Hiring - Community Rugby Coach / Player

Sevenoaks Rugby Club – Community Rugby Coach/Player

Role:

Community Rugby Coach/Player

Overall purpose:

Sevenoaks Rugby Club is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated rugby professional to lead our Community Rugby Programme, as well as playing rugby for our Senior Performance Squad for the 2023-24 rugby season.

Reporting directly into Adam Bowman, Director of Rugby, this role will be responsible for -

·      Delivering high quality rugby coaching to primary & secondary schools in the Sevenoaks District, both in PE lessons & after school clubs.

·      Coaching a variety of enjoyable tag, touch, contact rugby sessions.

·      Building and managing key relationships with local primary & secondary school decision makers in the Sevenoaks District.

·      Delivering community holiday camps & festivals during school holidays.

·      Training & playing week in week out for the Senior Performance Squad.

We are looking for the successful applicant to start from August.

Essentials skills and experience:

England Rugby Coaching Award RFU Level 2 qualification, or working towards this.

Experience of coaching rugby to a wide variety of backgrounds, ages, and ability levels

Currently playing Adult Men’s Rugby, preferably with experience playing at Level 5 and above.

Enthusiasm and passion for developing rugby and individuals.

Ability to work to a flexible schedule.

Strong marketing and communication skills to support business development.

Driving License.

Must hold a UK/EU Passport or Ancestry Visa.

Working Hours & Pay

Pay – competitive and will be discussed at interview.

Accommodation opportunities available.

Community Coaching – Monday to Fridays during term time, c.9am-5pm.

Playing – Tuesday & Thursday evenings, Saturdays.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please get in touch with Director of Rugby - Adam Bowman.  Email - coachajbowman@gmail.com

Annual Partners Dinner - Season 2022/23

On Wednesday night we welcomed our sponsors & partners to our Annual Partners Dinner for season 2022/23.

A wonderful relaxed evening at the club, great food, plenty of rugby chat, and a great opportunity for us as a club to say thank you for your incredible support!

Thank you to all our sponsors & partners!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Pearl's Corner - 25/02/23

A WARM WELCOME TO BURY ST EDMUNDS RFC

Second XV matches generate an affinity between clubs, even though the respective First XVs do not compete against each other. Up to now, this has been the case with regard to contact between ourselves and Bury St Edmunds RFC.  Our Twos have travelled the distance to north Suffolk on several occasions and enjoyed some cracking games at that level.  On the other hand, as far as I can figure out, until now the Suffolk contingent has not ventured south to us.  So today we are delighted to welcome Bury’s first team to Knole Paddock for the first time.   

Our two clubs enjoy the same inauguration year of 1925 so, if we are contesting in the same division in three years’ time, we’ll have a couple of good parties.

Culford School, situated about four miles north of the town, was the central point for senior rugby for Bury’s formative years until the move to their present Southgate Street home in 1963, by which time four sides were sent out every Saturday.

Then tragedy struck in 1974.  On their return flight from Paris after attending the 5 Nations international, seventeen of the club’s 1st XV were killed in the then world’s biggest ever commercial airline disaster.  As one would expect, it took both the rugby club and the town itself a number of years to recover.  However building on the community spirit following such a catastrophe, and thanks to the hard work and dedication of its members, a larger new clubhouse was built and then extended in the late 1980s which allowed everyone involved to move forward with optimism.

Mini and youth rugby were introduced and, of course, leagues rugby began in 1987.  The fruits of this new mini and youth structure began to be seen ten or so years later. Bury’s first promotion was achieved in 2001, the Suffolk Cup was won five times in ten years from 2004, and four further promotions were forthcoming, resulting in National League rugby in 2015.  They have been a major force in Level 4 ever since.

Our away match earlier this season was a tight game played on a lovely sunny October afternoon.  The Bury crowd proved to be the extra man as they ran out 29-24 winners.  We can’t guarantee a sunny day in the Garden of England today, but we are certain our followers will give The Oaks the same lift as the home support did four months ago.  Another intriguing tussle is anticipated.              

