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SENIOR RUGBY
Two tough encounters for our senior men to finish their league campaigns. The 1’s hosted Seaford who, in my opinion, are the strongest opposition in the league and sat just behind G’s in third. Could the boys finish on a high in the sunshine? Click here to find out: Match report

To see all of Bens matchday pics, click here: Match pics

If it wasn’t for Brighton sending the majority of their 1st team down in a 2’s fixture, we would have finished sitting pretty at the top of the pile, but we have to settle for 2nd this season. We will go again next season!!

It’s not over just yet however, as the Sunshine 7’s is on Sunday and then a massive quarter final in the Papa Johns Cup follows on the 2nd May at Saint Hill, where we welcome Trojans who sit at the top of the Hampshire league. Get this in the diary as it’s going to be huge!!!

For our 2XV, a trip to Horsham was the tall task facing them as they woke on Saturday morning. Could they make it 2 from 2? Humble Henry talks us through the action here: Match report

Roles are reversed next weekend, as our Ladies travel to Guernsey on Saturday hoping to end their season on a high, while on Sunday our senior men play the 68th Sunshine 7’s at the club. More information on the 7’s below.

Finally, our Colts & Senior awards night on the 16th May is shaping up to be a cracker! To secure your place, get your ticket here: Senior awards tickets

JUNIOR RUGBY
A busy weekend for the juniors saw all sections on the road at festivals, with rugby being played far and wide. The U9s and U11s were on tour in Bognor Regis for the Leicester Tigers Challenge weekend, making it a particularly special couple of days for those groups. Better still, spring sunshine was firmly with us, providing near-perfect conditions for rugby across the board — a welcome bonus for players and travelling supporters alike.

U11s – Leicester Tigers Challenge, Bognor Regis
For the second year running, the U11s headed to Butlins in Bognor Regis for the Leicester Tigers Challenge — and once again it delivered everything you’d expect from a proper rugby tour: great rugby, great team spirit… and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. This year’s squad was boosted by tour newcomers Olly Hayward, Jude Pullen and Finlay McKenzie, who all made an immediate impact — and not just by fitting seamlessly into the group, but by all getting themselves on the scoresheet across the weekend.

Day one kicked off against local rivals Brighton, played in great spirit with plenty of camaraderie between the sides. East Grinstead put in a strong performance to come away as deserved winners. Next up were Instonians from Belfast, providing a tough test against a very well-drilled side. It was a tight, competitive match, but despite a strong performance, the Gs came out on the wrong side of a narrow result. The final game of day one saw Old Elthamians. A fast start gave East Grinstead a 2–0 lead at half time, which was later pegged back, but some excellent defensive work ensured the team held on for a well-earned draw.

Day two brought another step up in opposition. First up were Lisburn Eagles, where the team’s passing, tackling and overall cohesion really shone through, resulting in a strong win. Next came Witney RFC, and by this point the Gs were in full flow. Great rucking, moving the ball wide and relentless tackling saw them secure another impressive victory. By the final game, the hard ground had taken its toll and the squad was down to bare bones. Seb Lethbridge, carrying a knee injury from earlier in the day, showed real grit to stay on against Teddington RFC — refusing to come off and continuing to put in big hits. Despite tired legs, the team dug deep and ran out comfortable winners. This result confirmed East Grinstead as worthy pool winners, much to the delight of the players.

Across the weekend, there were standout contributions everywhere you looked. Mattie Evans was, as ever, incredibly tenacious, Sam Walding made some brilliant attacking runs, and Albert Turner carried strongly throughout. Erikas continued his usual mix of powerful running and big defensive hits, while there was a great moment of teamwork and friendship when Cameron Bell unselfishly passed to Harry Goldsworthy to get him on the scoresheet. What really stood out though was how much the group has come together. The boys have clearly bonded, and it showed on the pitch — working hard for each other, supporting in attack and defence, and playing as a true team.

Off the pitch, the tour delivered everything you’d expect. Butlins was, unsurprisingly, taken over by rugby clubs, meaning everywhere you looked there were kids in club stash, parents attempting to keep track of them, and the occasional coach wondering how it all got so loud. The fancy dress theme saw parents turn out as robbers, with the boys as superheroes — a combination that raised a few eyebrows but definitely brought plenty of laughs. A special mention must go to our new Team Manager, Andy Salter, whose understated presence ensured everything ran smoothly — from logistics to general “encouragement” — never missing an opportunity to make himself heard! - Although we nearly missed him on the Sunday, as there was a rumour that something was wrong with his new car.....which is apparently quite expensive...but we can't confirm this as it wasn't really discussed!!

