All tickets that we will be allocated to the club via the RFU have been taken and I have a reserve list of 6 tickets for each home game. I will continue to add to the reserve list but any requests sent after 21:30 09/09 can not be considered probable. I will confirm in writing to all those successful in obtaining tickets or being on the reserve list after purchase which I am thinking will be c22nd September.
Away games will be a ballot as and when we know the allocation.
On Sunday 15th September, myself and a close group of friends involved in the senior playing squad will be cycling the London to Brighton event to raise money and awareness for the Crohns’ and Colitis UK Charity.
This is a charity that has become very close to us all after seeing our best friend, and former coach and TWRFC Director of Rugby, suffer due to the disease. Over the last 6-8 months this man’s life has been turned upside down. Exacerbations in his condition led to multiple surgeries, two intensive care admissions and more than 55 days in hospital. Seeing the impact this had, not only on his physical and mental health, but on his loved ones was heart breaking! Fortunately, with the support of his family, friends and amazing fiancé he is feeling himself again and back on the road to recovery.
Having witnessed his ordeal, myself, Chaz Spence, Nick Doherty, Adam Webb, Tom Claridge and Bruce Wilson will be participating in the London to Brighton Cycle ride in September. We will be raising money for the ongoing research in Crohn’s and Colitis for the continued and developing care of it’s sufferers. To make the journey that bit more special we will all have the pleasure and privilege to celebrate his wedding day two weeks later.
In the famous words of Jean-Bertand Aristide:
‘If one of us suffers, we all suffer. Togetherness is strength”
With that in mind let us show what a great community club TWRFC is. Let us all get behind this event and show support for the clubs own through such a challenging time. Any donation would greatly be appreciated, however big or small. Please use the just giving link below to show your support.
Mike Hathaway
Tunbridge Wells welcomed last season’s runners-up in the top flight Belgian ‘Elite League’, RC Soignies to St. Marks for their second pre-season game as they build towards their third successive campaign in the London and South East Premier Division.
It was a measure of their opponent’s level that three of the squad had represented Belgium in their most recent international game against Romania.
In sweltering conditions, four 20 minute periods of rugby were played for what was a competitive and a very productive afternoon for Wells. There were plenty of positives to be drawn and, as ever at this stage, a few areas identified which will need tidying up before the start of the league season.
The visitors eventually ran out as deserving 38-33 winners. For Wells there were tries from George Montgomery, Ollie Allman, Max Hobbs, Mike Doherty and Academy player Jack Palmer on debut. Montgomery and Frank Reynolds kicked two conversions apiece.
Post match festivities continued long after the final whistle and talk of a return tour in the spring was top of the agenda. “We have found a sister Club on the Continent” said Club President Alan Skinner.
Next week, Tonbridge Juddians come down the A21 to St. Marks for the now traditional pre-season match, which this year includes a warm up fixture with the TJs Pink Ladies taking on an invitation Tunbridge Wells Ladies team in a X Rugby 7s format match.
The sport will start from 1.30 and a big crowd is expected.
TWRFC Club overview which Graham “Press Officer” Withers submitted for a feature in Index (I believe the brief for this was 250 words…). Figures updated end 2020/21.
Tunbridge Wells RFC was officially formed as Old Skinners RFC in 1931 before becoming open to all players and renamed in 1973. Home games are played at St Marks off Frant Road in the town, and it is a quirk of geography that half the pitches sit in Kent whilst the others are in Sussex.
Under new Chairman Mike Rigby and the club’s Executive Board, the club has a vision “to be a volunteer-based Community Club, which champions sport for players of all age, gender, diversity and ability, enabling them to play to the best of their ability on first class facilities; playing high quality senior rugby at or above London SE Premiership level”.
The club is about to embark on a third season at National Level Five after a period of unparalleled success on the pitch that witnessed three promotions in four years and victory at Twickenham (cheered on by 10,000 supporters) in the 2016 National Intermediate Cup Final.
