October 2008. Issue 106

Club Spotlight

Leonard gives boost to Warlingham scrum

Hugh Godwin

Warlingham RFC’s opponents in London 3 South East will be on their mettle in the scrum this season in the knowledge that the Surrey club have been coached by England legend Jason Leonard. Warlingham – who won the Surrey One title in 2006 and followed that up by winning London 4 South West last season – had the benefit of Leonard’s mighty experience and insight at a summer training camp for all their players from 1st XV to Under-16s. “We all started at junior clubs,” said Leonard, who won 119 caps for England and the Lions including the 2003 Rugby World Cup final victory. “I know I played the bulk of my career at Harlequins, but I started at Barking, trying to juggle training two or three times a week and playing on a Saturday with holding down a full-time job. “The big thing I told the players at the training camp is to go out there and enjoy yourselves, whether you are a player for Warlingham’s 2nd XV or England. “Natural talent can only take you so far, and the more time you have to train, the better.” Peter Upton of the Warlingham club welcomed Leonard, who these days combines a business life with serving as a National Member on the RFU Council and the new Professional Game Board, to the club’s Hamsey Green ground. “If there’s one rugby player who’s been there, done that and bought the T-shirt, it’s Jason Leonard,” said Upton. “Jason’s career straddled the amateur as well as the professional era, so he has a real understanding of what it takes to combine rugby training with full-time work or study.” Constant rain was no impediment to ‘Jase’ as he ran through a set of drills and exercises similar to those he would have used with Quins and England. Tony Doe, Warlingham’s 1st XV team manager, said: “Jason is one of the most respected figures in the game and his presence here has been a huge inspiration to our players, even some of our more experienced guys.”

BENNY LEE CELEBRATES 70th IN STYLE

Peterborough staged a special celebration match to mark the 70th birthday of club stalwart Benny Lee revcently. Lee, who has played rugby for 55 years, was presented with a Rugby Football Union VIP tie by Derek Watkins, president of the East Midlands RU, in recognition of his outstanding service to the sport. “You are one of our very special people,” Watkins said. “To still be playing the game at 70 years old is a wonderful achievement and the Rugby Football Union would like to mark it by presenting you with this RFU VIP tie. “You Benny are a very important person. You have given so much to the game of rugby and you have so much to be proud of during a career that’s still going strong after 55 years. You are a credit to the game and to Peterborough Rugby Club.” Lee played a starring role on the pitch for his own XV against the Peterborough Juggers, the side he normally plays for. His side included his sons Nick and Peter and daughter Pippa who had flown in from New Zealand specially for the occasion. Apart from his VIP tie, Lee was also presented with a long-service certificate and he was overcome with emotion by the occasion. “I have had a wonderful time, not just today but for 55 years of playing rugby,” he said. “The game is so dear to me. I can never see myself giving up playing.”

Rugby lays down more roots in inner London

Hugh Godwin

Eight years after the creation of the renowned Southwark Tigers junior club in Bermondsey, a new adult team is building on the success of rugby in this part of inner London. Southwark Lancers RFC kick off their debut season in the Kent RFU Metropolitan League as the result of a joint effort between Vernon Neve-Dunn of the Southwark Tigers and Chris Callaway, who was keen to establish an adult rugby side in this inner city area previously dominated by football. And to launch the season in style all the teams from the League as well as a number of other local sides were invited to a 10-a-side Social Festival at the Tigers and Lancers’ home pitches in Burgess Park last month (September), with sponsorship from Shepherd Neame Brewery. The Rugby Football Union and rugby charity Wooden Spoon have provided support and equipment along the way as the Southwark Tigers worked to establish themselves and rugby in unfamiliar territory. The club attracted boys and girls from the local Afro-Caribbean population and combined playing and training at Burgess Park near the Old Kent Road with travelling to fixtures in the much more traditional rugby heartlands of outer London and north Kent. An indicator of Southwark Tigers’ success in laying down rugby roots is that three or four players who came through their ranks will now be turning out for the Lancers including Kerry Sullivan, 20, who was 13 when he joined the Tigers. Also playing for the Lancers will be Dave Patterson, a parent-coach of Southwark Tigers’ Under 13s. Southwark Tigers and Southwark Lancers have many more dreams to fulfil including that of a new clubhouse but Tigers’ Vernon Neve-Dunn said: “We are very happy with the quality of our pitches and changing rooms provided by Southwark Council and cannot wait for the new team to kick off. “I’d like to thank Matt Mitchell, the RFU’s development officer for Kent Metro, and Harry Boyle, our RFU community rugby coach, for all their hard work in the setting up of the Lancers. “It is fantastic that the 17 and 18 year olds who began playing rugby with Southwark Tigers now have an adult side they can feed into.” Southwark Lancers will wear brand new Tsunami kit supported by sponsorship from specialist recruiter Financial Marketing Recruitment. And the Adam Cole Foundation charity – which was set up by Tara Corry, wife of the Leicester and former England captain Martin Corry who played his mini and youth rugby in Kent – has funded shirts and rain jackets for the Southwark Tigers.