Howard Pearl

Other London & South East Premier Division matches being played today:

Barnes v Tonbridge Juddian                     Blackheath v Henley

Dorking v Old Albanian                             Rochford Hundred v Canterbury

Westcliff v North Walsham                        Worthing v Guernsey

1st XV v Bury St. Edmunds Match day programme

Thanks as ever to Gerry Diebel of Direct Design for pulling together the match day programme as we take on Bury Rugby for the first time at The Paddock.

View fullsize

Hiring - Academy Girls Head Coach

Sevenoaks Rugby Club – Academy Girls Squad

Role:

Academy Girls Head Coach

Overall purpose:

Sevenoaks Rugby Club is seeking to appoint an Academy Girls Head Coach for the 2023-24 rugby season. The successful applicant will play a significant leadership role in taking our Academy Girls Rugby offering to the next level.

We are looking for the successful applicant to start between now and the summer, with training being held at the club on 1x evening a week and training and/or matches on Sunday’s.

This role will report into Alex Rolfe (Head of Academy Rugby), as well as working closely with Adam Bowman (Director of Rugby).

Context:

The Academy Girls Squad consists of u16 & u18’s RFU age bandings, and our objective is to create an environment which is enjoyable, professional, develops players on and off the pitch in preparation for adult & university life, is successful on the pitch, and produces players in the future for Senior Women’s rugby at Sevenoaks Rugby Club.

Essential skills, experience & responsibilities:

·      Minimum 5+ years hands on coaching experience either with Youth, Academy or Adult rugby teams.

·      Extensive knowledge of the game and best in class coaching practices

·      Session design & management

·      Managing and leading other specialist coaches in a team

·      Relevant coaching/teaching qualifications

·      Played/still plays rugby at a high level

·      Able to demonstrate innovation in coaching

·      Fit enough to run active and intense training sessions

·      Excellent planning and organisation skills

·      First class communicator who can design and articulate a rugby vision to players

·      Excellent motivator who can inspire and empathise with all rugby players and understand the different challenges and development phases they face and are going through

·      Responsible for driving content to the clubs existing social media teams and other forms of stakeholder engagement.

·      Must buy into the One Club ethos completely

Remuneration is available for this position and will be discussed at interview stage.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please get in touch with Director of Rugby - Adam Bowman.  Email - coachajbowman@gmail.com

Hiring - Casual Clubhouse Staff

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Role: Casual Clubhouse Staff

Overall purpose:

We are looking for Casual Clubhouse Staff who wish to become a key part of the Clubhouse team.

Responsibilities

Bar

• Serving customers both on the inside & outside bar.

• Ensure products and fridges are fully stocked

• Collecting and washing glasses

Catering

• Basic food preparartion

• Serving food to tables

• Cooking & serving BBQ food during 1st XV matches

• Washing Up

Other

• Selling rugby clothing from our on site club shop

• Helping to maintain high standards of cleanliness

• Setting up and clear down clubhouse events

Experience & Skills

• An enthusiastic individual who is willing to learn

• Helpful and friendly

• Customer focused with a positive attitude

• Strong communicator

Remuneration is available for this position and will be discussed at interview stage.

If you are interested in becoming a key part of the Clubhouse team please get in touch with our Clubhouse Manager – Donna Baker. Email – srfc.clubhouse@gmail.com

Bowman's Blog - 27/01/23

After being frozen out last weekend, we have three matches on Saturday, with two being played at the Paddock. The First XV welcome Rochford Hundred and the Third XV play Canterbury, whilst the Second XV travel to Canterbury for their match. These fixtures come after mixed fortunes for our sides last time out. The 2s delivered a great result against Westcombe Park 2s to open up a four point gap at the top of the Counties 2 Kent league whilst the 1s suffered a painful defeat away to an impressive Dorking team. It was a horrible feeling to be “nilled” and the coaching staff and players were hurting after the Dorking game. It was a reminder, if one was needed, that in National 2 East nothing short of 100% intensity is required to get something out of a game.

