PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to Ben Adams who has been voted as February’s Wagamama Sevenoaks Player of the Month after some brilliant performances against Bury St Edmunds, North Walsham and TJ's.
Enjoy Ben!
A reminder, all Sevenoaks Rugby Club members can benefit from a 20% discount when dining at Wagamama Sevenoaks on presentation of your membership card!
Sevenoaks Rugby Club Expresses Gratitude to Moore Kingston Smith for Valuable Career Insights for Academy Squad
Sevenoaks Rugby Club extends its appreciation to Moore Kingston Smith for their invaluable support and enlightening career guidance provided to our Academy Squad during an event held last Sunday.
Moore Kingston Smith, a leading accounting and business advisory firm, very kindly offered their expertise and time to present career insights to the aspiring young athletes of Sevenoaks Rugby Club. The event served as an exceptional opportunity for our Academy Squad to gain valuable knowledge and understanding of potential career paths beyond the rugby field.
Matt McRae from Moore Kingston Smith's Corporate Finance team and Thomas Simmons from their Audit Services team led the session, providing firsthand experiences, advice, and industry perspectives to our young athletes.
For more information about Moore Kingston Smith and their services, please do not hesitate to reach out to Matt and the team, alternatively you can visit their website.
https://mooreks.co.uk
A Big Thank You to Warners!
We were delighted to welcome our valued sponsors Warners last Sunday at Sevenoaks Rugby Club, with Andrew Hawkins & Charles Tennant in attendance!
Your continued support means a huge amount to us and plays a crucial role in helping our club thrive both on and off the field.
Simply… thank you!
In the wind and the rain, rugby must prevail and prevail it did on Sunday as Sevenoaks hosted a festival for U8, U9 and U10 players. With teams attending from clubs near and far, the boys and girls were able to suitably stretch their legs and practice all they have learnt in training, hopefully sufficiently to provide a nice chilled afternoon for the parents once the customary loading of the washing machine, sometimes multiple loads if Mum or Dad are also a coach or got soaked through on the sidelines!
We would like to thank all those that attended, from players to parents, volunteers and staff at the club without whom we couldn’t host such brilliant experiences for the upcoming stars of the future. General feedback can be linked to words such as ‘fun/brilliant/awesome’ and that’s just from the parents!
Here’s to more in the future!!
U8s Gallery
U9s Gallery
U10 Festival Report
If you can keep your ball when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on the rain,
If you can trust your team when the opposition doubt theirs,
But take advantage for their doubting too;
If you can tackle and not be tired by tackling,
Or being run at, don’t take a step back,
Or being knocked over, don’t give way to rucking,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and all the mud that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a rugby player, my son!
For the U10 group, who have played together for six years, this was a first home festival. Some say that biblical rain, waterlogged pitches, a curtailed schedule, sodden spectators and cold winds would be a recipe for disappointment. And then you hear the voice of a ten year old boy, one eye squinting through a face caked in mud, above the throng of squelching tackles and with the scoreboard not in his team’s favour, utter the words ‘I love this!’.
From this two things are clear - this club has created a special home for our community, and the next generation of kids like many before are falling in love with this game.
Same again next year!
Dear Members,
Sevenoaks Rugby Club is delighted to welcome Birketts to the Sevenoaks Rugby Club family, as new sponsors in a three-year agreement.
Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, they have more than 500 lawyers and legal professionals based in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. They advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory. For more information, please visit - https://www.birketts.co.uk/
Sevenoaks Rugby Club Commercial Director Adam Bowman said “We are very excited to welcome Birketts as our newest sponsor, their commitment to the local community mirrors our own, and we look forward to working with each other for the next three years.”
On the sponsorship deal, Chris Pedder, Legal Director, said: “Birketts is proud to have secured our sponsorship deal with Sevenoaks Rugby Club for the next three years. The Club is at the very heart of the Sevenoaks community, and we are looking forward to supporting the efforts of all senior and junior teams as they continue to seek sporting success in the seasons to come.”
Yours in rugby,
Sevenoaks Rugby
First XV v Wimbledon programme for Saturday 9 March at The Paddock
Dear Members,
I am pleased to announce some exciting additions to our rugby management team here at Sevenoaks RFC. Please join me in welcoming Cory Blackmore and Tim McLaughlin, who have accepted the positions of Deputy Heads of Mini & Youth Boys Rugby.
