A fantastic fundraising day of golf was held at Faversham Golf Club 27th September. Teams of 4 competed over 18 holes followed by prizegiving and a 2 course meal. The Gemho team came out winners, followed by Made AV and City Contractors. KAP Motor Group brought along the new OMODA 5 and the EV AMODA E5 for us to view.
Please support our golf days if you can. Not only are they fun, but they also raise funds, not only for the club but for charity too.
CANTERBURY 36 HAVANT 31
by David Haigh
From a position of comfort Canterbury found themselves in a fight for survival before they came away with their fourth win of the National 2 East season to claim maximum points. The biggest battle, however, was with their own poor discipline as a red card for flanker Harvey Furneaux in the second half left them a man short for 30 minutes, and their problems were compounded by three earlier sin binnings. Havant, trailing by 24 points, exploited the situation with a hat trick of tries from hooker Sean Shepherd, the last coming in the 80th minute to earn his side a second bonus point. There was little sign of the upheaval to come when Canterbury, after a tight opening quarter edged by the visitors, built a 24-12 half time lead and two tries in the first eight minutes after the break pointed to a routine victory. They established that position of strength despite first half yellow cards for Dave Irvine and Garry Jones. A Frank Reynolds penalty goal got the city side on the scoreboard after only two minutes but conceding penalties cost them tries by Havant forwards Steve Jenkinson and Sam Vince and a Joel Knight conversion. Those scores sandwiched Canterbury’ s opening try when they picked off an overthrown lineout, won a penalty and Eoin O’Donoghue plunged over from the maul. Then Canterbury began to pull away as Aiden Moss finished off some precise handling in style and the impressive O’Donoghue peeled off a driving maul to register his second. The early second half strikes, as O’Donoghue sent Moss across the line on the overlap and Sam Rogers timed his pass perfectly for Max Campbell to go clear for the fifth try, seemed to have settled matters, particularly with Reynolds missing only one shot at goal. A yellow card for Henry Kenny was not welcome but in the 51st minute an isolated fracas broke out and Furneaux was singled out for punishment. Havant saw their chance and a Canterbury side still too often on the wrong side of the referee gave them plenty of scope to mount a massive offensive through their pack. Shepherd’s tries all came from powerful close quarter work and two conversions by Knight added to the pressure. Canterbury hung on, just, but left themselves with big questions to address.
Canterbury: K.Heatherley, G.Jones, F.Morgan, W. Waddington, A.Moss, F. Reynolds, T. Williams, A.Cooper, E.O’Donoghue, D.Herriott, D.Irvine, J.Stephens, S.Rogers, H.Furneaux, C.Thomas. Replacements: H.Kenny, O.Frostick, P.Farrance, M.Campbell, N.Morris
Congratulations to our October 300 Club winners!
Saturday is debut day for players from our newly formed ACE Academy, the joint venture between the club and Archbishop’s School, which was launched in August. For the first time, an Academy side will take the field to meet a Canterbury Colts Development XV. The game will kick off after the first team league match against Havant. In addition, girls from the Academy will feature in an exhibition of touch rugby during the half time break.
The 2024/25 season has returned with a bang! Three senior teams were out last Saturday bringing home three victories. We also had an exciting demonstration of Wheelchair Rugby from our Hellfires team who were joined by representatives from Crawley Jets and Brighton Buccaneers. Hellfire player Owain West was presented with a new wheelchair by Steve Brown, former captain of the GB wheelchair rugby squad and Hellfires Lead Coach. The custom built wheelchairs run into thousands of pounds and thanks to a deposit paid through money left to Owain from his granddad Barrie West, and funding from Cauldwell Children, Owain now has his own chair, leaving a club chair vacant for whoever wants to give this exhilarating and fast paced sport a try.
Continued support for the club from our business partners is so important, and with that we would like to thank Quinn Estates (Match Sponsor), City Contractors LTD (Ball Sponsor), East Kent Recycling Ltd and Gray Plant Hire (Lunch Sponsors) for their generous support on Saturday.
Our fantastic home game online live stream was brought to us by MMS-360 (Streaming Partner) and powered by OrbitalNet (Network Partner). The full match can be watched back at https://cantrugby-live.uk.