During training over the last two weeks we have reminded ourselves how well we have competed this season so far: securing points with good wins and when suffering narrow defeats. There is real belief amongst the squad that we can return to delivering competitive performances and build momentum for the rest of the season.

The visit of Rochford will see us facing an opponent we know from our London and SE days. Back then and in the Nat 2 fixture earlier in the season we faced a strong opposition who play a forward dominated game, with backs who can take their chances. The boys are aware they need to step up their intensity this weekend, knowing that anything less will result in defeat. Rochford sits one place and two points ahead of us in the league. We know securing points against teams around us in the table this season will be vital. We are 12th place in the league but there is a lot of rugby still to play. 

Every match this season is critical, so it is vital we maintain our “Fortress Paddock” mentality in particular, making it an uncomfortable place to visit for any opponent. As I have said before, the noisy support we receive at home really spurs the boys on; as witnessed in the excellent second half performance against Worthing three weeks ago.

We look forward to seeing you cheering on the 1s and 3s at home and I promise we will be giving everything to deliver a strong performance. Thanks in advance.

Pearl's Corner - 27/01/23

A WARM WELCOME TO ROCHFORD HUNDRED RFC

Almost three years ago I prepared a welcome note to today’s opponents.  The first paragraph read as follows: “The ecstasy of promotion brings further benefits the following season including making new friends with clubs we haven’t played before.   Our elevation to Level 5 has brought us into contact with no less than five new clubs, and today is one of these five “first times” we have the pleasure of hosting new visitors.  So let us give the warmest of Knole Paddock welcomes to everyone associated with Rochford Hundred Rugby Club.”

Thanks to the Covid pandemic, that match was never played. Now, here we are trying again, with both clubs having been promoted to Level 4 in the meantime, so we can finally reciprocate the hospitality that Rochford have twice already extended to us.  

Rochford Hundred began life in 1962 as an embryonic idea mooted by two friends, and supported by a small loyal band of volunteers, to spread the rugby gospel among their local community.  An immediate piece of good fortune appeared in the form of a nearby school, including pitched and changing rooms, which had just been closed due to its proximity to Southend Airport. 

Players were recruited locally and the name Rochford Hundred emanated from the title of the area in which the club was situated.  The word “Hundred” is an old English name for the division of lands for administrative, military and judicial purposes.  

Their first full season was 1962/63 when they turned out two sides and a Colts XV.  However, for those old enough to remember, this was a freezing winter when snow covered all pitches from Boxing Day until the beginning of March.

Rochford’s star began to rise slowly but surely. In 1968 they purchased their own ground in Magnolia Road for just £3,200 and six years later Dickie Jeeps opened their clubhouse which itself had cost just £11,500.  Mr Jeeps certainly got around a bit in those days;  we noted earlier this month he also opened the new Worthing clubhouse in 1977!  Further expansions and improvements have followed. The present structure is a thriving rugby venue and a hub for the local community, as in the dreams of those who started the enterprise sixty years ago.

Over the last few years Rochford’s playing record has been remarkable.  They secured successive promotions in ‘17/18 and ‘18/19 both with 100% records and, as we know, they prevailed again in the abridged Covid season of ‘19/20.

Our away match against them this season was nip and tuck all the way with the hosts eventually winning 24-19. However, especially on home soil with the balcony roar spurring them on, The Oaks are strong opponents against any side.  We look forward to a combative sporting contest this afternoon between two teams intent on cementing their status in the National Leagues.               

Howard Pearl

Other London & South East Premier Division matches being played today:

Barnes v North Walsham                Blackheath v Old Albanian

Dorking v Canterbury                     Tonbridge Juddian v Henley

Westcliff v Guernsey                      Worthing v Bury St Edmunds

1st XV v Rochford Hundred RFC Match day programme

Thanks as ever to Gerry Diebel of Direct Design for pulling together the match day programme as we take on Rochford Hundred RFC for the first time at The Paddock.