Over half of the current First XV squad are home-grown players, most having come through the hugely successful Mini, Junior and Academy sections, with the rest of the senior squad made up of talented and ambitious British and overseas players who have been attracted to the club by its success. The club runs three senior Saturday teams catering for those wishing to play both “serious” and “social” rugby, plus a thriving Veterans squad.
Last year saw two players – flanker Mike Hathaway and outside half Frank Reynolds – don the Kent jersey, whilst both Chaz Spence and Nick Doherty have played for they county side in recent times. The path of players like Hathaway is a blueprint for what the club is looking to achieve in that he started at the club as a mini rugby player, then moved through all the age groups before returning from University to eventually captain the First XV and represent Kent.
The club have been running Girls-Only Rugby (year 7 and above) since 2014 with considerable success. The Under 15s reached the 2018 National semi-finals & the Under 18s won every Kent Competition, Cup & League in 2019. This has not come easily as rugby must compete with many other activities including Cadets, Dancing, Horse Riding and other sports, but the current 60 girls work really hard to give rugby its time because they get more than just a sport – they get a team of mates around them; they get to play a physical sport safely and there are no size/shape restrictions as everyone can play somewhere. The club welcomes everyone to give it a go and that includes school-age+ ladies!
The Junior section is the bedrock of the club with over 750 registered players from under 6s to Under 18s. This includes in excess of 50 players from Under 16-Under 18 which makes up the Colts. This age group also feeds the Academy geared towards nurturing boys into future 1st XV players for years to come. The Academy is at the heartbeat of the club and the challenge it faces are the same as many sports – keeping the next generation interested in playing either elite or social rugby. To do this the club is proud of its “one club” ethos, and with this in mind coaches have gone out into the school community at both at Primary and Secondary level.
For 2019/20 the club is seeking to grow the youth membership (within the confines of space, and to assist in this it has tied up with local schools to gain access to all-weather pitches); to strengthen and deepen the senior squads; to invest further in the club’s assets (pitches, playing and clubhouse) and in an increasingly “professional” era in all aspects, to grow its commercial partnerships. The upcoming Rugby World Cup should also increase exposure to the sport across all media and social channels, which provides significant opportunities for clubs such as Tunbridge Wells.
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THE BEST DEFENCE OPRO has been providing a unique impression service to schools and clubs for over 20 years. This year, the OPRO team will visit TWRFC and take impressions from all players who would like to purchase a Custom-Fit mouthguard. Please place your order a minimum of one week in advance of the visit date in order for you/your child to be included for the impression taking. The OPRO team will be visiting TWRFC on:
Click below for the full range and to order: |
THE OPRO MOUTHGUARD
• Wide range of colours and designs
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So it’s three weeks since the AGM and I already feel fully ensconced in the role of Chairman. I thought I would share a quick ‘Blog’ with my thoughts and what we are working on to ensure we deliver on our mandate.
So here is a whistle stop tour of what’s going on:
Lastly, I am enjoying the challenge of getting us ready for the new season and whilst we have come up against a few challenges we are relishing them. Can’t wait to see you up the club soon. If you feel you can help us in any way then please let us know, all volunteers are welcome.
One Club, #oneTWRFC
Mike
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of George Leaney yesterday morning in The Tunbridge Wells and Pembury hospital after a short illness.
George was an uncompromising second row who played at high level in the Army during National Service and for London Irish as well as for Old Skinners’ in the 60’s and early 70’s. He will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with his wife Skip and his family.
Funeral service to be held on 31st July at 3pm at:
Kent and Sussex Crematorium
Benhall Mill Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN2 5JJ
Family flowers only. Donations to Cancer Research UK
Roger Clarke
Pre-season training starts on Saturday 6th July. Come and train with dynamic coaches and enthusiastic players.
We have a great set up with the (almost) youngest head coach in Kent and a team of fitness and physio experts to put you through your paces and then put you back together. Come along. We want YOU!
