbly well worked try by Niamh Sutherland in the first half. 

The second half started in the same way as the first half ended with the BullOaks on the front foot. This game was never going to be a try fest with both teams so proficient in defence. BullOaks tested BeccsValley's resolve with phase after phase of attack. Eventually Bulloaks were rewarded with an exceptionally well worked try off a set piece, dividing BeccsValley defenders with Imogen Mockford racing over the line to score BullOaks second try. Both trys were masterfully converted by Niamh Sutherland taking the final score to 14-0.

The U18 Girls have won the Kent League and Cup for three years running. What a great way to finish the league and cup season, adding to the successful history of the U18's campaign in this competition.

The last part of this teams journey this season is the Kent 7’s, and we wish them all the very best.

U16’s

Sevenoaks Under 16 Girls finished the season off with a hard fought victory in the Kent Plate Final against local rival Tonbridge Juddians.

An early kick off at the paddock in glorious sunshine set the tone for the day with lots of tries and running rugby. Sevenoaks opened their account with a try from Sienna Bennett ably converted by Olivia Norley. TJs answered with a try in the corner to make the score 5-7 to Sevenoaks. This back and forth continued throughout the game with Daisy Dennis dotting down and the extras coming from Olivia. TJs responded with a converted try to make it 14-12.

After some great defensive work from the Sevenoaks pack, the ball was turned over inside TJ’s 22 and Lucy Aleppo scored out wide, followed almost immediately by TJs scoring to go in at halftime with the score 17-19 to Sevenoaks.

The second half was just as equally matched with the TJ’s fly half kicking superbly from hand and putting the Sevenoaks backline under pressure which they managed to weather well until a break down on the left wing by Emelia Smith who offloaded from the floor to Jess Carroll who dived over into the corner for a fantastic team try. 17-24.

The next 15 minutes showed serious grit and determination by both sides with the play rarely entering either 22 due to some massive defensive efforts. TJs then scored one under the posts after a break away run through the middle which was again converted to make the score 24-24 with five minutes to go.

Just as both teams were preparing for extra time, TJs took advantage of a penalty taken quickly and scored almost under the posts. TJ’s flyhalf, put off by an effective charge down, uncharacteristically missed the conversion making the score 29-24 to TJs. With mere seconds left on the clock, Darcey Rummun scythed through the opposition backline to put the ball down under the posts and Olivia Norley handled the pressure admirably to slot the extras for a well deserved victory. 29-31 to Sevenoaks.

Lifting the plate at the Paddock was a fitting end to a fantastic season. With the Kent Sevens coming up, we wish the girls the very best of luck and huge congratulations for their progress this year.

Centenary City Lunch 2025

On Wednesday, we kicked off our Centenary Celebrations with an unforgettable Centenary City Lunch, hosted at Balls Brothers Minster Court with over 100 guests joining us for what turned out to be a fabulous day!

Following the delicious three-course meal consisting of Mighty Oak Smoked Salmon, Steak, Chocolate Tart and Cheeseboards we were treated to valuable, interesting and funny insights from legends of the game: Tom May, Craig Chalmers, and Robert Jones

A huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event so special. It was certainly a day to remember celebrating our clubs incredible 100 year history, whilst enjoying the present, and looking forward to the future.

As we continue this incredible journey through our centenary year, we are excited for what's still to come!

Emily Jackson House Care Home Visit

We had a great time today at the Emily Jackson House Care Home (Barchester Health Care), chatting with the residents about Sevenoaks Rugby Club! 

Several of the residents shared their memories of playing rugby in their youth, or of family members who played, and it was a joy to reminisce and hear their stories! 

Alex Griffiths spoke about what it's like to play for Sevenoaks and enjoyed talking all things rugby with former players of the game! 

We can't wait to see you all at The Paddock soon to enjoy a game together!

Hospice in the Weald Donation

Last week, we had the privilege of visiting Hospice in the Weald to share the incredible £1,250 raised for them at this years Ladies Day!