View fullsize

Bowman's Blog - 06/01/23

Happy New Year All

Rugby is back after the Christmas break (and the weather interruption in December). The whole club is very excited to be playing again, with all three senior sides in action this weekend. The 2s and 3s are both away at local rivals Tunbridge Wells and Old Dunstonians respectively; whilst the 1s welcome Worthing to The Paddock. The weather has been pretty soggy over the past week or so, so fingers crossed 🤞 all games are on. The December cancellations in truth came at a good time, giving a number of players the chance to recover from injuries.

We resume with the Seconds sitting pretty at the top of Counties 2 Kent league (having played a game more than Dover and Canterbury 2s) with an impressive 10 wins. The First team entered the break in 10th place in National League 2 East, slightly adrift from Guernsey and Bury St Edmunds above. The Oaks head a posse of 5 teams who may end up battling to remain in the league…… but early days. We certainly feel we have enough to stay in the league but as I have said before, we must take our chances at this level, knowing the opposition probably will.

We welcome Worthing who sit in 5th place in the league with 8 wins and 4 losses to The Paddock, remembering our early season match in deepest Sussex. It was fierce contest where we really imposed our physicality but one or two errors led to a tough to take narrow defeat. We know what to expect and will be ready to compete with a very good team.

I look forward to seeing a big (non-dry January) crowd at the weekend, as well as hoping some of you can support the 2s and 3s. Let’s start the new year with a good performance and hopefully a win.

COYO

Adam

Pearl's Corner - 06/01/23

A WARM WELCOME TO WORTHING RFC

Like ships passing in the night, we play against some clubs only periodically as promotion, relegation and divisional realignments force moves up and down the leagues.

Worthing RFC is one such club for us, so we are delighted to welcome back everyone associated with The Raiders after a 20 year absence from Plymouth Drive.

Our West Sussex visitors started life in 1920 (a belated congratulations for their 100th anniversary) with no clubhouse, hardly any equipment, and the use of a farmer’s meadow for a pitch.  After seven seasons and two productive moves, they settled at Castle Road, in the centre of their town, for over 45 years, within which the usual WW2 interruption occurred.

As rugby’s popularity increased in the 70s, especially with the onset of mini and more junior rugby, the need for expanded facilities became paramount.  So the big move from Castle Road, now unrecognisable with houses taking over, to Roundstone Lane in the adjacent village of Angmering was finalised in the second half of that decade.  The new pavilion, looking out on six pitches, was opened in 1977 by the legendary Dickie Jeeps and since then the Raiders have gone from strength to strength.  The club is now officially designated as the Centre of Excellence for Sussex Rugby.

As noted regarding previous visitors to Knole Paddock, it was only the introduction of leagues in 1987 that gave clubs the opportunity and desire to play matches beyond the usual local opposition.  Our first encounter with Worthing was in September ’95.  In those early seasons the divisions, while made up of 13 teams, were played on a once-only basis rather than home and away.  We made the (then) long journey down to the South Coast and came away with a 23-23 draw.  The following season, with the divisions organised on the same basis, we triumphed 37-24 on the way to one of our promotions.  Then following Worthing’s own promotion we locked horns again in 02/03, this time playing home and away.  This time Worthing were the victors both times while on their way to a second successive promotion. 

Now 20 seasons later we meet up again and at two levels above our last encounter.  The earlier match this September was a close affair with Worthing prevailing 32-27.  We look forward to today’s intriguing fixture and to many more meetings in the coming seasons.       

Howard Pearl

Other National League 2 East Division matches being played today:

Bury St Edmunds v Tonbridge Juddian                  Canterbury v Westcliff

Dorking v Barnes                                                  Guernsey v Henley

Old Albanian v North Walsham                             Rochford Hundred v Blackheath

1st XV v Worthing RFC Match day programme

Thanks as ever to Gerry Diebel of Direct Design for pulling together the match day programme as we take on Worthing for the first time in 20 years.

View fullsize

1st XV v Tonbridge Juddians RFC Match day programme

Thanks as ever to Gerry Diebel of Direct Design for pulling together the match day programme as we take on TJs for the first time in 12 years.