Cory and Tim will be working closely with John Henley, who will continue to serve as the Head of Mini & Youth Boys Rugby, Justine McDonnell as Head of Youth & Academy Girls Rugby, Alex Rolfe as Academy Boys Manager, as well as myself, Adam Bowman, in my role as Director of Rugby.
With their wealth of experience and dedication to Sevenoaks RFC, Cory and Tim are poised to make significant contributions to our club's ongoing success.
Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Cory and Tim in their new positions.
Best regards,
Adam Bowman
Director of Rugby
Dear members,
It is with great pleasure that we extend a warm welcome to Roger Mckerlie as the newest member of our esteemed 1925 Club!
But that's not all! We have some exciting news to share. We are delighted to announce that Roger has accepted the role of Chairman of The 1925 Club. In this capacity, Roger will be instrumental in leading our efforts to expand and develop the 1925 membership purpose and offering to existing and new members. His commitment to our club's values and his vision for its future make him the perfect fit for this important role.
For further membership information, or if you are interested in joining The 1925 Club, please click here.
Best regards,
Adam Bowman
Director of Rugby
Our thanks to key partner Sevenoaks Medical Centre who in addition to sponsoring the club, sponsor Senior Defence Coach Jamie Cullen & Senior Back Row Forward Cade Cambier for the 2023/24 season.
Sevenoaks Medical Centre is a private medical centre which provides fast and convenient diagnostic services including MRI, CT, Ultrasound, mammography and X-Ray in a calm and relaxed environment, conveniently located next to Sevenoaks train station and town centre. Sevenoaks Medical Centre also provides Bupa Health Assessments, a One Stop Breast Clinic, Private GP appointments and consultations with clinicians in a variety of specialties and physical therapy, including podiatry. Further to this, as part of KIMS Hospital, Kent’s largest independent hospital, patients experience a seamless pathway between healthcare providers if surgery is required.
A WARM WELCOME TO TONBRIDGE JUDDIAN RFC
It’s Local Derby Day at The Paddock again. Some famous confrontations are specifically named – for instance football’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, and every time Kent play county cricket against Essex it is called The Battle of the Bridge. Some are even identified by road numbers, like the M23 derby between Brighton and Crystal Palace. It doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but maybe today’s fixture could be known as the B245 Matchup; other more imaginative ideas will be welcome!
However, we can certainly stand alongside other well-known fixtures in playing for a real trophy. The Ashes come readily to mind, and also the Calcutta Cup which will be contested at Murrayfield next Saturday. This afternoon all rugby eyes should be focussed on The Paddock as the ownership of the Gordon Mann Trophy comes up for offer once again.
In the 1950s our President Gordon Mann presented the trophy for annual competition between the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Rugby Clubs. When the leagues were reformed for 2001/02 with participants now playing both home and away, it was agreed that the aggregate scores of the two matches would decide which club would prevail. By this time Tonbridge had merged with Old Juddian, to become TJs. They now play in a patriotic red, white and blue strip, replacing Tonbridge’s late lamented chocolate and old gold, but more of that later.
I am reliably informed (from a TJs comment last season) that Tonbridge/TJs have their name engraved on the Gordon Mann Trophy 26 times to Sevenoaks 25. If that sounds tight, then this season’s showdown is even more intriguing with our October clash at The Slade ending in a 29-29 draw. There are no calculators needed this time - just a basic case of winner takes all.
So with bragging rights on the line, we extend the warmest welcome to everyone involved with Tonbridge Juddian RFC.
The history of Tonbridge RFC goes back to 1904, while Old Juddian were formed in 1928. The merger between these two clubs, thus becoming Tonbridge Juddian RFC, was achieved in 1999. Before 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.
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. OJs 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.
While congratulating TJs on their successes over the last 25 seasons, there are still some of us around from both camps who remember those pre-merger days with plunge baths, oranges at halftime, and even the odd song or three afterwards.
However, nostalgia takes second place from 2.30 for the next 80 plus minutes today as the destination of that trophy is decided for this season.
Howard Pearl
Other National League 2 East Division matches being played today:
Bury St Edmunds v Wimbledon Canterbury v Barnes
Guernsey v Dorking Henley v Esher
Old Albanian v Worthing Westcombe Park v North Walsham
First XV v Bury St Edmunds programme for Saturday 20 January at The Paddock
First XV v Bury St Edmunds programme for Saturday 20 January at The Paddock
It is with great sadness and regret that we have to announce the loss of another stalwart of Sevenoaks Rugby Club, ‘Muchy’. Jon Muchmore was another giant and one of the greats who played a large part in shaping the club in to what it is today and for that we will all be eternally grateful.