Through our raffle, we were able to contribute to the amazing work they do in supporting our local community.

A huge thank you to all our members who generously purchased raffle tickets, and to all the incredible local business who very kindly donated the prizes. 

We are proud to contribute to the amazing work of Hospice in the Weald. 

Special Offer on Sevenoaks RFC Sweatshirts

We are pleased to announce our Sevenoaks RFC sweatshirts are now available to purchase at a price of £20.

Sizes range from XS-2XL and are available to purchase online now (please see below).

Please note: There is no option for delivery. Orders must be collected from the Club Shop only.

Sevenoaks RFC Sweatshirt

£20.00

Size: Select Size XSmallSmallMediumLargeXLargeXXLarge

Quantity:

Add to cart

Club Update: England RFU SGM - our vote

Dear Members,

You may or may not be aware that discussions continue around the future of England Rugby, and we would like to keep you informed while staying focused on what matters most to your Committee; namely, our players and members, and our community and our Club.

At the heart of the discussions, there is a divide on how best to shape the future of the sport. 

The England RFU, our governing body, believes in reform and has set out proposals aimed at strengthening the structure of the RFU, with a focus on long-term sustainability, high-performance pathways, and financial stability. 

The Whole Game Union, meanwhile, is a group advocating for a greater role for grassroots clubs in shaping these changes and ensuring community rugby remains well-supported.

There is more information on the views of each of the two ‘camps’ below.

Upcoming Vote

On 27 March, an RFU Special General Meeting (SGM) will take place, where your Club will have a vote on the key issues being debated. 

We would like to gather any strong views of our members on these developments before the vote takes place. If you have views, please share them with us ahead of the SGM, by reaching out to Nick Pearce, Hon. Club Secretary or speaking with us at the Club before 20 March 2025.

For now, and into the future, our focus remains on playing, developing, and enjoying rugby, as we celebrate together 100 years of Sevenoaks Rugby.

Further Information:

RFU Official Statement:

https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/news-media/message-sir-bill-beaumont-and-rfu-board

Whole Game Union article:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/17/grassroots-rugby-six-nations-rfu-calcutta-cup-england-scotland

Yours in rugby,

Your Committee

The Mum Club (Sevenoaks) Joins the Family!

Sevenoaks Rugby Club is excited to announce its new partnership with The Mum Club Sevenoaks (TMC), who will be joining the SRFC family. TMC provides a community for women to build supportive authentic relationships through local franchised events.

Commercial Director, Adam Bowman, has commented “We are thrilled to welcome The Mum Club Sevenoaks to the Sevenoaks Rugby Club family. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to creating a welcoming, supportive environment for all members of the SRFC community. We are confident our members will benefit from the incredible events, meet-ups, and connections TMC provides.”

Sevenoaks TMC franchise owner, Olivia, has commented “Having been lucky enough to be a part of the Sevenoaks rugby club community for so long, I am really pleased to be working with them to help local mums create new friendships and support networks through our events… and where better to start than with brunch?!”

Next Event (book now online!):

• TMC Sevenoaks Brunch 

• Wednesday 12th March 

• 10:00

• The Deckhouse Sevenoaks 

Follow TMC Sevenoaks on Instagram to stay up to date with all the latest events:

@themumclubsevenoaks

Welcome to Sevenoaks Chiropractic Clinic!

Sevenoaks Chiropractic Clinic joins the Sevenoaks Rugby Club Community!

Sevenoaks Chiropractic Clinic has served our Local Community for over 40 years. They provide professional and friendly care to everyone of all ages. They work to improve your quality of life, not just through relieving pain but by using a holistic approach to improve your overall fitness, energy levels and well being. 

Adam Bowman, Sevenoaks RFC Commercial Director has commented “We are thrilled to announce Sevenoaks Chiropractic Clinic as a new sponsor. With 40+ years of expertise in improving quality of life, through chiropractor, biomechanical and massage consultations, we look forward to working together to support our members and the local community.”