View fullsize

Bowman's Blog - 09/12/22

Two more fixture weekends left before the Christmas break, with all three senior sides in action this Saturday. The 1s face local rival Tonbridge Juddians at The Paddock, while the 2s and 3s travel away to Gillingham Anchorians FIrst XV and Old Colfieans Seconds XV respectively.

Last weekend delivered a mixed outcome for the squad, with an excellent win for the Seconds against Dover, seeing them return to the top of the Counties 2 Kent League. However the Firsts were on the wrong end of the result in a high scoring match away at North Walsham. Unfortunately, having made the long trip to Norfolk, it was probably our least impressive performance of the season against a team below us in the league. It goes to reinforce the point that at this level we just cannot have a matchday where we are not 100% on our game. We gave away easy tries through sloppy defending and credit to Walsham for taking advantage. I was pleased we showed our grit with a try to secure a bonus point with the last play of the game. Every point will count in this league. 

This weekend will offer the Firsts a very stern test. TJs are an experienced team, with an 8 and 4 record this season taking them to 6th in the league; with some impressive results against teams at the top of the table. That said, we know we can compete with them but must show the intensity and concentration we demonstrated in the Henley home win two weeks ago. It is exciting to welcome TJs who were playing in National 1 only a year ago.

It’s going to be a chilly one this Saturday but what better way of warming  yourselves than shouting on The Oaks at The Paddock. Your support is really appreciated by the boys. Of course there is the small matter of the round ball game match at 7pm, so we hope many of you will stay on at the club to enjoy a great atmosphere.
COYO
Adam

Pearl's Corner - 09/12/22

A WARM WELCOME TO TONBRIDGE JUDDIAN RFC

According to the AA Route Planner, it is a 17 minutes journey of 7.2 miles between The Paddock and The Slade but, until recently, a near continental divide in rugby terms between The Oaks and TJs.

It is with much anticipation and pride that once again, after a 12 year hiatus, we can host our most local rugby friends and rivals for a 1st XV match.  All our other teams, from 2nd XV down to the Under 6s have locked horns over the ensuing seasons, so it’s not as though we don’t know each other well.  With that recent history in mind, we extend the warmest welcome to everyone involved with Tonbridge Juddian RFC.

Right from our formation in 1925, we had strong ties with Tonbridge, whose own history goes back to 1904. Our association with Old Juddian, formed in 1928, was more recent, beginning in the early 70s.  The merger between these two clubs, thus becoming Tonbridge Juddian RFC, was achieved in 1999.

Prior to the unification, their own local friendly rivalry was intense, compounded by the fact that they both played side by side on the Tonbridge Recreation Ground, or “over the hedge” as they put it.  With an approximate 25 years gap between their births, they combined their Jubilee celebrations in 1954 and again 10 years later.

When Leagues began in 1987, OJs were placed in a higher division than Tonbridge, but the town club had its Clubhouse in Avebury Avenue and immediate access to the Recreation Ground. OJ s moved from the school to The Slade in 1995, by which time the Tonbridge Clubhouse was looking decidedly rickety, to say the least.  When the two clubs merged the proceeds from the sale of the Clubhouse were used to develop The Slade and town rugby in general.

After some seasons of smoothing out after the merger, TJs decided to pursue higher status and brought in top notch semi-professional talent.  Promotions were inevitable and the ambition to achieve National League status was achieved in 2015.  One further step up the ladder to Level 3 was gained in 2020.  Now back in Level 4, TJs continue as a force to be reckoned with.

Our Leagues record against the merged TJs is won 4 and lost 5, with the last match played at The Slade in February 2010.  For added spice to our rivalry, we contest the Crum-Ewing Rugby Ball Trophy.  The winner is the team with the highest points aggregate after the two matches in the season.  The Oaks last won it in 2005, but lost out when the clubs met again in 2010.  The trophy resides safely with TJs, but wouldn’t it be good to see that little ball back at SRFC?   

