Canterbury Rugby Feature
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/IndexMagazineTW @IndexMag @CanterburyIndex 025 Canterbury Rugby: Making the city proud Canterbury Rugby Football Club (CRFC) might be situated on the edge of the city, but there is much to admire in this established and ambitious club that wholeheartedly endeavours to serve the whole community. Let’s applaud its success… ounded in 1929, Canterbury Rugby Football Club is celebrating its 88th season – as well as numerous other Faccolades including being recognised at National level by the RFU having won in recent seasons both Best Managed Club and Best Community Club in the RFU President’s annual awards. In the current rankings, as a National 2 South member, Canterbury is in the top 70 clubs in England. And like most sporting institutions up and down the land, CRFC could not exist without the tireless dedication of its loyal team of volunteers – an astonishing 90% of the work is done by them, headed up by Club Chairman Giles Hinton. CANTERBURY RFC SPECIAL 027 money can dry up. We want to grow wealth of experience and knowledge, organically – basing the team on East alongside that of other senior players, Kent lads and developing youngsters will take some pressure off Max. locally to ensure a sustainable team. What makes CRFC so special? Ones to watch? Our passionate crowd. It is a tough That’s a difficult question. Everyone place for visiting teams and supporters matters! However, Max Cantwell want the club to succeed. But it’s (pictured below left), a Kent lad, is important to us to not lose our roots. Meet Andy Pratt, captain this year. He played for us as We are one of the few remaining Head of Rugby at CRFC a colt – always one of the lads, he community clubs – with five men’s has now stepped forward to take teams, a women’s team and Wheelchair, responsibility as one of the leaders. We Touch, Mini and Youth sections. It’s a What does your job entail? are also very pleased to have signed big task, but we are passionate and It’s a wide role, with three aspects: the Matt Corker (pictured below right) proud. We want to be as good as we performance of the first team in the as player coach. Matt was fully pro can be on the field with the first team, National League; development of rugby and captained London Welsh. He is but not at the expense of the others. throughout the club (juniors, minis, from Kent and has moved back; his coaching development and supporting enthusiasm is outstanding and his Does local support matter? volunteers); and our Community The support of the community Programme – working with local means a great deal to the lads. primary and secondary schools When we lost the opening and up to university level. game of the season the team was gutted. We really want to What are your aims for the put on a good show for the season? club and fans and any new To improve on last year’s position, people – who we welcome to which was just in the top half of come along. Luckily, we put on a the table. Many clubs spend a lot good performance away at rivals of money on bringing in players Tonbridge Juddians and got our to buy success quickly, but the pride back! In the family Iris Nasir is the youngest 5 reasons ever referee in Europe – at age just 11! Mum to support Sally is a member of the CRFC today! Canterbury Codgers Touch team and volunteers with 1. National League 2 South is the youngsters, while a high level – just three steps sister Flori has represented below the Premiership. England and Dad is about 2. Join others in your community to join in, too. in a friendly environment – it “It’s a great game for feels great. all the family,” says Sally, 3. All ages and everyone in the adding: “You can play at family welcome – even your dog! any age – as long as you 4. Entry and parking only £10: can run up and down the free for U18s. pitch for 40 minutes. 5. Leave the screens and tablets “It’s a fantastic way at home, get some fresh air and to be fit and really good have a good shout! socially. Come and have a go!” 028 CANTERBURY RFC SPECIAL www.indexdigital.co.uk Juniors & Minis Qualified coaches, enthusiasm, encouragement, appropriate age levels and a club that can offer support and progression: it’s no accident that playing rugby builds skills for life. The club’s Junior section has produced two international players, both for Scotland. Prop forward Matt Stewart went onto play for Blackheath, Northampton and the Army and won 34 caps. In the current Scotland team, centre Huw Jones, whose dad is a local headmaster, is now established. Huw is playing for Glasgow in the Pro 12 competition this season. From age six, rugby is great way for boys and girls to keep fit, learn team play (winning and losing) and gain confidence – as well as being part of a great community club and a proud British tradition. Minis from U6 up to U11; juniors from U12 up to U18s. Touch Rugby Touch is for everyone: juniors, men’s, Canterbury Women Dani describes the special bond women’s and mixed. And with so many between players, just like in the men’s age categories you can enjoy family Inspired by England Women’s game, even including the opposition: fun or be fast and furious, becoming performance in the World Cup this “You get really fierce to take them fabulously fit whether you’re competitive year? Want to know how to get on – and then laugh and joke in the or not. So, it’s no surprise that the involved? Dani Juden is both player bar afterwards. Rugby certainly doesn’t game is expanding. In fact, Touch has and Media and Recruitment mean that you can’t be feminine as nearly 20,000 people playing regularly Co-ordinator for Canterbury Ladies, well. We are all very different women and is one of England’s fastest growing and has played since she was 13. outside of rugby, but come together participation sports – with England “Whilst the women’s game is less to play.” Touch Association forging ahead with ‘brutal’ than the men’s, it’s very skilled The team is committed to new plans to deliver programmes to all ages, and has plenty of drama,” she says. players – from age 13 and up (when from schools to senior citizens. “You don’t even have to play matches the game is separate from the boys). Tom Humphreys is Touch Rugby but can use it as an alternative fitness “You won’t be asked to tackle our Liaison at CRFC, where there are a wide activity. It’s a great benefit to work strongest player,” she says, adding: variety of training sessions to choose together as part of a team.” “Give it a try!” from. With four England Men’s Open Players about to compete in Australia there is plenty to celebrate. • For more information, contact Tom Humphreys on 07795 546455 or email [email protected] Need a venue? The CRFC clubhouse could be just the ticket for a great event. Parking, bar and excellent facilities. For more information, contact Catering Manager Ted Phillips on 07914 678679. 030 CANTERBURY RFC SPECIAL www.indexdigital.co.uk Wheelchair Rugby companies such as Burgess Hodgson accountants, which has made the A team named ‘Canterbury Hellfire’ club their charity of choice this year. tells you that wheelchair rugby is not for the fainthearted. Inspired after ProuD tO Sponsor the sport was introduced in the 2012 Rosie le Seelleur is Marketing Paralympics, Canterbury Hellfire has Manager and member of the Charity earned promotions and cup success, Committee at Burgess Hodgson, finally reaching the dizzy heights which is dedicated to supporting of the first division last season to sport in the community and takes compete with the top eight teams in great pride in sponsoring CRFC. After the country. Luckily hearing that Hellfire the team is on an had suffered cuts upward trajectory: This is A to their funding, “It’s a big step high-PRessuRed it was an easy up for us, and gAMe And We take decision to extend we will be facing iT seRiOusly that support by more international making them players,” says Charity of the Year. Hellfire Chairman “We have © William Evenden Brian Pitchford. “But as we moved been inspired by their dedication, up the league we became stronger motivation and enthusiasm,” explains and fitter.” To add to that strength, Rosie. “Coach Steve Brown [Captain the club will welcome a French of the GB team in 2012] presented international to travel with them to to us, along with one of the young Oktoberfest the Midlands (where matches are players, and we joined them in a returns! played over a weekend). training session. When you get in the Wheelchair rugby is a mixed wheelchair, you quickly realise how Saturday 14th October, team sport for both male and much skill is needed to stop, turn and 12.30pm-10pm female disabled athletes and is open control the ball!” This established annual event celebrates Kentish real to all from the age of 12. Hellfire The firm has raised money in ale and cider and attracts visitors from near and far travels with a mechanic and a a variety of ways, including charity – but tickets are in demand, so get yours ahead of physiotherapist – and there are lots of quizzes and cake sales.