Pictures, comments and info from our members
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.
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.
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:
Yours in rugby,
Your Committee
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
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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🚨
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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
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
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
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.
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! 💙💛
On Friday, December 6th, we were thrilled to host the CHS Networks AI Business Breakfast at Sevenoaks Rugby Club, bringing together over 60 attendees from our sponsors, partners, and the local business community. 🌟
A massive thank you to our event sponsor, CHS Networks, for their generous support, and to our guest speaker, Louis Graham from Westcoast Cloud, for an inspiring live demo of Microsoft's AI Copilot. The presentation showcased the transformative potential of AI for businesses, sparking incredible discussions and ideas among all in attendance.
If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor or partner and joining the thriving business community at Sevenoaks RFC, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Adam Bowman at coachajbowman@gmail.com to learn more about the opportunities to connect with our vibrant club and community.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this fantastic morning of innovation, collaboration, and networking! 👏
Paul Dawson to Step Down as Academy Head Coach
At the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, Paul Dawson will step down as Academy Head Coach at Sevenoaks RFC.
Over the past six years, Paul has done an outstanding job leading the academy. His dedication, energy, and passion have been unmatched, and his impact on the program has been transformational.
The academy is now stronger than ever, a testament to Paul’s incredible leadership and hard work.
Paul, you should be immensely proud of everything you’ve achieved. Thank you for your remarkable commitment to the players, the club, and the game. You've left a legacy that will benefit the academy for years to come.
As we look to the future, the club will shortly begin the process of finding Paul’s replacement. Our goal is to build on the foundations Paul has created and ensure a smooth transition leading into Season 2025/26.
Thank you, PD!
Adam Bowman
Director of Rugby
Sevenoaks Medical Centre is proud to support Sevenoaks Rugby Club, not only as a sponsor, but as the club’s Medical Partner. While we hope you won’t need their assistance, rest assured that Sevenoaks Medical Centre is just a phone call away, ready to provide care for players, members and visitors at the club if needed.
Click on the link to find out more about Sevenoaks Medical Centre - https://kims.org.uk/sevenoaks-medical-centre/
Look out for the new Sevenoaks Medical Centre medical bibs on match days, which will be arriving soon!
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