The weekend was rounded off with the awards ceremony, where the team proudly collected their trophy, presented by World Cup winner and former Leicester Tiger, Will Greenwood — a fitting end to a brilliant couple of days. A fantastic tour all round. The coaches were hugely proud of the boys, both for their performances and the way they conducted themselves throughout. A big thank you also goes to the parents, whose support (and organisational skills!) made the weekend such a success. It was great to make new friends too. We’re already planning a trip to Belfast next year!

With the move up to intermediate rugby next season, this was a big milestone for the group — and with U12s being the oldest age group eligible for this tour, there’s already a feeling the team will be keen to return next year for one final shot at it.

Under 10s - Crowborough Tournament
The Under 10s took three teams with impact players to the Crowborough Festival and had a day of rugby in the sunshine. All three teams put in some brilliant effort across all four of their matches.

EG1 found themselves against some quality opposition from Crowborough, Chichester, Haywards Heath and Guernsey. The whole squad found themselves playing better together as the tournament progressed. Putting in some great tackles and scoring some lovely tries.

EG2 also found themselves against good opposition from Haywards Heath, Worthing x2 and Cranbrook. They gave good account of themselves and put in some solid performances. The whole squad showed maximum effort and enthusiasm and the passing and tackling got better in each game.

EG3 came head to head with Crowborough, Uckfield, Cranbrook and Chichester and had the unenviable task of playing up a massive slope for at least one half of each game. There was some excellent support play, fast rucking and try saving tackles.

The spirit in all matches, not just our own, was what you hope for in rugby, hard fought, respectful of each other and enjoyed right to the end. One more festival to go for the U10s at Uckfield this weekend! Bring it on!

U9s Report – Leicester Tigers Challenge, Bognor Regis
The U9s headed to Bognor Regis for their first ever tour, proudly taking on the Leicester Tigers Challenge under the team name The Ghekos. Having mainly faced local opposition up to now, this was a big step up — coming up against teams from much further afield. Safe to say, they rose to the challenge brilliantly. Across the weekend, the players really stepped up their game. There was great effort, teamwork and a clear sense that they were loving every minute of the experience. It didn’t take long for the group to settle into tour life — both on and off the pitch.

There was one slightly… memorable moment during a game where the team were well on top, only for the referee to decide (mid-match) that the RFU rules were more of a guideline and switch things to touch rugby. This left players, parents and coaches equally confused. Credit to the coaches though, who stuck firmly to the code of conduct and resisted the temptation to “offer further clarification” from the sidelines!

Off the pitch, the fun continued. The fancy dress theme was pirates, and the players fully embraced it — although it’s fair to say there were probably fewer parrots and more slightly damp eye patches by the end of the evening. A real highlight was the awards ceremony, where the players were presented with medals by World Cup winner Will Greenwood. Not content with simply collecting their awards and walking off, Coach Ky seized the moment with one final call of “Dead Ants!” — which the players enthusiastically obeyed, hitting the floor with legs in the air to the delight (and slight confusion) of the crowd. Safe to say, it brought the house down. Away from the rugby, the team made the most of everything Butlins had to offer — endless fairground rides, hours in the pool on the slides, and an impressive effort to completely clear out the arcade of tickets.

All in all, a hugely successful first tour. The players had a fantastic time, bonded brilliantly as a group and showed great development on the pitch. There’s no doubt this will be the first of many. A big thank you to the parents for their support, organisation and willingness to embrace the chaos of a junior rugby tour — it wouldn’t happen without you.

U8 - Horsham Festival
Great day of rugby for East Grinstead Under 8s
With the sun shining and temperatures rising, our 6-a-side teams took on clubs from across Sussex in a fantastic festival atmosphere. Showing real strength in depth, East Grinstead entered three teams and all of them rose to the challenge. The players also adapted brilliantly to late scheduling changes and the switch to playing on the 4G pitch, showing great flexibility and focus throughout the day. For many, it meant adjusting their game on the fly — but the standard of rugby remained high throughout.

There were some brilliant moments on the pitch — standout tries from Hudson and excellent tackling from Timos helping to set the tone. Across all three teams, there was great support play, determination in defence, and some excellent passing moves that showed just how far this group has come over the season. Conditions weren’t easy, but the energy and enthusiasm never dropped. Whether it was chasing down a break, getting back into position, or encouraging teammates, every player contributed. It was also great to see the connection between the three squads, supporting each other and celebrating the big moments together. A special mention to the way the players handled the heat. With plenty of water breaks and tired legs by the end, the effort and attitude remained outstanding throughout.