Chris Chippendale, Clinical Director, has said: “At Sevenoaks Chiropractic, we’re passionate about helping people stay active, pain-free, and performing at their best—whether that’s on the rugby field, at work, or keeping up with family life. As a locally rooted clinic with over 4 decades of experience, we’re excited to support Sevenoaks Rugby Club and its incredible community. We look forward to helping players, supporters, and families maintain their health and recover from injuries, so they can keep doing what they love.”

Please join us in welcoming Sevenoaks Chiropractic Clinic to the rugby family!

Wealden Properties joins the SRFC Family!

Sevenoaks Rugby Club is pleased to welcome Wealden Properties to the Sevenoaks Rugby Club Family!

Wealden properties is a traditional local landlord that has been established for over 50 years, and offers a range of commercial properties to rent across Sevenoaks. Their portfolio includes shops and offices with flexible lease terms, in addition to some residential units.

Sevenoaks Rugby Club Commercial Director, Adam Bowman, has commented: “Partnering with Wealden Properties is an exciting opportunity for us. With their longstanding commitment to the local community and an impressive track record in providing flexible, high-quality commercial spaces, we're thrilled to have their support as we continue to grow both on and off the pitch. This partnership will play a key role in helping us push forward, and we look forward to building a strong relationship with them in the years to come."

Paul Baker, Director of Wealden Properties has said, “Wealden is delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor the Sevenoaks Rugby Club which has become such an important part of the local community – a community which Wealden looks to serve itself. We wish the club every success for the rest of this season and beyond.”

Please join us in welcoming Wealden Properties to the club!

Here’s to you Willy Pickance

They say that at a funeral it’s important to celebrate a life lived well and not to dwell in the regret of the loss. Better therefore to remember and smile than be sad.

Last week’s funeral and commemoration of Willy Pickance was a wonderful opportunity to remember a life lived well, although many tears were shed as we said our fond farewell and our hearts go out to Penny his longstanding partner.

I learned a huge amount about Willy that I never knew. He lost his dad when he was very young, and his mum then made sacrifices to give Willy the best possible start in life. I learned thanks to Richard that Willy was welcome in every sailing club in Cowes. I wasn’t surprised. I also never knew that Alexi was his longstanding neighbour and would mow his lawn over the summer when Willy was often away sailing.

At the wake Derek shared a poignant story of how he, Willy and three other chums would regularly go out walking. The common thread to these walks was a pint or two and a chinwag in the local pub. So, when after a more recent walk the landlord asked “table for five?”, the group’s answer was instinctively “yes” and then, on reflection, “no, four.”

So here’s to you Willy and in memory of you and of all the Oaks sadly no longer with us, we will resuscitate a legacy Club motif for our centenary. Willy would have loved the fact that it’s the one on the front of the ‘old-school’ sweatshirt he’s wearing in the picture of him you walk past on the way to the gents in the Clubhouse.

And here it is. When the centenary merch arrives let’s wear it with pride and be thankful for everyone that brought us to where we are.

RIP Peter Fermor

Sadly we have lost another member of the Sevenoaks rugby family. Peter Fermor of Basted, near Crouch, passed away on Saturday 11th January. Peter was an avid rugby supporter and friend to Sevenoaks rugby club who ran the new bar in the new clubhouse from 1978 well in the 80s. It was this commitment to the club and community that saw him awarded VP status. His son, Luke, was a graduate of the club playing in the juniors and up to Academy level in 1990s.

Peter’s cremation will take place at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium at 1215 on Thursday, 27th February, followed by a wake at The Plough Basted, TN15 8PS. All past players and member as well as current are very welcome.

Women’s Coaching offering grows!

Another step forward in our drive to support and expand our Women's rugby offering!

The club would like to extend a warm welcome Tim Spear to the women's coaching team! Tim is currently working towards his level 2 England coaching award and brings with him a wealth of rugby knowledge having started as a junior at Sidcup as an 8 year old before playing senior rugby at Orpington RFC, where Tim is currently secretary.

