Month: June 2025

Rugby is Returning: Canterbury’s 2025-26 Pre-Season Fixtures Announced

Posted on | by Becca Williams

The countdown is on, and the stage is set for a thrilling pre-season as Canterbury Rugby Club gears up for the 25/26 campaign. With a summer of hard work behind them, the squad is ready to lace up their boots and take to the pitch in a series of exciting fixtures that promise fierce competition and valuable preparation. From Giles’ hard work preparing the pitches to coaches planning rigorous sessions.

A Warm Welcome—and a Fierce Challenge

We kick off the pre-season with a trip to old rivals Esher on Saturday 16th August (3pm KO). It’s always a spirited encounter, and we’re delighted to welcome Esher back into National 2. This clash promises to reignite a classic rivalry in front of a passionate crowd.

Next up, we host newly Nat 1 promoted Tonbridge Juddians (TJs) under the lights at the Marine Travel Ground on Friday 22nd August (8pm KO). With TJs preparing to ascend into National League 1, we expect a fast-paced and high-quality match that will test our mettle and showcase the depth of both squads.

Senior Squad Depth on Display

In our final two fixtures, we’ll look to rotate and refine as we separate the extended senior squad across two matches. On Friday 29th August, Canterbury 1st XV Men head to Blackheath (7:45pm KO), while the Pilgrims welcome Deal & Betteshanger Lions at home (7:30pm KO). It’s a great opportunity to give valuable minutes to players across the board and strengthen our cohesion ahead of the regular season.

 

We’re Ready. Are You?

There’s nothing quite like a home fixture at the Marine Travel Ground, and we can’t wait to see familiar faces back in the stands. Whether you’re a lifelong supporter or brand new to the black and amber, these fixtures offer the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the game we love.

Join us, feel the buzz, and be part of the journey. Get Behind Us!

Pre-Season Fixtures:

  • Game 1: Esher v Canterbury — Away, Saturday 16th August, 3:00pm KO
  • Game 2: Canterbury v Tonbridge Juddians — Home, Friday 22nd August, 8:00pm KO
  • Game 3: Blackheath v Canterbury 1st XV Men — Away, Friday 29th August, 7:45pm KO
  • Game 4: Canterbury Pilgrims v Deal & Betteshanger Lions — Home, Friday 29th August, 7:30pm KO

 

Dean Martin, - Southeastern, Alice Hayward - CRFC, Nathan Morris - CRFC

CRFC partners with Southeastern to deliver safety and wellbeing programme

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

We’re delighted to announce a new community partnership between Canterbury Rugby Football Club and Southeastern Railway.

This exciting collaboration will bring Southeastern’s Trackside Safety Programme to our wider rugby family, with a series of self-development days taking place across the season. Delivered to members of CRFC and Canterbury ACE, these sessions will explore key themes around safety, wellbeing, and education, using the power of sport as a catalyst for personal growth and community learning.

Sport changes lives, and we believe this initiative is a brilliant example of rugby’s role beyond the pitch.

Keep an eye out for our club posters and a signed CRFC match shirt in the ticket hall at Canterbury East station in the coming months – and join us in supporting this fantastic initiative!

Five Rising Stars Selected for London & South East U20s Clash with the North

Posted on | by Becca Williams

The club is bursting with pride this week as five of our own have been named in the starting lineup for the London & South East U20s squad, set to face off against the North this Sunday.

After an intense five-week training process that whittled the original 35-player training squad down to the final 23, our players—Andy Thomas, Max McCormack, Isaac Divine, Owain Collins and Bartholomew Johnson—have all earned starting positions in this much-anticipated fixture. Their dedication, skill, and determination have been nothing short of inspirational, and their inclusion is a testament to the strength of our youth development programme.

The match will kick off at 11am on Sunday at Broadstreet RFC, and promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the country’s strongest regions. With regional pride and selection credibility on the line, the stage is set for a fiercely contested battle.

We encourage all club members, families, and supporters to make the journey and cheer on our boys as they represent both the region and our club with honour. Let’s get behind them and show what this club is made of!

Pilgrims set sights on another strong campaign in Regional 2 South East

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

After securing back-to-back promotions in the past two seasons, our Pilgrims (2nd XV) are ready to take on new challenges in the 2025/26 Regional 2 South East league.

With momentum and confidence behind them, the squad will be looking to continue their on-field success and make their mark in this highly competitive division. With a blend of returning players and emerging talent pushing through, the season promises plenty of exciting rugby for our supporters.

Here’s the full fixture list for the campaign — get these dates in your diary and come and get behind the boys in Black & Amber!