Looking ahead, the team is set to take part in a lap of the ground at the Harlequins Big Summer Game at Twickenham — a fantastic opportunity and a well-earned reward for all the hard work put in across the season. It will be a proud moment for players and families alike.
A huge well done to all the players for their effort, teamwork and resilience in tough conditions. Credit as well to the coaches and supporters who helped the day run smoothly, especially with the last-minute changes.
One more to go — the final tournament is next week at Worthing before the squad makes the exciting step up to contact rugby. Bring it on!

U7s - Horsham Festival
On Sunday, four East Grinstead U7s teams made their way to Horsham to serve up a delightful feast of rugby. Rain coats stored in the cupboard, sun cream packed - a stunning Sunday morning produced one of our best days of the season so far. It was a far cry from a couple months back when we last visited Horsham, where the horizontal rain and Arctic winds questioned our love of the game. A frantic start with a hectic (albeit well organised) car park situation meant we were straight into our games with little warm-up. It also meant chopping and changing of players across teams - unsurprisingly, the great camaraderie of the team meant that was no issue for the legends of the U7s who happily stepped in across teams to ensure we kept 4 on the pitch at all times.

The rugby we played was superb, so much so that we were kindly complimented by other clubs on the rugby we produced - a number of well-worked team tries and some outstanding tagging in defence showed just how far the group has come this season. While the attacking has been amazing all year, the only thing that needs work is the ‘Henry Pollock-style” celebrations after each score. Something we are working on…

4 teams, 16 matches, 19 brilliant rugby players and 4 exhausted coaches…a great morning which has made us just as excited for this weekend at Uckfield, where we will do it all again for one final time this season.

Next weekend is the last one for the season before the annual end of season awards. As it clashes with the Sunshine 7s - we are traditionally all away. Despite a long wet winter, the season seems to have gone far too quickly.

INTERMEDIATE RUGBY
A Tour to Remember: U12 G’s Crowned Shield Champions
The spirit of rugby was on full display this past weekend as our U12 G’s touring party, consisting of 16 players and a fantastic cohort of parents, travelled to Butlin’s in Bognor Regis. Bathed in glorious sunshine from start to finish, it was a weekend defined by camaraderie, character and, ultimately, silverware.

Day 1 meant of course, that tour shirts and wristbands were presented, rules explained, and even a special Redcoat appearance! A personal good luck message from Cadan Murley ensured that the stage set.

Day 2 had three tough matches lined up with opposition from all around the country: Enniskillen RFC (Northern Ireland), Tring (Hertfordshire), and Old Alleynians from London. Coming up first against a clinical and well-drilled Enniskillen side, the boys found themselves on the back foot early on. Clearly a touch sleepy, they struggled to find their shape and implement their game plan. A slow start cost them and, despite half-time changes and a heroic effort to fight back—including a powerful consolation score by Iestyn—they came away 4-1 down.

The boys didn't have to wait long for a chance at redemption, as they were soon up against another strong Tring team. There was no time for heads to drop. Some sharp words from the coaches and a steely determination saw the boys step up their game. Hugo got stuck in doing the hard work up front, and some incredible tackling from Lucas, Beau, and Murray set a platform for phase after phase of high-quality rugby. Making progress up the pitch and creating space out wide, ably aided by Myles working hard to find gaps, Iestyn crossed twice to raise G’s spirits with a fantastic 2-0 victory.

Now back in the hunt for a top spot in the table, they faced Old Alleynians Tigers. Even with the squad rotated, the team stepped onto the pitch focused and prepared. A quick pass from the back of the ruck by Owen, filling in at half-back, set Josh on a direct crashing ball over the line to score. Soon after the restart, some smart work down the left wing and a step back inside saw Stan over for G’s second. The second half required disciplined defensive work, but G’s kept making the most of their chances. Lucas found space with a powerful run but was held up. After the reset, a smart pass launched Finn into the corner. Keeping the pressure up, Iestyn broke a couple of tackles for G’s fourth. The final score of 4-1 secured 2nd place in the group and a shot at the Shield.

Saturday night was USA night! Fancy dress, high japes, joyful playfulness, pegs galore, and huge fun for everyone.

Day three was crunch day. Up first was Luctonians RFC—a titanic battle characterised by end-to-end rugby and immense defensive work, with Lucas, Jonah, Justin, and Harry all putting in hard shots. With Luke distributing well from the back of the rucks, it was Iestyn again who found space to crash over for the only score of the game. G’s held on with grit and determination beyond their years for the first win of the day. Next up was Bishop's Stortford RFC. This was a high-intensity battle of pride and commitment. Iestyn burst through the gain line and cleverly off-loaded to the supporting Bobby, who ran hard into the corner to touch down for the first try. Bishop’s Stortford equalised before Iestyn broke another tackle to make it 2-1 at half-time. The second half was a battle of attrition, but one mistake on the wing allowed Stortford to gather a loose ball and equalise just before the whistle; the game ending 2-2.