Adam our DoR said 'we are pleased to add to our already successful coaching and management team and look forward to supporting Tim in his progression as coach, whilst helping Sevenoaks deliver a first class rugby experience for our senior women's squad - welcome to the family and great to have you onboard Tim!'

Tim will help to develop the already successful 1st and 2nd team alongside the current management team of Grant, Kelly, Emma and Katie.

We welcome Tim and wish him a long and successful time with the club.

Watch the Six Nations at Sevenoaks RFC!

We are thrilled to announce that we will be showing the majority of the action from the Guinness Six Nations in the clubhouse this year!  We’ve got an exciting schedule lined up to make sure you don’t miss out:

Please see below the list of fixtures we will be showing:

Saturday 1st February

Scotland vs. Italy, 14:15

Ireland vs. England, 16:45

Saturday 8th February

Italy vs. Wales, 14:15

England vs. France, 16:45

Saturday 22nd February (Darts & Curry)

Wales vs. Ireland, 14:15

England vs. Scotland, 16:45

Saturday 8th March

Ireland vs. France, 14:15

Scotland vs. Wales, 16:45

Sunday 9th March

England vs. Italy 

Saturday 15th March (Super Saturday!)

Italy vs. Ireland, 14:15

Wales vs. England, 16:45 

France vs. Scotland, 20:00

Curry and Darts Day- Saturday 22nd February
Join us for curry and darts! Curry’s will be available for just £10 and will be served throughout the day, alongside some competitive darts competitions in-between watching the rugby. It will be the perfect combination of great food, fun, drinks, darts and rugby! 

Super Saturday- Saturday 15th March
On super Saturday we will be showing all three games in the clubhouse. The doors will open from 1pm and we’ll be serving up a delicious selection of food including burgers, pizzas and hotdogs to compliment your rugby watching experience. Plus, we will have special offers on drinks at the bar thought the day.


We can’t wait to see you in the clubhouse for what promises to be an unforgettable six nations season!

Mighty Oaks City Lunch

Following the success of last years event, we are excited to invite you to our highly anticipated annual City Lunch! Please join us on Wednesday 26th March 2025 for an afternoon of great food and drinks, engaging talks and fantastic company at Balls Brothers in the heart of the City of London.

We are thrilled to be welcoming ex Northampton Saints, England and of course Sevenoaks centre Tom May as this years guest speaker, and we look forward to hearing him share his experiences and expertise on a range of exciting topics. Keeping with the Old Oaks theme, we are also delighted to announce that Saracens and England backrow Ben Earl will be making a special guest appearance at the event!

Please keep your eyes peeled for additional announcements where we hope to confirm the attendance of Bath, England and Sevenoaks prop, David Flatman as well as Sale Sharks and England hooker, Andy Titterrell!

Spaces are limited so we encourage members, sponsors, and partners to secure their tables of 10 as soon as possible. You can book your seats on our website (via the link below) or by emailing srfc.operations@gmail.com to confirm your booking.

We will be holding a raffle on the day so if you, your business, or someone you know would be interested in contributing any donations and prizes for our auction, please get in contact using the email below.

Don't miss out - book your table of 10 now!

Book now: Annual City Lunch — Sevenoaks Rugby 

For all enquiries: srfc.operations@gmail.com

🏅Players of the Month - First Half of the Season🏅

A big congratulations to our players who have shown outstanding effort and determination throughout the first half of the season. You're hard work is truly appreciated!

A special thank you to wagamama for sponsoring this award and helping us celebrate our team's achievements! 🎉🙌

Looking forward to carrying this momentum into the second half of the season! ✅

🚨A reminder to members, you can receive 20% off when you present your membership card at Wagamamas in Sevenoaks🚨

Here's to 2025 and our Centenary Year

Dear Members,

As we wrap up 2024, and with the snow sadly having a say in the derby day proceedings, it’s a good time to reflect on what our Club has achieved and look ahead to the opportunities that await us in 2025, a special year for Sevenoaks Rugby Club as we celebrate our Centenary Year and mark 100 years since the Club played its first match!