Canterbury 53 – 13 Colchester
Crowborough 15 – 21 Pilgrims
Canons 60 – 12 Medway III
Tonbridge Juddians 28 – 31 Canterbury U18 1st XV
Sevenoaks v 1st XV – Away KO 3.00pm
Pilgrims v Sevenoaks 2nds – Home KO 3.00pm
Sheppey v Canons – Away KO 3.00pm
Deacons v Sheppey 2nds – Home KO 3.00pm
Zingari v New Ash Green 2nds – Home KO 3.00pm
Horsham Women v Canterbury Women – Away KO TBC
U6 – Main Pitch Deadball area – 9.00am to 10.00am
U7- Grids – 9.00am to 10.00am
U8- Langton 4G – 9.00am to 10.30am
U9- Langton 4G – 9.30am to 10.00am
U10- Top Orchard – 9.00am to 10.30am
U11- Bottom Orchard – 9.00am to10:30am
U12- Training Pitch 10:30am to 12.00pm
U13- v London Irish, Bottom Orchard – 12.00pm KO
U14- Top Orchard – 10:30 to 12.00pm
U15- Top Pitch – 10:30 to 12.00pm
U16- Langton 4G from 10:30am
Colts 2nds v Thanet, Main Pitch – 12.00pm KO
Girls U12-U16 v Thanet (A)
Girls U18 v Old Alleynians (A)
There are still places and tables available at our home game pre-match lunches. Food, drink, raffle, auction, and good company before home games. What’s not to like?
21-Sep-24 Worthing
05-Oct-24 Havant
12-Oct-24 Westcombe Park
26-Oct-24 Barnes
16-Nov-24 Bury St Edmunds
07-Dec-24 Oxford Harlequins
21-Dec-24 Sevenoaks
18-Jan-25 Guernsey
15-Feb-25 Tonbridge Juddians
08-Mar-25 Old Albanian
22-Mar-25 Henley
Contact kirsty@cantrugby.co.uk to book a place or a table of 8 – 12
If you still haven’t renewed your club membership, now is the time to do it. All members must renew through the RFU GMS system. Details are available on the memberships page of the club website – https://cantrugby.co.uk/membership/
Alternatively, Sally will be at the Club to help Tues- 10th, Wed 11th, (6.00pm-7.00pm) Thurs 12th (6.30pm – 7.00pm), Sat 21st Worthing at home from 1.00pm -3.00pm.
You can also email members@cantrugby.co.uk. Associate members and season ticket holders will receive a card in the post. If this has not been received by 18th September please email Sally. Black membership cards will continue to give a discount at the bar/shop and Saucy Flo’s but will no longer give access to the ground on match days. That will be by Season card only. Age grade members can collect their cards from Sally on Sunday morning or during the midweek evening training at the times mentioned. All Seniors cards will be issued through the coaches.
Along with LGT Wealth Management, we are once again hosting our famous City Lunch at Smith & Wollensky on November 20th, 2024 at noon.
Lawrence Dallaglio OBE will be the guest speaker, and the cost will be £125 per person including a drink on arrival and wine with your lunch. For more details contact kirsty@cantrugby.co.uk
To celebrate the Paris 2024 Paralympics, the first home game of the season, and welcoming Colchester to National 2 East, Canterbury Hellfire is bringing Wheelchair Rugby to the Marine Travel Ground for the very first time. Players, Members, Supporters, and Sponsors are all invited to come and see the incredible fast pace, hard hits, and amazing skills that come together in Wheelchair Rugby as a thank you from Hellfire for your support over the years.
Wheelchair Rugby is normally played indoors on a basketball court but to shake things up Hellfire along with many of the very best Wheelchair Rugby players from across the South East of England will be playing outside. In another first we have spare chairs and all the kit needed so you too can become part of the team, you don’t need a disability to be part of this extraordinary event. You will even get coached by 2012 Team GB Captain and Hellfire Lead Coach Steve Brown and Brighton Coach and former Hellfire member Omar Foster.
Tip off (the Wheelchair Rugby version of a kick off) is at 12:30. Get strapped in and come and be part of our amazing #OneClub experience.
Congratulations to September’s 300 Club Winners
77 x Mark Quinn
22 x M D Burgess
121 x Clive Tilton
133 x Nick Rooke
148 x M Darbyshire
In a bold and transformative move, Wasps Rugby Club is set to make a significant comeback by potentially relocating to Kent, a region often overlooked in professional rugby. This move, expected to take place during the 2025-26 season, could be a turning point for the sport in England, not only reviving a storied club but also unlocking a new, fertile ground for rugby talent.