The final match was against Amersham Red. The plan was clear - win and win well. Iestyn powered through for the opening two tries. Some sharp rucking and a strong run from Morgan saw him over for the third. Next up was Murray, finding space out wide for number four. Iestyn scored again, followed by a tackle-breaking run from Jonah into the corner. 6-0 at half-time. In the second half, Iestyn made it 7-0. After some powerful forward work, Harry dived for the line but came up just short. A sharp jackal from Bobby regained possession, and he powered through the defence for 8-0. Amersham scored a late consolation, ending the game 8-1.

All tied at the top of the table, the countback confirmed that the U12 G’s had done it!! Top of the league and Shield winners!! Lasers, lights, music, and Will Greenwood were there to give out the medals and trophies. It was magnificent to see those young faces grinning from ear to ear. Absolute golden, lifelong memories in the making. After a very important and high-brow sitting of the kangaroo court to deal with the weekend's sins, it was time to party.

What a tour! What a result! Endless fun, endless laughs, new friendships and old, camaraderie, commitment, fight and the belief in each other, all wrapped up in gloriously brilliant rugby. The rugby family at its very best, with all its values and everything that goes with it on full display. Thanks to all who helped make it so special.

SUNSHINE 7’s
It looks like there will actually be Sunshine at this years tournament and I can’t wait!! This year we will be holding our three tournaments, Mens Elite - Mens Open & Womens Open all on the Sunday. G’s will be putting in a strong side so make sure you are on the touchline to get a tan and enjoy some quality rugby.

All the info can be found here: Sunshine 7's

200 CLUB
March 2026 Draw Results
Our 200 Club provides a vital part of fund raising for playing equipment for the membership with the added bonus of giving our members the chance to win cash prizes each month.

1st Prize, Ticket No. 16 – Ted Marriner - £125
2nd Prize, Ticket No. 34 – Rick Blackwell - £50
3rd Prize, Ticket No. 1 – Ann Halligey - £25

Could all winners please forward their banking details even if previously submitted to Stephanie.irwin@egrfc.com for payment directly into their bank account.

Reminder that should 3 months elapse from the draw date and details for payment have not been forwarded to the club, then the winning sums will revert to the club account. For details in joining the ‘200 Club’ contact 200 Club or colin.byron.uk@gmail.com

COMING UP DURING THE SUMMER

FUN RUGBY IS BACK
Friday 24th April | 6pm
BBQ & drinks, Touch rugby for all, Community vibe!

Fun Rugby is simple - Touch rugby for everyone, aimed at families.
A great way to keep fit, learn the game, or just have a run about.
No tackling. Just rugby and fun.
Play alongside your kids. Whole families welcome. Plus a dedicated girls session.

For more info, email us at: egrfctouch@gmail.com

WOMENS 6 NATIONS
Big game. Bigger atmosphere.
Join us at EGRFC this Saturday as we show the Women’s Six Nations clash — England vs Wales — live in the Steve Cairns Clubhouse from 14:15.
Clubhouse open early, drinks flowing, and rugby on the big screen. Don’t miss it.

JUNIOR AWARDS
Join us on 3rd May as we celebrate an amazing season for our junior players at East Grinstead Rugby Club!
U5 – U8: 9:15 – 10:15
U9 – U11: 10:30 – 11:15
After the awards, don’t miss our annual EGRFC Colour Run at 11:45 – always one of the most fun events of the year!
Tickets available here: Colour run tickets

CAR BOOT AT THE CLUB
Anyone who has visited Ardingly Car Boot Sale at the showground, knows what a big event this is. We are excited to announce that starting on the 10th May, it will be held at the club this summer. The bar will be open, so come down, grab a few bargains, a drink and enjoy the sunshine.

To book a pitch, contact Michael Cummings on 07563 822862.

WHÀNAU CUP
The Ratana Marauders and Vixens represent the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation and play charity matches around the country, this will be the first time both Ratana teams will play at Saint Hill.

Former Leicester Tigers Coach, Dean Richards, will be the DOR for this event, so come down on the 30th May at midday to enjoy this great afternoon of rugby to remember Matt.

AGM
Get Friday 17th July in your diary.
We will meet at 7pm to vote in our officials and celebrate another season at our fantastic club.

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!!