Howard Pearl

Other National League 2 East Division matches being played today:

Barnes v Old Albanian                                Bury St Edmunds v  Guernsey                

Canterbury v Henley                                   Dorking v Westcliff

Rochford Hundred v North Walsham           Worthing v Blackheath

1st XV v Henley RFC Match day programme

Thanks as ever to Gerry Diebel of Direct Design for pulling together the match day programme as we take on Henley for the first time at the Paddock.

View fullsize

Bowman's Blog - 25/11/22

Well, last weekend showcased the fantastic development of Sevenoaks Rugby Club over recent years. We were excited to host Blackheath for a first ever full league match; in National 2, and on the Sunday we fielded a ladies team away to Edenbridge. Both results went against us I am afraid but the progress the club is making right across the board is very exciting. Let’s not forget the Acorns also played against Lordswood, losing narrowly.

This weekend sees a full set of fixtures with the 3s at home to Tunbridge Wells Seconds, the 2s away to Vigo and the 1s playing Henley at The Paddock.
Last weekend’s match for the Firsts was the ‘catch up’ game from the earlier cancelled fixture, so there was no movement in the second half of the league table. Oaks remain on 18 points, 4 places behind Henley who has won 6 and lost 4 of their National 2 games this season. They have had some very impressive results this year, with their defeats all being narrow ones.
We expect another tough day at the office! What did we learn last week against the best team in the league ? Leading at half time but ending up conceding a hatful of tries in the final quarter reminds us we need to maintain the intensity and skill levels needed throughout 80 minutes. We know we can compete at this level and we certainly gave Blackheath a tough game for 60 minutes. That said, the boys know we need to improve, despite a great effort last Saturday.
This weekend looks set to be mainly dry on match day so please come down to support the teams. We had over 300 supporters through the turnstile (well it’s a folding table actually😀), eating, drinking and watching good rugby. We will do our best to serve up an entertaining feast again.

COYO
Adam

PS A reminder we are keen to hear from more women who want to join Sevenoaks Rugby😊

Pearl's Corner - 25/11/22

A WARM WELCOME TO HENLEY RFC

The London Bus simile is in action.  This is our third consecutive home match when we can give a warm Knole Paddock welcome to yet another club brand new to our fixture list. So again, we are delighted to be the hosts for this first ever match against Henley Hawks.

Henley also just happen to be the 100th different club we have played against in League competition since it all started in September 1987.  No prizes for trying to guess all the names, but it reflects our ascension from Level 9 many seasons ago to our present National Leagues standing.

Old Henleiensians (yes I’ve double checked and that is the right spelling!), was formed in 1930 because recent alumni wanted to continue playing rugby after school.   Competitive matches were played up to WW2 when the club disbanded but then reformed in 1954, for the same reason as previously.  Then, as with several other Old Boys clubs they went “open” in 1963 and changed their name to Henley – probably much to the relief of other clubs’ fixture secretaries and spell checkers.  All this coincided with their big move to Dry Leas where they have resided ever since.

Henley started League life in South West 2, equivalent to Level 6.  Then, in 1990 a certain Clive Woodward took over the coaching role, with almost instant results. Promotion was gained in 1992 and again in 1994 to achieve National Leagues status.  After Woodward departed to pursue his ambitions, two further promotions were gained to land them in Allied Dunbar 2, now The Championship.  

As they moved up the RFU pyramid, in 1997 The ”Hawks” monicker was added to their name which the club have kept and celebrated for the last 25 years.

The Hawks’ final break with The Championship was in 2005 and since then they have oscillated between Levels 3 and 4, including four consecutive seasons in which they were relegated and promoted twice each.  This is now The Hawks’ sixth season on the trot in Level 4 and again they are proving to be doughty opposition against all comers.

So The Oaks face another stern test, but other clubs’ website comments show that we are being noticed for our own durability.  An intriguing Level 4 match between the established and the newcomer awaits.    

