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Category Archives: Rugby Union
Rising costs push Frant Road rugby club ‘to brink’ of closure
Streatham and Croydon RFC, one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world, has launched an “emergency appeal” for funds to keep the organisation going. The club has its own ground on Frant Road in Thornton Heath, but is a … Continue reading
Whitgift crowned national schools rugby champions once again
Whitgift School has once again won the national schools’ rugby cup. The under-15s squad triumphed 32-26 last week in a hard-fought final at Ealing against defending champions Northampton School for Boys in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup.
Strictly’s real glitterball winners are dressmakers from Croydon
Whoever receives the glitterball at the end of the BBC’s pro-celebrity Strictly Come Dancing tonight, they will probably be wearing costumes where every stitch of chiffon, every sequin, has been designed and sewn on by craftspeople at a Croydon-based costume … Continue reading
Sequined sports stars struggle to sparkle in new Strictly series
It’s crunch time for two local sports stars tonight on Strictly Come Dancing, as Chris Robshaw and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey face an elimination vote for the first time in this year’s pro-celebrity dance nonsense. And it’s fair to say after the … Continue reading
Walcountians to celebrate Clockhouse’s diamond anniversary
One local rugby club will be celebrating a special anniversary next month. Here, OWRFC President STEVE SIMMONDS outlines the plans, recalling the day that a future Lions captain came down to Woodmansterne to help open their clubhouse Wallington County School … Continue reading
Posted in History, Old Walcountians, Rugby Union, Schools, Sport
Tagged 60th anniversary, Beddington Park, Clockhouse, Mike Campbell-Lamerton, Old Walcountians, Old Walcountians Association, Old Walcountians RFC, OWRFC, Steve Simmonds, Wallington, Wallington County Grammar School, Woodmansterne
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Old Walcountians: Want to play rugby? Then join our club!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Croydon choristers add their voices to Lions’ roar in Australia
PETER GILLMAN on the latest ‘world tour’ by a doughty band of singers from the Croydon Male Voice Choir Sporting history could be made on Saturday, when the British and Irish Lions rugby team take on Australia in Sydney seeking … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Male Voice Choir, Elliot Daly, Music, Peter Gillman, Purley-John Fisher, Rugby Union
Tagged Australia, Brisbane, British and Irish Lions, Croydon, Croydon Male Voice Choir, Dave Bannister, Elliot Daly, Martin Perkins, Melbourne, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Peter Gillman, Purley Rugby Club, rugby union, Stadium Australia, Sydney, Sydney Olympic Stadium, Whitgift School
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Old Walcountians: Want to play rugby? Then join our club!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Mayor Khan fires starting pistol for £130m sports centre refurb
‘There’s no downside to redeveloping Crystal Palace’ says Khan as work finally begins to bring the former National Sports Centre back into working order – perhaps even as part of a bid for London to host the 2040 Olympics Plans … Continue reading
Posted in 2012 Olympics, Athletics, Basketball, Bromley Council, Cricket, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Football, London Assembly, Mayor of London, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Sadiq Khan, Sport, Swimming
Tagged 2012 Olympics, 2040 Olympic Games, Bromley, Croydon, Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace NSC, GLC, Greater London Council, London, London Assembly, Mayor, Mayor Khan, Mayor Sir Sadiq, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, Morgan Sindall, Paula Radcliffe, Steve Ovett
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Dobbyn’s team win second cup final without playing a game
RUGBY ROUND-UP: The 2024-2025 Surrey Veterans’ competition ended much as the 2023-2024 season did – quietly, in farce, another signal of the grassroots’ game’s sad decline A 50-season career of playing rugby, old man and boy, has staggered to an … Continue reading
After weeks of mud and guts, Warlingham still have a chance
RUGBY ROUND-UP: With one Saturday of the season left to play, our local clubs’ fates are already decided – with one notable exception. PLUS: a grassroots rebellion against the blazers at Twickenham falls flat as controversial CEO survives his no … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon RFC, Old Mid-Whitgiftians/Trinity RFC, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley-John Fisher, Rugby Union, Sport, Streatham-Croydon RFC, Warlingham RFC
Tagged Chipstead, Chipstead RFC, Croydon RFC, Johnny Dobbyn, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, PJF, Purley John Fisher RFC, RFU, rugby, Rugby Football Union, Streatham and Croydon RFC, Trinity RFC, Warlingham, Warlingham RFC
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Trinity manage to shine as local clubs find life’s no walkover
Inside Croydon was first to report the collapse in player numbers in local men’s grassroots rugby. The Daily Torygraph played catch-up with their broader look at the alarming decline in coarse rugby across England. Here, in JOHNNY DOBBYN’s 2024-2025 half-term … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon RFC, Old Mid-Whitgiftians/Trinity RFC, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley-John Fisher, Rugby Union, Sport, Streatham-Croydon RFC, Warlingham RFC
Tagged Chipstead RFC, Croydon RFC, Hamsey Green, Johnny Dobbyn, Old Caterhamians, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley John Fisher RFC, RFU, Rugby Football Union, Sanderstead, Streatham and Croydon RFC, Trinity RFC, Twickenham, Warlingham RFC
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New company to rise from ashes of Whitgift Sports Club failure
