Welcome to East Grinstead Rugby Round Up. If you are reading this on the website, or via Facebook, please sign up to receive this Newsletter via email, which contains loads of pictures and other content, please email m.marriott@btconnect.com and we will add you to the list.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED URGENTLY
We are sending out an urgent plea to our rugby family!
Our grounds staff work so hard to maintain our playing surfaces, but recently have struggled to find the time to attend to the pitches due to a load of seasonal jobs, like sweeping the leaves from the carpark and clearing mud from our pathways. We are desperate to release them to get back to what they are good at. If you have an hour or so and can lift a broom or brush you are so valuable to us. Please send us a message at: operations@egrfc.com if you can help.

Joining our volunteer family does have its perks!! Please see the article below about our upcoming Volunteer Thank You Meal.

SENIOR RUGBY
What a fantastic Saturday we had at the club on Saturday. With 90+ at the match day lunch, including almost the whole Sussex RFU board, there was a big crowd to watch the 1XV take on Lewes in a ‘Top of the Table Clash’. Unavailability was unusually high during the week which put a massive strain on our two squads, so I was a little apprehensive before the whistle. What happened I hear you ask? Click here for Ryland’s report: Match report

To see all Ben’s pics of the day, please click here: Match pics

Due to the unavailability issues, only 12 2’s lads were able to travel to Hove. They put up a goog account of themselves, even scoring a couple of cracking trys, all to no avail as a strong Hove team triumphed 59 - 19.

Next weekend all three senior teams are in action. The 1XV take on Hove in the Bob Rogers Cup which will be a fantastic game against higher league opposition. Kick off is at 2pm, so why not come up, grab a burger and a pint and cheer the boys on.

The 2’s face a slightly longer journey as they fly off to Jersey in the cup. I’m very jealous lads! Have an amazing adventure and come home with a W.

Our Women are back in action on Sunday as they welcome local rivals Crowborough. Kick off is at 2pm and your support would be much appreciated.

AGE GROUP RUGBY
It was a busy weekend for the juniors with our U6 and U7s hosting Edenbridge for some friendly inter club rugby. Our U10s were away at Horsham.

U5/6
This weekend saw a fantastic joint training session between East Grinstead RFC’s U5/6s and our friends from the Edenbridge Broncos, held on home turf at EGRFC. The session was led by coaches from both teams who put the kids through a fast-paced morning of activities that put the fun in rugby fundamentals. We kicked off with lively warm-up games of holidays and the ever classic toilet tag, getting everyone moving and laughing before a series of ball-handling drills. The focus today was on getting into position to receive a pass by being behind the ball carrier; helping our youngest players build awareness, teamwork, and confidence with the ball in hand. The session wrapped up with two crowd favourites: bulldog and the ever-popular rob the nest, where both teams showed off their speed, agility, and thirst for competition.

Afterwards, everyone gathered for well-earned sausages in a bun, kindly provided by the club — the perfect way to end a morning of rugby and friendship. Having swirled the groups all day I t was a brilliant example of the collegiate spirit between the two clubs, and a great opportunity for the kids to build connections that will hopefully last for years to come.

Special congratulations to our standout players of the day: Jessica and Piper from Edenbridge, and Arthur and Herbie from East Grinstead. We’re looking forward to a return leg in the new year!

U7
This Sunday, the U7s welcomed Edenbridge to EGRFC. The supercharged squad was back on Pitch 3, where their competitive rugby journey began just a month ago. However, the change in their gameplay is unrecognisable to that day. Things have really “clicked” and our passing, support play, and defence have come on in ‘leaps and bounds’. Try-scoring has never been a problem, and Albie E, Austin, Finley, Grayson, Harry, Ivy, Louis, Luca, Oliver, Ollie, Sam, Thea, and Zach all showed that once again this week. On the flip side, coach communication can still be improved — as Ivy delicately put it, “Why do you just shout ‘head down’ every time I get the ball?” Something for us to work on before our next match with Crawley on 23rd November.

A joint warm-up and drills with Edenbridge gave both sets of coaches the opportunity for some bragging rights over the children in our favourite passing game — and the honour of winning the coveted ‘Golden Ball’. Three sets of competitive matches followed, resulting in plenty of muddy kits and big smiles all round. It was a great Sunday morning of rugby.

A quick word on our visitors — they were a brilliant group of children, coaches, and supporters and a reciprocal fixture already being pencilled in which we are looking forward to.

U11
It was a special weekend for some of our U11s with a team outing to Twickenham to watch England take on Fiji for what was to be a big hitting match with plenty of tries for the boys to enjoy.

The boys had a fantastic time enjoying the pre-match fun in the West Village. It wasn’t long before they found a bit of grass and enjoyed some impromptu rugby with anything that would pass for a ball.