Howard Pearl

Other National League 2 East Division matches being played today:

Barnes v Bury St Edmunds                         Blackheath v Westcliff

Canterbury v Old Albanian                          Dorking v North Walsham 

Rochford Hundred v Guernsey                    Worthing v Tonbridge Juddian   

Bowman's Blog - 18/11/22

This Saturday sees the Mighty Oaks First XV play the previously postponed fixture against Blackheath. It is the only match held in the league this weekend as it is a scheduled rest week for National 2 East. This will then bring all teams in the league to the same number of games played, ten.

Last weekend saw the 1s and 2s in action, with satisfying returns. The Seconds delivered an impressive victory at home to Maidstone in front of another good crowd at the Paddock. The Firsts made the long trip to Guernsey to play a wind affected match (‘a game of two halves for sure!’) and earn a 28-28 draw with a try by Jonny Short, who ran the length of the field, on the last play of the game. Two league points secured. Sevenoaks are now on 18 points and sit in twelfth place but with only 4 points separating us from the three teams above.  As we find our feet at Level 4 we will be doing everything we can to turn the draws and narrow defeats we have suffered into wins. The margin for error, we are finding, is small !

Saturday will be a special day at The Paddock. No games for the 2s and 3s, but the First XV host Blackheath, a club with a rich pedigree at this and higher levels in National rugby. Probably favourites to be promoted back to National 1, (they have a 7 and 2 record so far this season) we will be expecting a very tough game this weekend. They will present a significant challenge, which we are looking forward to, with their powerful pack and dangerous back line. We will need to be at our best, minimise the error count and take points when opportunities arrive if we are to get something out of the game. It’s been a week of training in soggy conditions but the boys will be ready.

The weather doesn’t look too bad for Saturday so we look forward to the arrival Blackheath and giving them a vociferous Paddock welcome. All support is appreciated. We look forward to seeing you for what we hope will be an exciting match.

COYO

Adam

Pearl's Corner - 18/11/22

A WARM WELCOME TO BLACKHEATH FC

Yes, albeit slightly delayed, we are at last delighted to host a league fixture against one of the best known clubs in the rugby world.  Blackheath are in the running for promotion back to National 1 come April, so let us make the most of what could well be a unique occasion today and give a traditional warm Knole Paddock welcome to everyone involved with “The Club”. 

Not only is Blackheath FC the oldest independent rugby club in existence, but also its representatives have played a significant part in the development of our game locally, nationally, and on an international basis.  Blackheath and the Rectory Field hosted the first England v Wales match in 1881 and continued such hospitality until the cabbage patch at Twickenham took over in 1907.

They may have slipped from the pinnacle of the game in recent seasons but how many other clubs can boast an international list of upwards of 250 players while on the books of this world-famous side? Such luminaries as CB Fry and Andrew Stoddart leap out from that long list and, of course, Micky Skinner’s name is still a byword for unadulterated passion, commitment, and “munching” the oppo.  He only lives round the corner and his sons have all worn the blue and gold for The Oaks.  It will be great to see him here today, maybe with divided loyalties.

This match is on our fixture list thanks to our 21/22 wonder season and Blackheath’s litany of close losses last term; surely 15 losing bonus points in 28 matches must be some sort of record, albeit an unenviable one. By reputation, The Club deserves to be higher up the RFU pyramid and we wish them well apart, of course, from the match today and the return fixture on 17th December.

Our paths have crossed in Cup matches.  We have met twice in the Kent Cup, losing 13-26 in 1995 and 17-42 in 2005.  However, one of our legendary wins occurred in the National Trophy competition in 1999 when we overturned a strong Blackheath XV 41-40 in the final minutes.

The rapidity of our rise to Level 4 has surprised many, including a sprinkling of our own members.  Major decisions have had to be made quickly to comply with the more stringent regulations of National Leagues rugby and to bolster the squad for the serious upgrade in strength and skill that we are encountering.  Adam’s team and the whole Oaks Committee have worked long and hard to prepare us for this challenging season. Today’s fixture shows how far we have come and is the type of test that is relished by all of us at SRFC.

Howard Pearl