Gillingham Town

Gillingham Town Mayor Ian Stewart, officially opened North Dorset Rugby Football Club’s newly refurbished club shop last month (September). During the closed season, the shop has been totally renovated. It has tripled in size to over 250 square feet. Most of the building work was done by club members Matthew Green and Tony Cannings, with shop manager Terry Roper along with his assistant Eric Plummer doing the decoration. Terry has been running the shop for about 5 years and was recently presented with a Rugby Football Union Volunteer of the year award. The club shop now has over 100 lines, from mini, youth and senior playing kit to club branded attire for ladies, gents, children and even babies. The club shop is open to members weekday evenings and during the day at weekends.

Cornish All Blacks in the pink

The Cornish All Blacks are All Pink this season as they help to support Cancer Research UK. Launceston’s new pink kit will be worn in every away game in their National Two campaign, and £4 from every sale of the shirts will be donated to the charity. “The reason for pink is simply to support a good cause, with £4 of all purchased pink shirts from either our club shop or any other retail outlets going to Cancer Research,” said Ian Morgan, Cornish All Blacks’ Administration Manager & Academy Coach. “The 2008-09 season is the club’s 60th anniversary and to mark the occasion we made a decision to find a way to support and raise money for a good cause that would benefit on a local and national level. “The players are more than happy to wear the shirts for such a worthwhile cause. The club has a number of senior members’ whose families have been involved with cancer in different ways, including one ex-presidents’ wife raising a significant amount of money for the Primrose Ward for cancer sufferers at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital. “Hopefully 2008-09 season will not only see some success on the playing field but will also help us to raise some much needed funding for an extremely good cause. If anyone is interested in supporting this fund please take a look at our club shop online at www.cornishallblacks.co.uk.”

Q8 Oils Development

Yorkshire Three club Roundhegians RFC are delighted that Leeds-based Q8 Petroleum International Lubricants has sponsored their Development Team this season. The team includes a majority of young players who first started playing at the club at the age of seven. Their emergence in senior sides is highly significant because the club – which has recently achieved Year 3 Seal of Approval and Investors in People status – now has a complete rugby continuum for the first time. Five years ago Q8 Oils also helped the club take many of the young players pictured here on their first tour abroad, which was hosted by Italian premiership club Viadana. Chairman Stafford Smart commented “We have a vibrant youth rugby set-up, thanks to a huge amount of work on the part of coaches, team managers and other volunteers; it’s fantastic when a large company recognises the importance of supporting the work they do to promote and develop the game at grass roots level in the way that Q8 has.”

Andover Healthy Thanks to HSA

Local Healthplan provider, HSA is to renew its sponsorship agreement with Andover Rugby Club (ARFC) to support the club’s youth academy for the 2008/9 season. HSA’s support will continue to cover the costs of a number of projects that the Club plans to implement over the season further strengthening the offerings available to the young players. Chris Harrison, Managing Director at HSA, which is part of the Simplyhealth Group, says: “We are proud to have supported the Club for a number of years as it has proven to be an integral feature in our local community. The hard work and dedication shown by the Club’s members has impressed us as we believe encouraging local young people to enjoy themselves in an active, healthy way, is of great importance.” Dickie Staff, chairman of Andover RFC – Youth Academy, commented: “We are delighted that HSA has agreed to continue sponsoring the Youth Academy for a 4th successful season. Our academy includes 13 different age groups consisting of over 350 boys and girls as the club continues to encourage youth rugby in the local community. As a progressive and ambitious club the renewed support from HSA allows us to consolidate on the great progress made over the last few seasons and further develop young players of the future.”

Tens Beside the Sea

Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC will be hosting another Super 10s tournament on April 25th 2009. Touring teams are welcome and this tournament will be followed on May 2nd by another Super Teens ten a side tournament for junior rugby. Any clubs interested in taking part in either or both events should contact info@whitleybay-rockcliffrfc.co.uk or on 0191 2513704

Business Champions help Matlock

Matlock Rugby Union Football Club received a boost from East Midlands Business Champions in its quest to be the best. Representatives from the club attended a unique event recently which matched entrepreneurs with regional sports clubs in a bid to help them achieve their full potential. The Matlock Rugby Club is 80 years old this year. The first team play in the National League Midlands 2 East, which is level 6 of the national leagues. However the facilities are in need of modernisation and to ensure the club’s future success they are looking for support with their development plan and marketing. Business Champion, Brendan Blewett, Director of Vision Development Consultants and key note speaker, Peter Wheeler, Chief Executive of the Leicester Tigers both offered their support on the night, having taken part in their round table workshop. Business Champions is a programme created and funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) which recruits high-calibre proactive business figures to support a range of projects where a commercial perspective is needed. Around 100 Business Champions gathered at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester for the Business Champions annual event, to offer their services to the sports sector in the East Midlands. The event demonstrated how examples of excellence in sport can be used as a business ideal.

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