2025/26 Pilgrims Fixtures – Regional 2 South East

  • 06-Sep-25 – Canterbury II v Battersea Ironsides (H)

  • 13-Sep-25 – Horsham v Canterbury II (A)

  • 20-Sep-25 – Canterbury II v Gravesend (H)

  • 04-Oct-25 – Canterbury II v Brighton (H)

  • 11-Oct-25 – Bromley v Canterbury II (A)

  • 18-Oct-25 – Canterbury II v Dartfordians (H)

  • 25-Oct-25 – O. Reigatians v Canterbury II (A)

  • 08-Nov-25 – Canterbury II v O. Colfeians (H)

  • 22-Nov-25 – Sidcup v Canterbury II (A)

  • 29-Nov-25 – Canterbury II v Sutton & Epsom (H)

  • 06-Dec-25 – Beckenham v Canterbury II (A)

  • 13-Dec-25 – Canterbury II v Horsham (H)

  • 20-Dec-25 – Gravesend v Canterbury II (A)

  • 10-Jan-26 – Brighton v Canterbury II (A)

  • 17-Jan-26 – Canterbury II v Bromley (H)

  • 31-Jan-26 – Dartfordians v Canterbury II (A)

  • 14-Feb-26 – Canterbury II v O. Reigatians (H)

  • 28-Feb-26 – O. Colfeians v Canterbury II (A)

  • 07-Mar-26 – Canterbury II v Sidcup (H)

  • 21-Mar-26 – Sutton & Epsom v Canterbury II (A)

  • 28-Mar-26 – Canterbury II v Beckenham (H)

  • 11-Apr-26 – Battersea Ironsides v Canterbury II (A)

Stay tuned for match previews, results, and updates throughout the season — and as always, thank you for your fantastic support.

2 Days to Go: Our Kitchen Opens Monday

Posted on | by Becca Williams

 

The countdown is officially on- and we’re just two days away from opening the doors to our brand new kitchen. After months of planning, prepping and perfecting, we’re thrilled to finally welcome you in.

Whether you’re craving bold flavours, comforting classics or something totally new! We’ve got something special cooking for you. Our team have poured their heart into every detail and we can’t wait for you to experience it.

From the moment you walk in, expect warm smiles, fresh ingredients and a space designed to make you feel right at home.

Opening Day is Monday 23rd June!

Come hungry and leave happy- see you there!

KENT AIM FOR HAT TRICK

Posted on | by David Haigh

Garry and Eoin In Title Chase

Two Canterbury players, wing Garry Jones and hooker Eoin O’Donoghue, together with new centre signing Luke Talbot, are included in the Kent starting line-up as the county side aim for a third consecutive Division One County Championship title. Also included in Saturday’s squad to meet Yorkshire at Twickenham are replacement scrum half Tom Williams and front row man Ollie Frostick who is named as travelling reserve. Kick-off is 5.15pm, immediately after the England XV v France XV game, and the final is being live streamed.

British & Irish Lions

The Lions are back – Join us at the clubhouse!

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Missing rugby already? We’ve got you covered.
The 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour roars into action this Friday, 20th June, and we’re showing every match live in the clubhouse – starting with the opener against Argentina, kicking off at 8.00pm.

  • Scrum Kitchen open from 8am-12:30pm (Last food order at 12pm)
  • All screens showing the action
  • Scrum Kitchen is open and serving up breakfast for those early morning games

This is your chance to enjoy top-class international rugby with fellow fans, a pint in hand and plenty of atmosphere. Whether you’re in for one game or the whole tour, you’re more than welcome.

And for a special treat – Saturday 26th July – we’ll be showing the Lions v Australia Test Match live on our outdoor screen. A proper rugby occasion, rain or shine.
Lions Tour Fixtures – Showing Live at the Clubhouse:

Friday 20 June – KO 8.00pm
British & Irish Lions v Argentina

Saturday 28 June – KO 11.00am
Force v British & Irish Lions

Wednesday 2 July – KO 11.00am
Reds v British & Irish Lions

Saturday 5 July – KO 11.00am
Waratahs v British & Irish Lions

Wednesday 9 July – KO 11.00am
Brumbies v British & Irish Lions

Saturday 12 July – KO 11.00am
Opponent TBC v British & Irish Lions

Saturday 19 July – KO 11.00am
Australia v British & Irish Lions

Tuesday 22 July – KO 11.00am
Opponent TBC v British & Irish Lions

Saturday 26 July – KO 11.00am
Australia v British & Irish Lions
Outdoor screen showing

Saturday 2 August – KO 11.00am
Australia v British & Irish Lions

Come down for a drink, come for a hearty breakfast, but most of all – come to cheer on the Lions with your Canterbury rugby family.

26 fixtures announced – new faces, fresh challenges await the 1st XV

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

The wait is over – the 2025/26 men’s 1st XV fixtures have been confirmed, and there’s plenty to look forward to as we gear up for another National 2 East campaign.

