Club Spotlight
Tribute for London Cornish
Tribute Ale – the Official Beer of South West Rugby – is extending its support beyond the region after signing a shirt sponsorship deal with London Cornish RFC. The flagship ale of Cornwall’s biggest brewer St Austell Brewery, Tribute is already title sponsor for grass roots rugby across the South West through the Tribute Leagues and also has shirt sponsorship deals with a number of clubs in Cornwall and Devon. The deal with London Cornish demonstrates the brewery’s support for rugby and recognises the huge increase in national sales of Tribute, with London becoming an increasingly important and growing market for the ale. Players and staff joined representatives from St Austell Brewery at London Cornish’s local pub and ‘clubhouse’, The Telegraph in Putney Heath, to celebrate the sponsorship deal which sees the first team taking to the field this season wearing smart new Tribute Ale branded shirts. London Cornish RFC is one of the fastest rising amateur clubs in London, currently playing in London 2 South West. There are four adult sides playing in leagues every week and the club, who play at Richardson Evans Fields in Roehampton, frequently welcomes more than 50 players to their once a week training sessions in Battersea Park.
Andover Players Step up in Anniversary Year
Two former Andover Youth Academy players have joined the 1st XV squad as the club celebrates its 50th year. Last year’s Colts captain Kieran Jenvey and current Colts player Alex Hibdige were selected as part of the starting line up for the opening London South West Division 3 league game away against Old Alleynians – which Andover won 26 -13. Both played with the club’s youth sides for a number of seasons. Their achievement is testament to their own dedication and to the support of excellent coaches as they moved through the Youth Academy squads. They join a number of 1st team players who have come through Andover’s Youth Academy. Andover RFC will be holding a number of events this year to mark its 50th Anniversary. Visit the website to read more www.arfcya.co.uk
York RI Chuffed
Tony Simpson
In 2002 sporting activity at York Railway Institute had hit the buffers. The multi-sport facility at New Lane, created for the leisure time of British Rail employees, had reached the end of the line. Only two rugby union teams and a few junior soccer teams were still operational when once the site had hosted rugby union, senior and junior soccer, cricket and hockey. The recent opening of the £600,000 new development at New Lane by York MP Hugh Bayley was an especially satisfying occasion for officials involved in the renaissance. The new facility provides eight large modern changing rooms, two rooms for match officials, disabled toilets, a large coach education and community centre, cycle parks and an enlarged car park, but more important still has been the growth of sporting activity and participation. Support from The Football Foundation, The Rugby Football Union Foundation, The Community Investment Fund, The Foundation For Sport And The Arts and locally from The Yorkash Fund has brought the project to fruition. Says York RI club chairman Sean Heslop: “It’s taken seven years and a lot of hard work and we are absolutely delighted with our new facilities. Now all sections are thriving. From our low point in 2002, there are now two adult football teams, four adult rugby union teams, one adult cricket team, four adult netball teams, petanque teams and a rugby league team, with a large number of youngsters playing their chosen sport at York RI. The place is buzzing.”
Rugby Goes to the Dogs
Hugh Godwin
The iconic skyscrapers of Canary Wharf in London’s Docklands are now the backdrop to Millwall RFC, breaking new ground for rugby. When Millwall’s 1st XV hosted East London RFC in September it was the culmination of a long campaign to bring regular adult rugby to this part of the capital. Previously the club had been obliged to travel off the Isle of Dogs to stage their matches but now they are playing at at Millwall Park after securing a one-year agreement with Tower Hamlets council. “We’re thrilled with the agreement to play men’s rugby at Millwall Park on Saturday afternoons this season, and we are hopeful it will be renewed for future seasons when there is a whole-borough pitch review,” said Mike Costin, the club’s former chairman and now member of the development committee. “We were already running mini and youth rugby for up to 120 kids on Sunday mornings, and interest on Saturdays has picked up straight away, with dozens of people who use the park seeing the rugby posts and stopping off to watch us. And the really good thing is that we have just started a 4th XV which is thriving too.” Earlier this year Millwall completed the development of their unique and attractive clubhouse, part-funded by the Rugby Football Foundation and built into an archway underneath the old Blackwall Railway. But the amazing Millwall story started with a Rob Andrew drop goal in 1995. The dramatic kick which won the World Cup quarter-final against Australia was watched on TV in the Pier Tavern pub on the Isle of Dogs, that horseshoe-shaped piece of land familiar to many from the title sequence of EastEnders. “We rushed out of the pub with a ball and pretty much started the club there and then,” said Costin. But although football was established on the pitches of Millwall Park the new rugby club had to play 15-a-side matches elsewhere while they made their case to the council and local residents. With great support from the RFU development officer Keith Green, Essex RFU and club president Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Millwall have staged tag rugby for local schools and worked with the Josh Lewsey Rugby Academy. They are busy developing further links with the local community – which has a strong identity by dint of its “island” existence – and a Police Forum is one of several groups using the clubhouse. “We like to provide a pathway to elite sport but there is no minimum ability requirement,” said Costin. “Everyone gets their chance.” Consequently the club is home to city workers and local kids alike, and 27 nationalities -“that’s more than the Barbarians,” said Costin – have represented Millwall with pride.
Marking Mike’s Contribution
A presentation was made to Exmouth President Mike England, who recently stepped down after nearly 30 years as an officer of Exmouth Rugby Football Club. Mike is pictured on the left receiving a silver salver, presented by club chairman Chris Parks at Exmouth RFC’s annual dinner and awards evening. He has been involved in the management of Exmouth, including being Chairman for seven years and President for the last 14 years.
Keeping it in the Family
Idris Martin
Weymouth Rugby Club’s President Des Quick has watched both his sons run out for the club’s 1st team this season. Julian has returned from gaining his degree at Exeter during which time he played for the University 1st XV. Younger son William progressed through into the Weymouth 1st team last year playing on the wing and ended the season as top try scorer. Both came through the Weymouth Mini and Youth section, starting as under sevens. Des, a Weymouth player himself in the past said,“It’s terrific to see them both out there enjoying themselves, carrying on where I left off a hundred years ago, I just wish they didn’t tower over me!’
