Tunbridge Wells RFC explained

Teamname:Tunbridge Wells RFC
Nickname:Wells
Fullname:Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club
Founded: (as Old Skinners)
Ground:St Marks Recreation Ground
Capacity:3,000 [1]
Chairman:Mike Rigby
President:Jim Hendley
Captain:TBC
Season:2023/24
Position:4th
Url:http://www.twrfc.com

Tunbridge Wells RFC is an English Rugby union club that plays in Regional 1 South Central from Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.

History

Tunbridge 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.

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

Notable players

Notes and References

  1. Book: Courage clubs championship Official Rugby Union club directory 1990-91. Burlington Publishing . Bungay . 1990. 1-873057-01-6 . 584.
  2. Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club . SO Magazine . 2013-03-01 . dead . https://archive.today/20130418160758/http://tunbridgewells.so/sport-fitness/tunbridge-wells-rfc . 2013-04-18 .
  3. Web site: Skinners' cup run proves benefits of senior links . https://archive.today/20130505123740/http://www.yourtunbridgewells.co.uk/sport/skinners_cup_run_proves_benefits_of_senior_links_1_1170351 . dead . 2013-05-05 . Your Tunbridge Wells . 2013-03-01 .
  4. Web site: Tunbridge [sic] no match for Jersey ]. https://archive.today/20130419172641/http://www.bbc.co.uk/jersey/content/articles/2007/11/11/rugby_071110_tunwells_home_feature.shtml . dead . 2013-04-19 . BBC . 2007-11-10 . 2013-03-01 .
  5. Web site: Thor starts thunder to hammer TJ rivals . https://archive.today/20130505071932/http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Thor-starts-thunder-hammer-TJ-rivals/story-17338607-detail/story.html%23axzz2LvUk4e96 . dead . 2013-05-05 . This is Kent . 2012-11-16 . 2013-03-01 .
  6. Web site: Wells are ready to flourish . https://archive.today/20130505111440/http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Wells-ready-flourish/story-13297790-detail/story.html%23axzz2LvUk4e96 . dead . 2013-05-05 . This is Kent . 2011-09-09 . 2013-03-01 .
  7. Lewes pull out all the stops in season finale to beat Tunbridge Wells 48–27 in London 2 South East . https://web.archive.org/web/20161018204921/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-287136651.html . dead . 2016-10-18 . Lewes . Sussex Express . 2012-04-20 . 2013-03-01.
  8. Web site: Home . rfulondon.com.
  9. News: Wanderers out to end trophy drought in Plate final . Eastern Daily Press . 2011-04-29 . 2013-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820213136/http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/wanderers_out_to_end_trophy_drought_in_plate_final_1_934673 . 2016-08-20 . dead .
  10. Web site: The Official Kent County RFU Website . 2013-04-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130604234034/http://www.kent-rugby.org/5_invicta_tables.html . 2013-06-04 .
  11. Web site: Tunbridge Wells spread rugby word with school ambassadors . RFU . 2012-10-09 . 2013-03-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131208120443/http://www.rfu.com/news/2012/october/newsarticles/081012_tunbridgewells_ambassadors . 2013-12-08 .
  12. Web site: Rugby: Tunbridge Wells’ youth players make big impression. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180613184444/www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk/rugby-tunbridge-wells-youth-players-make-big-impression/. 2018-06-13.
  13. Web site: Quins support Tunbridge Wells RFC Primary School Tag Rugby Festival . Harlequins . 2009-06-12 . 2013-03-01.
  14. Web site: RFU.
  15. News: Finals day at Twickenham. The RUGBYPaper. 399. Rugby Paper Ltd. 8 May 2016. 35.
  16. Bill Hayward PhD . Albuquerque Aardvarks . 2011 . 2013-03-01 .
  17. News: My Sport: Martin Corry . The Telegraph . 2006-08-29 . 2013-03-01.

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