Wasps, who entered administration in 2022, have been exploring ways to re-establish themselves in English rugby’s competitive landscape. The latest plans suggest that the club will play at The Valley, in a ground-share arrangement with Charlton Athletic, as they prepare for their revival in the Championship. However, this is more than just a venue shift—it’s a strategic decision with far-reaching implications.
Kent, known as the Garden of England, is home to 63 community rugby clubs, yet it remains largely untapped by the professional rugby circuit. The county has produced a number of top-tier players, but many have had to leave the region to pursue professional opportunities. By establishing a permanent base in Kent, Wasps aim to provide a clear pathway for local talent, ensuring that the region’s potential is fully realised.
The implications of Wasps’ move extend beyond the rugby pitch. This decision is part of a broader effort by the RFU and Premiership Rugby to decentralize talent development, ensuring that promising players don’t have to travel long distances to access elite training facilities. With plans for satellite hubs and revised academy boundaries, the landscape of English rugby is evolving to become more inclusive and regionally diverse.
While Wasps are laying the groundwork for their future in Kent, Canterbury Rugby Club has already taken significant action. Recognising the need to develop local talent, Canterbury has launched an academy linked to Archbishop’s School in the city. This innovative program offers four rugby sessions a week to pupils aged 16 to 18, many of whom are refugees from Ukraine and Syria. The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between grassroots and professional rugby, helping local players transition into the professional ranks.
Funded by local sponsors and independent of the RFU system, Canterbury’s academy is part of a larger strategy to position the club as a key player in the region’s rugby ecosystem. The club is in talks with Saracens to establish Canterbury as a hub for their satellite academy, ensuring that talented players in Kent have a direct route to top-tier rugby without leaving the county.
Wasps’ potential move to Kent represents a significant opportunity to transform the region into a powerhouse of English rugby. With Canterbury Rugby Club already taking the lead in talent development, the Garden of England is poised to become a key contributor to the national rugby scene.
As Wasps work towards securing a permanent home in Kent, they stand to not only strengthen the game but also to create a lasting impact on the community. This move could mark the beginning of a new era for English rugby, where regions like Kent play a central role in shaping the future of the sport.
Stay tuned as Wasps, a club with a rich history, embarks on this transformative journey. The potential for growth, both on and off the field, is immense, and the future of rugby in Kent has never looked brighter.
Read the full article at – https://lnkd.in/ej3PnZJT (subscription needed)
International rugby stars Alex Lowzoski and John Gallagher launched our ambitious new rugby academy on August 21st. The ACE Academy, a joint venture with the city’s Archbishop’s School, is based on a Rugby Football Union pathway programme designed to transition academy players into professional rugby. It aims to provide a facility for local children which removes all socio-economic barriers facing local students.
Saracens and England centre Lozowski and World Cup winning New Zealand All Black full back Gallagher performed the official honours before meeting some of the first students at the Academy, club officials, Archishop’s school senior staff and sponsors. Our Head of Player Pathway, Nathan Morris, who will lead the Academy’s community coaching team, said: “The aim of the ACE academy is dualistic, we wish to provide high-quality coaching as well as creating opportunities for the young people of East Kent. We have been very lucky to have great support from our sponsors who will also support the students with work experience and career advice.”
Together with Nathan, the academy will be run by coaches Matt Corker, Alice Hayward and Ella Jenkins.
Archbishop’s School provides education for 750 mixed ability students aged from 11 to 19. Welcoming the new initiative Head Teacher David Elliott said: “The school is proud to partner with Canterbury Rugby Football Club to introduce the Archbishop’s Canterbury Educational (ACE) Rugby Academy from September 2024. Our new partnership will offer unique opportunities for our higher year students. The Academy programme will further enhance our sports offer at the school.
“This new venture perfectly aligns with our vision which enables students to flourish. Engaging with Canterbury Rugby Club, our students will learn and grow and we are confident this partnership will be transformative for all involved.”
The Academy is a major addition to the club’s commitment to providing opportunities for everyone in the local community through a series of exciting new programmes for local schools.