Achievements in 2024

On the field, our 1st XV has come together as a force to be reckoned with. While it was a challenging start to the season, the team has truly begun to gel. Highlights include the determined and comprehensive win over Worthing, battling to victory in the elements over Westcombe Park, and Captain ‘Great’ Scott Sedgwick marking his 200th cap with a captain’s performance against Oxford Quins. These and other moments are a credit to the hard work of our players, coaching and medical team.

The performances by the 2s under the leadership of Alex Rolfe and 3s under James Anderson have been incredible as both sides push for promotion from their respective Counties 1 and 5 Kent Leagues. And it’s been great to see the Vets lacing up their boots for a few decent outings.

Our Senior Women’s team has grown significantly this year, with increasing numbers and promising performances from under the leadership of Grant Scandling (Women’s Head Coach), Kelly Downey (Women’s Squad Manager) as well as Emma Bowman (Women’s 1st XV Captain). This progress underscores our commitment to making Sevenoaks Rugby a club for everyone. Next season brings the exciting advent of entering a 2nd Women’s XV into the Inner Warrior league.

Two special moments over the Xmas period highlighted the Club’s commitment to youth rugby. Firstly a spirited victory by the Men’s Under 23s versus Sidcup on Friday 27 December gave the chance for some of our Academy graduates to reunite. Then the following day, a team mate to many of the lads involved at Sidcup, Angus Hall took to the field for Saracens for much of the Premiership encounter versus Bath at The Rec; albeit a tough day for his team, it was a very proud moment for Angus, his family and Sevenoaks Rugby. Not least since Angus was playing with fellow Oaks Juniors alum Ben Earl!

Community and business connections

Off the field, we’ve continued to make strides in community engagement. Events like the packed CHS Networks AI Business Breakfast helped to bring the business community together, to discover more about technology advancements, while initiatives like the Mighty Oaks Holiday Camp are serving to generate future players.

Another highlight without doubt was welcoming Lincoln and the touring Mzwandile Mali XV, named after Lincoln’s father and wearing the colours of the old Orientals Rugby Football Club, from South Africa. A huge thank you to everyone who inspired by Rupert and Louis made a special tour possible and properly put Sevenoaks Rugby on the map through local and national media coverage for the impressive outreach.

There’s a big off field team and energy behind everything that happens at the Club. So as well as a heartfelt thank you to my fellow committee members and indeed all our incredible volunteers I’d like to express the huge debt of gratitude we all owe to Coach Bowman, to Donna our Clubhouse manager and to Diane our catering supremo and their respective crews.

Club Financials 2024/25

Continuing on the theme of everything behind the scenes, we have managed a hugely impressive turnaround in the Club’s financial performance for the season ended 30 June 2024.

The headlines are:

• The consolidated performance resulted in surplus of £21k compared with losses of £58k and £87k in previous years

• Whilst costs rose more or less in line with inflation, turnover (in particular subs and bar/clubhouse income) was up by more than 30%.

This great outcome sets the Club on the right road towards 5-year plan goal of rebuilding reserves.

Our Club Centenary 2025

Looking ahead, 2025 will be an exciting and important year as we celebrate our centenary. This milestone gives us a chance to honour the past while setting a course for the future. Here’s some insights into where we’ll focus:

• Performance and Development: We will continue to ensure all players have the tools and opportunities to grow as athletes and individuals.

• Women’s Rugby: Building on this year’s progress, we aim to further support and develop our women’s teams at all levels thanks to Grant and team.

• Community, financials and facilities: We’ll aim to strengthen our engagement with members, supporters, and the wider community, as we look to build our future, and grow our financial performance for the entire club.