Once in the stadium, we were treated to an amazing light show before what was an excellent match got underway. Everyone had an amazing day before heading home to prepare for training on the Sunday.

SUNSHINE 7’s CHARITY DONATIONS
A Perfect Day.
The Sunshine Sevens Committee invited this year’s charities and causes to the pre-match lunch last Saturday.

EGRFC Vice Chair, Matt Marriott, warmly welcomed a large representation from Sussex RFU which included Bruce Hayter - President, Alan Croucher – Chairman, Richard Lambert – Finance director, Allen Butcher – Past Finance Director, Geraldine Brown – Women’s and Girls Chair and our own Dave Hooker – Past President. We appreciate them taking the time to see EGRFC and the work the club does in the local community.

During lunch, Chair of the Sevens Garry Gordon, gave a brief history of the Sunshine sevens. Through the tournament and the Birch Grove golf day, that £32,000 pounds was raised, which is amazing. Work was already underway for the 68th Sunshine sevens which will be on Sunday 26th April 2026. We also took a few minutes to update on the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation, with EGRFC being the Foundations home. The tackle London programme, which is mainly focused on schools round Croydon, last school year coached 2,028 students with over 40% girls in fourteen schools. The programme continues to grow, not only in London but in Sussex and Yorkshire, with further plans to expand in Sussex. This is now a real legacy for Matt.

We also thanked our key sponsors and donations.
Challenge Packaging – represented by Colin Prior and Martin Coppard, Challenge Packaging has done an amazing job supporting the sevens, making the Golf Day such a success. For all their hard work we also received a donation from their parent company the Logson group – many thanks.

Penny farthing Jewellers – Steve Rogers again this year has supported in so many ways.

Ted Mariner – for many years Ted has given great support to the Sunshine Sevens, Wooden Spoon and Step by Step.

Thanks also to all the members of the Sunshine Sevens organising committee for their hard work during the year. This has allowed EGRFC to donate £41,750 to local children’s charities and schools. (See detail below)

Finally, each recipient was presented with their donation and updated how important these donations are with less and less funding streams being available.

Step by Step for Autism – receive £10,000 in total, to carry on the many projects within the school.

Wooden Spoon Sussex - received £10,000 in total which will allow them to carry out more local projects.

CREW – Queen Vic – received £4,750. This helps toward the cost of taking young patients with burn injuries on an adventure weekend to the Isle of Wight.

Court Meadow Riding for the Disabled – received £4000 to support the running of the wonderful service they provide.

Tadpoles Swimming club, Kings Centre – receive £3,000 to support the running of the club and purchase much needed equipment.

Sackville School – received £4,000 to help students who would otherwise not be able to go on trips or receive counselling.

Imberhorne School – received £4,000 to help students who would otherwise not be able to go on trips or receive counselling.

Champion Chanzige Tanzania – received £2,000. With local schools visiting Tanzania on trips, this charity id helping young people learn how to deliver a more sustainable way of living, growing food and making clothing etc.

East Grinstead Special Families – With connections to over 1,000 families we will help support the group with structure and website development.

Helping us Help the Kids – EGRFC.

AGP PLANNING MEETING
Can you help?

As you know, EGRFC is trying to raise the funds to build an artificial grass pitch (AGP) on the training pitch area, to vastly improve the training facilities at the club. We have made good progress but now the real work starts. The current cost estimate is £850-900k and we have been advised that outside of foundation funding we would need to secure about 30% of this amount, say £270k.

There are many funding sources and grants available and there maybe members who can contribute. However, at this time we need to form a working party (not a committee) to chase down every penny of funding that is out there so we can show that the 30% is attainable. The working party will write our scripts for funding, seek out funding sources, record commitments, work with 3rd party users (football clubs) to get their support and meet frequently to update our system of record. In addition, we need members who can help finalise our plans and also work on other elements of the project such as planning applications.

Can you help? If you can, we are meeting tonight!! (Wednesday 12th) at 7pm at the club!

We will explain our progress and look to allocate some activity.

Thank you

VOLUNTEERS MEAL
Save the date!!!
East Grinstead RFC Board are excited to invite all our wonderful volunteers, and their other halves, to a meal on Wednesday 10th December to thank you for the amazing work you put in. Menu options are being explored as we speak, so if you volunteer with us, save the date and watch this space for more details!!

SOCIAL DATES
20th December - Christmas Jumper Match day Lunch (1XV face Ditchling after)
Click here for your tickets: Jumper tickets

20th December - Adults Christmas Party featuring live music by Deadwoodz
Click here for your tickets: Party tickets

14th December - Childrens Christmas Party

OTHER NEWS
If you have any news about any aspect of our rugby family here at East Grinstead, get involved and email m.marriott@btconnect.com. See you next week!!