This season sees two new sides entering the league following promotion from Regional One:

  • London Welsh, a famous name with rich rugby heritage, return to the national leagues with momentum.

  • Oundle RFC, based in Peterborough, also make the step up and will be an exciting new test for our squad.

They replace Colchester and Worthing, who drop down following relegation.

Also back in the mix are Esher, returning to National 2 East after relegation from National One. They’ll be looking to bounce back quickly and add further quality to what’s already shaping up to be a competitive league.

With new opposition, familiar foes, and the Black & Amber faithful behind us, 2025/26 promises another season full of passion, purpose, and pride.

Matt Corker, Head Coach shares:

The players are all working hard in the gym, and with the release of the fixtures, we now have our first game to focus on — and what a fixture it is. Barnes away has always been a tough challenge, and it will provide a great test for us at the end of preseason, kicking off what promises to be an exciting first month. Having our two biggest local derbies as our first two home games means that September at the Marine Travel Ground is set to be one to remember.

The squad will spend two more weeks focused on gym work before returning to the pitch in the final week of June. Everyone is eager to get back out there and start building on the momentum we created at the end of last season.

We know exactly what this group is capable of, and we’ll be using every session this preseason to prepare thoroughly and push ourselves to the next level.

2025/26 National 2 East fixtures

Round 1 – 06 September 2025
Barnes v Canterbury – Away

Round 2 – 13 September 2025
Canterbury v Sevenoaks – Home

Round 3 – 20 September 2025
Henley v Canterbury – Away

Round 4 – 27 September 2025
Canterbury v Westcombe Park – Home

Round 5 – 04 October 2025
Dorking v Canterbury – Away

Round 6 – 11 October 2025
Canterbury v Havant – Home

Round 7 – 18 October 2025
Old Albanian v Canterbury – Away

Round 8 – 25 October 2025
Canterbury v Bury St Edmunds – Home

Round 9 – 08 November 2025
Oundle v Canterbury – Away

Round 10 – 15 November 2025
Canterbury v London Welsh – Home

Round 11 – 22 November 2025
Oxford Harlequins v Canterbury – Away

Round 12 – 06 December 2025
Canterbury v Guernsey – Home

Round 13 – 13 December 2025
Esher v Canterbury – Away

Round 14 – 20 December 2025
Sevenoaks v Canterbury – Away

Round 15 – 10 January 2026
Canterbury v Henley – Home

Round 16 – 17 January 2026
Westcombe Park v Canterbury – Away

Round 17 – 24 January 2026
Canterbury v Dorking – Home

Round 18 – 31 January 2026
Havant v Canterbury – Away

Round 19 – 14 February 2026
Canterbury v Old Albanian – Home

Round 20 – 21 February 2026
Bury St Edmunds v Canterbury – Away

Round 21 – 28 February 2026
Canterbury v Oundle – Home

Round 22 – 14 March 2026
London Welsh v Canterbury – Away

Round 23 – 21 March 2026
Canterbury v Oxford Harlequins – Home

Round 24 – 11 April 2026
Guernsey v Canterbury – Away

Round 25 – 18 April 2026
Canterbury v Esher – Home

Round 26 – 25 April 2026
Canterbury v Barnes – Home

Round 22 – 14 March 2026

London Welsh v Canterbury

Round 23 – 21 March 2026
Canterbury v Oxford Harlequins

Round 24 – 11 April 2026
Guernsey v Canterbury

Round 25 – 18 April 2026
Canterbury v Esher

Round 26 – 25 April 2026
Canterbury v Barnes

It’s shaping up to be another blockbuster season of Black & Amber rugby. Fixture posters and key dates will be available soon to download or collect from the club.

Get the scarf, bring the noise, and mark your calendars – we’ll see you on the touchline!

#GetBehindUs

Phil Petts

Phil Petts

Posted on | by Denys Andrianjafy

Phil PettsIt is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of CRFC’s old boys, Phil Petts.

During the 1980s Phil was a staunch supporter of CRFC, serving on the Committee, Captaining the 3rd XV and playing prop for the 1st XV – a proud occasion for Phil, being part of the 1982/83 winning team in Canterbury’s first floodlight tournament.  Rugby remained a lifelong passion for Phil, and on retiring from playing, he went on to support his local Whitstable Rugby Club.

Until his recent retirement, Phil’s profession as a Chiropractor kept him in contact with local rugby players, young and old, many of whom shared his eternal dry wit.

Phil’s funeral will be at 1pm on Friday 18th July at Herne Bay crematorium.

No flowers, thank you, but if you’d like to do something, a donation to Brain Tumour Research would be kind. A box will be available for cheques or cash at the crematorium or card machine.

Just awaiting confirmation, the wake will be in The Tankerton Arms, where we hope you join to celebrate Phil’s life.

For those unable to attend, the funeral will be live-streamed.