Our Centenary year will include special events and initiatives to celebrate this historic moment, and we look forward to involving everyone in marking 100 years of rugby at Sevenoaks.

Save the Dates to note down already are the City Lunch - Weds 26 March, and the Centenary Ball - Sat 6 Sept.

Remembering those we lost

I would like to take a moment to remember those whom the Club sadly lost in 2024. Their contributions and presence in our community will not be forgotten, and we will honour and remember them as the Centenary celebrates our past and the future opportunities made possible by the energy and dedication of so many people stretching back down the years.

I was personally saddened by the passing on Christmas Day of our dear friend Willy Pickance, a Club stalwart in every respect as a player and then epitomising the volunteering spirit at the heart of the Club through his unwavering dedication, including as the 1st XV Manager in my playing days and more recently a field steward. God bless you Willy, thank you for everything you did for your Club and travel well.

Thank you

Thank you all, from the 1925 Club, our sponsors and supporters to the players, coaches, medical team and officials on the pitch plus all those involved off the pitch for all your support this year. A special thank you too to Rosie and Hendo for bringing our Club Shop back to life. 

Inspired by our collective success, I look forward to what we can achieve together in 2025.

All the best and a very Happy New Year,

Steve Fitzmaurice, Chairman, Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Save the Date🚨: Join us to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on 22nd March! ☘️

With our 1XV, 2XV and 3XV teams all playing at home, what better way to celebrate than an evening of live music, good food, great company, and lots of fun? 🍻🕺

This event is open to all club members and we would love to see as many of you in the clubhouse following, what promises to be, a great day of rugby! 🏉✅

💚Dress code: Wear something green!💚

We look forward to seeing you all on the 22nd March. See below for who we will be playing:

1XV vs. Westcombe Park

2XV vs. Bromley

3XV vs. Beckenham III

Exciting News: Emily Burns Expands Her Role at Sevenoaks RFC

Dear Members,

We are excited to announce that from today Emily Burns is stepping into a full-time Operations role at Sevenoaks RFC. In addition to her 1st XV Team Manager responsibilities, Emily will now provide support for our commercial partnerships, sponsorships, rugby programme, and club social events. As the club continues to grow, Emily’s expanded role will be crucial in supporting this development.

Emily has played a key part in the Senior Men's squad over the last two years, and her expertise, passion, and dedication will undoubtedly make a significant impact as we continue to provide the very best experience for our members. This marks an exciting new chapter for both Emily and Sevenoaks RFC.

Please join us in congratulating Emily on stepping into this exciting new role!

Kind regards,
Adam Bowman
Director of Rugby

RIP Willy Pickance

We are sorry to report that we unexpectedly lost another Mighty Oak on Christmas Day in Willy Pickance.

Willy was an incredible supporter of the club and filled a number of roles including 1st and 2nd XV manager and was a great friend of so many.

The funeral will be held at 10am on 31st January, 2025 at Bluebell Cemetery, Halstead.

Club blazers are very welcome to be worn.

Exciting Growth for Senior Women’s Rugby at Sevenoaks RFC

Our Senior Women’s section at Sevenoaks RFC continues to go from strength to strength! Under the exceptional leadership of Grant Scandling (Head Coach), Kelly Downey (Squad Manager), and Emma Bowman (Captain), the squad has flourished both on and off the pitch.

We are delighted to announce that from January 2025, Sevenoaks RFC will proudly enter a Women’s 2nd XV into the Inner Warriors league. This exciting development means we’ll have two women’s teams competing in league rugby, showcasing the incredible progress our women’s section has made over the last three seasons.

Whether you’re an experienced player or completely new to the game, everyone is welcome to join our growing Senior Women’s squad. Please contact Emma Bowman at emmabowman17@gmail.com for more information!

This milestone is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and passion of everyone involved—players, coaches, and supporters alike.

We can’t wait to see what the future holds for the squad as they continue to grow and inspire the next generation of women in rugby.

Come on you Oaks! 💙💛