Some words on behalf of Sevenoaks Rugby Club:
We are all so saddened by the loss of our dear friend Muchy. He epitomised everything that is positive about our sport, our Club and life in general. He was famous for taking a genuine interest in the wellbeing of the people - especially coaches and players - around the Club and was always there to offer support and encouragement when it was needed most. Everyone around Muchy will remember his acts of kindness given in a selfless way and with a smile on his face. We will all look back with so much fondness for the times we shared together and he would be the first one to say to remember him with a smile as we reflect on all that he did for Sevenoaks Rugby Club.
A true gent, a class act and a decent bloke. Travel well our friend.
Details for Jon's Memorial service: Saturday 10th February @ 1400hrs
St Mary's church, Denbury TQ12 6DH
The church is in the centre of Denbury and easy to find. Park wherever you can in the village as the church does not have a car park.
After the memorial, there will be 'a bit of a do' at The Union Inn, which is within 2 minutes walk of the church.
There will not be a formal dress code....it's up to the individuals as to what they want to wear.
As a community club we are built on the shoulders of giants, people who tirelessly give of themselves for the betterment of others. Whilst we are fortunate to have many giants amongst us, we occasionally are blessed with individuals who present as a ‘brick’ in the very fabric of the club. Steve Rolfe was one of those Giants.
Some words from Paul ‘Viz’ Vizard:
It is with much sadness that regrettably I have to inform you that Steve Rolfe has suddenly passed away last week. Steve had been associated with our club for many years, starting his playing career in the 5th Team in 1993. He was also part of the 4th Team which went undefeated for two years in the 1990’s as a No.8. He enjoyed many club senior tours including Copenhagen, Milan and Newquay to name a few.
He met his wife Amanda whilst coaching Sevenoaks Ladies team with Lee Adamson in 1999. When their son William came along, it wasn’t long before Steve became one of his Coaches which he followed all the way through the age groups. He struck up great friendships with his fellow Coaches and went on many a ‘Chilly Willy Tour’ continuing after age group rugby had finished.
Steve was a larger than life character, always willing to help anyone and had a laugh that could be heard across many pitches. Our thoughts go to Amanda, William and his family at this sad time.
Funeral arrangements to follow.
Beaux Bagel has been trading since 1992 and in the heart of Sevenoaks since 2005, they serve delicious and genuine Brick Lane bagels!
Sevenoaks Rugby Club Commercial Director Adam Bowman commented: "We are delighted to be partnering with Beaux Bagel and supporting a local independent business. I am also pleased to share that members will be able to benefit from a 10% discount when visiting Beaux Bagel in Sevenoaks on presentation of your membership card.
First XV v Barnes programme for Saturday 6 January at The Paddock
Christmas came early at The Paddock as one of our favourite sponsors Aztech Group South East Ltd delivered a Mighty Acorn superbly carved by @lorcanobyrnesculpture which now takes pride of place at the 1st XV pitch entrance! 🌳
The Mighty Acorn is carved from solid wood and yes, it’s as heavy as it looks…. Some reasonable telehandler skills by Oaks second row Ian Burmeister too….
We anticipate seeing these popping up in gardens across Sevenoaks soon! 👀
#woodcarving #luckyacorn #aztechtrees #oak #centerstage#christmascameearly #ohwhentheoaks #mightyoaks
💙💛💙💛💙💛
Dear Members,
Sevenoaks Rugby Club is delighted to welcome A25 Cars LTD to the Sevenoaks Rugby Club family!
A25 Cars LTD is a leading Airport Taxi Service operating from Sevenoaks to Oxted and is dedicated to supplying a refreshing, reliable and courteous service for business travellers and family holiday makers. For more information, please visit - https://a25cars.co.uk
Sevenoaks Rugby Club Commercial Director Adam Bowman commented: "We are absolutely delighted to partner with A25 Cars LTD and excited for our members to benefit from the excellent airport transfer services on offer!
Stephen Greenfield, Director of A25 Cars LTD, said: "We are delighted to be sponsoring the "Mighty Oaks" for the first time and it is a pleasure to play a part in supporting a great community club. We wish everyone associated with Sevenoaks Rugby Club all the very best for the year ahead. COYO!"
Yours in rugby,
Sevenoaks Rugby
First XV v Guernsey programme for Saturday 16 December at The Paddock
Join us on Saturday 16th December for Super Christmas Saturday!