27 Years Leading the Zingari – A lifetime in Black & Amber

When you speak to John Scurr about his son Colin’s journey at Canterbury Rugby Club, one thing becomes clear very quickly. This is not just a rugby story. It is a family story, woven into the fabric of the club over decades.

At the heart of it sits a truly remarkable milestone.
Twenty seven years as Captain of the Zingari.

In a game where leadership cycles quickly and teams evolve year on year, that level of commitment, consistency and trust is almost unheard of. It speaks volumes about the respect Colin has earned, and the role he has played in shaping one of the club’s most cherished sides.

Colin’s journey began at just seven years old, after bringing home a flyer from his primary school. A bit of encouragement, and perhaps a little persistence from Colin himself, saw John bring him down to the club one Sunday morning.

From that point on, he never really left.

Under the guidance of Mike Dinnaen, Roger Sheridan and Clive Adlam, Colin progressed all the way through the age groups into Colts, building not just his game, but lifelong friendships and a deep connection to the club.

His playing career would go on to span 50 years. Along the way, he captained both Canterbury Colts and East Kent Colts, before stepping into senior rugby leadership. In 1999, he took over the Canterbury 3rd XV captaincy from Billy Davis, later leading the 4th XV, before finding his true rugby home with the Zingari.

And it is there that his legacy was truly forged.

League titles followed across the 3rds, 4ths, 5ths and 6ths, alongside consecutive East and West league wins, a record that still stands. But more importantly, Colin helped define what the Zingari represents within Canterbury Rugby Club.

“One of the things Colin really drove with the Zingari was family,” John reflects. “Brothers, fathers and sons playing together. It became a real way of bringing people into the club and keeping them here.”

That sense of belonging, of turning up with mates and leaving as family, sits at the very core of the Zingari spirit. It is no coincidence that this flourished under Colin’s leadership over nearly three decades.

His own introduction to senior rugby, however, came in rather more unusual circumstances.

John had been persuaded to turn out on an ad hoc basis for the club, with Colin often tagging along on Saturdays after his junior games on a Sunday. During one match, injuries left the side short, and the captain spotted Colin on the touchline in his Canterbury kit.

“Can he play?” came the question.

He could. And he did.

Colin stepped in and impressed immediately, more than holding his own. It was only after the match that John had to quietly explain that his son was just thirteen years old at the time, a detail that, as John puts it, “fell on deaf ears”. Different times, and a story that still raises a smile.

There is one moment, though, that has followed Colin ever since.

On an away trip to Woodford, tensions briefly flared when an opposition player took a swing at John and missed. Before anyone could react, a young Colin came flying over a maul in defence of his father, shouting the now infamous line:
“Don’t you hit my dad.”

The game stopped. Players, opposition, and referee alike were left in fits of laughter. It is a moment that has lived on in club folklore ever since.

It captures something important about Colin Scurr. Loyalty. Passion. And above all, family.

Twenty seven years as Zingari Captain.

Not just a statistic, but a symbol of everything the Black & Amber stands for.

A lifetime of commitment.

A leader of men.

And a legacy that will be felt around the club for many years to come.

#OneClub