50 Years in Black & Amber – A lifetime at Canterbury Rugby Club

When you speak to John Scurr, Colin’s father, about his 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 remarkable milestone.
Fifty years playing for Canterbury Rugby Club.

From under 8s through to today, now 57 years old, Colin’s connection to the club has never wavered. It is a level of loyalty and commitment that very few can match, and one that speaks volumes about what Canterbury means to those who pass through its gates.

Colin’s journey began after bringing home a flyer from his primary school, aged just seven. 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 five decades. Along the way, he captained Canterbury Colts and East Kent Colts, before stepping into senior rugby leadership. Beginning with the 3rd XV, and moving through the 4ths, 5ths and beyond as the years went on, Colin led sides across the club, always putting the team first and continuing to contribute wherever he was needed.

In total, 27 years as a captain and 23 years as a player, a remarkable contribution across every level of the senior game.

But for Colin, and for those who know him best, it is not about which side he led or where he played.

“One of the things Colin really drove 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 spirit has been a constant throughout his time at Canterbury, particularly within the Zingari and the wider senior section, where enjoyment, togetherness and belonging sit at the heart of everything.

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 familiar 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.

Fifty years at Canterbury Rugby Club.

From a young boy with a flyer, to a lifetime in Black & Amber.

A player.
A captain.
A teammate.
A cornerstone of the club.

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