Presidents Welcome 2023/24


A very warm welcome to newcomers to CRFC and to those returning for another season at Steel Cross. It is great to see so many new faces around the club ranging in age from the very young to the, well, very experienced.
Watching players training during the week over the Summer break and the early season friendlies has been very encouraging as the benefits of belonging to a club with such strong mini and junior sections are very apparent in the number and quality of those who are now in, or knocking on the door of, senior rugby. The skill sets speak volumes for the dedication of the coaches throughout the club and we welcome new coaches at all levels. Investing in coaching from the earliest stage really brings its rewards and we can see that today on the pitch.

Girls and Ladies rugby is becoming increasingly popular, and successful, all over the country and internationally. CRFC is very keen to promote Girls and Ladies rugby and if you wander around the pitches on a Sunday morning you will see the sisters and daughters of lots of players learning the basic skills with their male counterparts. Sometimes with even more force and determination! This bodes well for the future and CRFC wants to be seen as a club providing the opportunity to play rugby in the area for all enthusiasts and families.

The RFU has engaged in a major restructuring of the League system with the objectives of introducing more people to rugby and planning for future generations. They have done this by introducing a new regional and counties based system which means that CRFC is now in Counties 1 Kent. There is only one other Sussex club in this League, which is Heathfield and Waldron, although last season we were the only Sussex club in London SE1. Most of our opponents are familiar to us and are generally Kent and SE London based. It remains to be seen how this new structure works for us as a club and the RFU and our 1st Team will learn a lot this season.

Despite the effect of climate change on our weather in Crowborough the pitches are in much better shape than we could have expected only a couple of weeks ago, and once again I would like to thank and commend the work of the Friday Club to make our grounds and facilities top class. Members are justifiably proud of the club in many ways and our visitors can see this the moment they arrive. Volunteering is fun at CRFC and a real team effort. If you are new to the club, please join us as you are certain to get even more out of membership.

I look forward to meeting you in and around the pitches and in the bar – here is to a great 2022/3 season!

David Clark
President Crowborough Rugby Club