It’s ‘business as usual’ at Croham Manor Road, where four old boys’ clubs are set to take over following the collapse of their sports ground’s management company. EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES A new lease for the Old Whitgiftians’ sports ground … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Charity, Cricket, Croham Hurst GC, Hockey, Old Whitgiftians, Sport, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged cricket, Croham Hurst, Croydon, Hockey, Old Palace of John Whitgift School, Old Whitgiftians, rugby union, South Croydon, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School, Whitgift Sports Club, Whitgiftian Association
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State schools’ rugby tournament to kick off at John Fisher
A two-day festival of rugby, featuring the top state school teams from across England, is being staged at John Fisher School’s playing fields at Plough Lane this weekend. The event has been “years in the making”, according to Tom Street, … Continue reading
Whitgift Sports Club goes into liquidation owing £300,000
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Another small business in the hospitality sector appears to have gone under – with a large charity, private school and old boys’ association carefully distancing themselves from the debt-ridden company. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The Whitgift Sports … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Charity, Cricket, Croham Hurst GC, Hockey, Old Whitgiftians, Sport, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged cricket, Croham Hurst, Croydon, Hockey, Old Palace of John Whitgift School, Old Whitgiftians, rugby union, South Croydon, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School, Whitgift Sports Club, Whitgiftian Association
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Rapid decline in numbers shows that ‘coarse’ rugby is ‘at risk’
The club rugby season is well underway, with a couple of crunch derbies this Saturday – Old Walcs against Purley John Fisher, and Streatham and Croydon versus Warlingham. But will all local sides be able to field a full XV? … Continue reading
Posted in Elliot Daly, Marland Yarde, Old Mid-Whitgiftians/Trinity RFC, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley-John Fisher, Rugby Union, Sport, Streatham-Croydon RFC, Warlingham RFC
Tagged Chipstead RFC, Croydon, Johnny Dobbyn, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley-John Fisher, rugby, Trinity RFC, Warlingham RFC
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England rugby star Kabeya in return visit to Thornton Heath
Sunday will be a bit of a homecoming for Sadia Kabeya, the outstanding player in England’s outstanding, Grand Slam-winning women’s rugby team. Kabeya, 22, plays flanker for Loughborough and England, and was recently voted England’s Player of the Year. But … Continue reading
Old soldiers enjoy their rugby stroll around Hamsey Green
We’ve had walking football. There’s walking cricket, too (if it ever stops raining). Now, up at Warlingham rugby club and at Old Whits, they are playing walking rugby, and a visit at the weekend from some old soldiers from the … Continue reading
Warlingham’s youngsters lift two Surrey cups in season finales
There’s some hope down at Hamsey Green, after Warlingham’s under-16s won the Surrey Cup final, beating Farnham 15-14 in a nail-biting finale to their season staged at Harlequins’ Stoop ground. Warlingham also won the second tier county trophy at under-16s … Continue reading
Posted in Rugby Union, Sport, Warlingham RFC
Tagged Dave Toye, rugby, Surrey, Surrey Cup, Warlingham, Warlingham RFC
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How the ‘Mighty’ have fallen: relegation haunts rugby clubs
RUGBY ROUND-UP: After ill-tempered local derby clashes which had more cards than Christmas, and a revised formula for relegation that would leave Einstein confused, JOHNNY DOBBYN pulls on his flanker’s jersey, right, for the final time this season to preview … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon RFC, Old Mid-Whitgiftians/Trinity RFC, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley-John Fisher, Rugby Union, Sport, Streatham-Croydon RFC, Warlingham RFC
Tagged Chipstead RFC, Croydon RFC, Hamsey Green, Johnny Dobbyn, Lime Meadow Lane, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley John Fisher RFC, Sanderstead, Streatham and Croydon RFC, Trinity RFC, Warlingham RFC, Woodmansterne
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WSC Charity Race Night, Woodmansterne, Mar 22
Posted in Activities, Charity, Old Walcountians
Tagged charity, Old Walcountians, Race Night
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Middling at mid-season: Trinity lead way for bragging rights
RUGBY ROUND-UP: Halfway through the season, the local rugby clubs have so far done so-so. JOHNNY DOBBYN, left, packs down to get you the details If most local clubs went into the season feeling fairly upbeat about their prospects, whether … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon RFC, Old Mid-Whitgiftians/Trinity RFC, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley-John Fisher, Rugby Union, Sport, Streatham-Croydon RFC, Warlingham RFC
Tagged Chipstead, Croydon RFC, Johnny Dobbyn, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, PJF, Purley-John Fisher, rugby union, Streatham and Croydon RFC, Surrey, Surrey RFU, Trinity, Warlingham RFC
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Stormzy’s football club’s ground on council’s ‘For Sale’ list
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council’s ‘asset disposals’ programme is making desperately slow progress, as it adds tennis clubs, community centres, scout huts and a rugby ground to its list of available properties. But few, if any, existing tenants have been … Continue reading
Posted in AFC Croydon Athletic, Business, Charity, Colonnades, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Football, Golf, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Old Coulsdon, Property, Purley-John Fisher, Rugby Union, Scouts and Guides, Thornton Heath
Tagged Addington Court Golf Club, Conservative, Coombe Wood, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Court Golf Club, Coulsdon Manor, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Purley-John Fisher, Shirley, Shirley Park Golf Club, South End, Stormzy, Thornton Heath, Tory, West Thornton, Wilfried Zaha
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