Hove Rugby Football Club
| Full name | Hove Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | RFU |
| Founded | 1933 as Sussex Yeomanry and then 1952 as Hove RFC |
| Location | Hove, England |
| Ground(s) | Hove Recreation Ground, Shirley Drive, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 6NQ |
| Chairman |
 Adam Tunesi |
| President |
Richard Hopkins |
| Coach(es) |
Sandy Robertson |
| Captain(s) |
Sam Whiting |
| League(s) | London 1 South |
| Official website | |
|
www | |
Hove Rugby Football Club is an English community rugby union club, located in the City of Brighton and Hove, who play in the London Division of the RFU in the 2010–2011 Season. Hove Rugby Club is based at Hove Recreation Ground in Shirley Drive Hove. Hove RFC is affiliated to the English RFU via the Sussex RFU.
History
The Beginnings
Territorial Army officers and men of the Sussex Yeomanry formed a rugby club, which was affiliated to the Rugby Football Union in 1933. Records of their results have been lost in the mist of time but, post war in 1945 the players reformed and continued to turn out on Saturdays, the home matches being played at East Brighton Park.[1]
In 1952 the Yeomanry could no longer continue without an influx of new players. The members approached Alderman Arthur Brocke who was then Mayor of Hove and Councillor Jack Woolley. They secured a pitch in Hove Park and the old timber Scout Hut was refurbished and extended to provide showers, kitchen and a bar.
Hove Recreation Ground
The local Council had plans for Hove Park and the rugby Club had to plan for a move. After many false starts, the Club finally moved the short distance to Hove Recreation Ground ready for the start of the 2002–2003 season. The building of excellent new facilities and the provision of four pitches at one location gave the Club the facilities it needed to break out from the lower levels of the English structure and to enable it to look to the future.
The new Clubhouse was opened by the Mayor of Brighton and Hove in August 2002 – coincidentally, this was the Club's 50th anniversary as Hove – a fact that was missed at the time!
Current
Hove RFC are a level 7 club within the English League structure of the RFU. They play league rugby in London 2 South East which is administered by the London and South East Division – one of the four divisions of the RFU (the other being Northern Division, Midlands Division and South West Division).[2] This league contains 14 Clubs – as do all others at this level and covers Kent, Sussex (East and West) and Surrey.
In addition to the First XV, the Club has a further two senior men's teams, a Senior WRFC or women's team (affiliated to the RFUW), Colts team at Under 18 and Under 17, Youth Teams from Under 13 to Under 16 as well as Mini Rugby for ages from Under 6 to Under 12.[3]
The senior WRFC team currently play in the Championship 1 South division, a league below the Women's Premier league.
The Hangover Trophy
The Val Hayes Memorial Hangover Trophy is an annually contested fixture on New Year's Day between a Hove RFC Invitation XV team and another club or invitational team. Originally the fixture was contested by Hove RFC and the Robin Hood pub in Brighton, and now the fixture is sponsored by the Seafield pub.
Status
Hove RFC are an amateur Club run by volunteers who give freely of their time. The players are also amateurs who play for the love of the game. To supplement income from Membership Funds and Bar/Function revenue, the Club benefits from the generosity of many sponsors who partner with the Club to help provide the sporting opportunities for both adults – men and women – and children of all ages.
Alumni
- Simon Clarke England
- Dennis John Wales
- Alex King England, Barbarians, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Wasps, Rosslyn Park.
- Altan Ozdemir Bristol Rugby, Harlequins Rugby, Bedford RFC, Leeds Carnegie, Exeter RFC, Plymouth RFC
- Ben Hampson England,[4] Saracens,[5] London Welsh
- Ollie Phillips England Sevens, Newcastle Falcons, Stade Français
- Joe El-Abd Toulon, Bristol Rugby, Caerphilly RFC Bath Rugby
- Ryan Storer Cornish Pirates, Worthing RFC, Harlequins Rugby
- Jordan Turner-Hall England U20,[6] Harlequins Rugby
- Noah Cato England U20,[7] Saracens FC
Club Honours
1st Team:
- Sussex 1 champions (2): 1998-99, 2003-04
Women's XV:
- Intermediate Cup winners: 2014-2015
4th Team:
- Sussex Rugby Football Union Vase winners: 2011-2012
- Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate champions: 2012-13
- Sussex Late Red 3 champions: 2014-2015
- Sussex Rugby Football Union Salver winners: 2014-2015
References
External links
- Hove Rugby Club website
- Sussex RFU CB website
- London Divisional RFU website
- Rugby Football Union website
- Hove RFC Facebook Page