Tunbridge Wells RFC is an English Rugby union club that plays in Regional 1 South Central from Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
 | |
| Full name | Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Kent RFU |
| Nickname(s) | Wells |
| Founded | 1931 (as Old Skinners) |
| Location | Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England |
| Ground(s) | St Marks Recreation Ground (Capacity: 3,000 [1]) |
| Chairman | Mike Rigby |
| President | Jim Hendley |
| Captain(s) | TBC |
| League(s) | Regional 1 South Central |
| 2023/24 | 4th |
| Official website | |
| www | |
History
editTunbridge Wells RFC was officially formed as Old Skinners RFC in 1931 as a rugby union club for former pupils of The Skinners' School. In 1970, membership of the club became open to non-Skinners pupils with Old Skinners being renamed as Tunbridge Wells RFC in 1973.[2] Despite becoming an open club, Tunbridge Wells retain their links with The Skinners' School, specifically by not selecting Skinners pupils who represent Skinners while they are competing in the Daily Mail Cup to assist them.[3] In 1985, Tunbridge Wells had a new clubhouse constructed, which was opened by Princess Anne.[2]
Since the creation of league rugby in 1987, Tunbridge Wells played mainly in London 1 South where they also played league matches against future RFU Championship side, Jersey[4] and regularly attempted to enter National League 3 London & SE.[5] In 2011, Tunbridge Wells were relegated to London 2 South East.[6] The following season they were relegated again to London 3 South East.[7] The club managed to reverse the trend and win promotion back to the London 2 South East league after finishing in the runner up position in the London 3 South East league in the 2012–13 season.[8]
They also compete in Kent cup competitions.[9]
In addition to the 1st XV the club regularly fields other adult sides (including a social and Vets side) competing in various Kent RFU league competitions. In the 2012–13 season the 2nd XV won the Invicta 1 league.[10]
In 2012, Tunbridge Wells set up a scheme where players from their youth teams would act as ambassadors to local schools for the club to assist with coaching and participation in rugby. This innovative plan was praised by the Rugby Football Union as "a great idea" as a number of other rugby clubs also set up similar schemes following on from Tunbridge Wells'.[11] Tunbridge Wells are also affiliated to English Premiership team, Saracens.[12][13]
The 1st XV went unbeaten in the 2015–16 season winning the London 2 South East league title [14] and the RFU Intermediate Cup. They were then promoted again in the 2016–17 season to the London and South East Premier League.
Honours
edit- London 2 South East champions (4): 1987–88, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2015–16
- Kent 1 champions: 1995–96
- Kent Plate winners (3): 1999, 2000, 2008
- RFU Intermediate Cup winners: 2015–16[15]
- London 1 (north v south) promotion play-off winners: 2016–17
Notable players
edit
Colin Smart – England
Bill Hayward – USA Eagles[16]- Martin Corry[17] – England Captain, Lions Captain, Leicester Tigers Captain, Barbarians Captain
Matthew Cook – Spain- Will Edwards – England 7s, Harlequins
- Robert Greig – Norway
- Mark Davey – Malta
References
edit- ^ Courage clubs championship Official Rugby Union club directory 1990-91. Bungay: Burlington Publishing. 1990. p. 584. ISBN 1-873057-01-6.
- ^ a b "Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club". SO Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Skinners' cup run proves benefits of senior links". Your Tunbridge Wells. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Tunbridge [sic] no match for Jersey". BBC. 10 November 2007. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Thor starts thunder to hammer TJ rivals". This is Kent. 16 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Wells are ready to flourish". This is Kent. 9 September 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Lewes pull out all the stops in season finale to beat Tunbridge Wells 48–27 in London 2 South East". Lewes: Sussex Express. 20 April 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Home". rfulondon.com.
- ^ "Wanderers out to end trophy drought in Plate final". Eastern Daily Press. 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ "The Official Kent County RFU Website". Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "Tunbridge Wells spread rugby word with school ambassadors". RFU. 9 October 2012. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Rugby: Tunbridge Wells' youth players make big impression". Archived from the original on 13 June 2018.
- ^ "Quins support Tunbridge Wells RFC Primary School Tag Rugby Festival". Harlequins. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "RFU".
- ^ "Finals day at Twickenham". The RUGBYPaper. No. 399. Rugby Paper Ltd. 8 May 2016. p. 35.
- ^ "Bill Hayward PhD" (PDF) (Press release). Albuquerque Aardvarks. 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2013. [permanent dead link]
- ^ "My Sport: Martin Corry". The Telegraph. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 1 March 2013.