East Grinstead RFC

English rugby union club, based in East Grinstead

Rugby team

East Grinstead RFC
Official website
Full name	East Grinstead Rugby Football Club
Union	Sussex RFU
Founded	1929; 95 years ago (1929)^[1]
Location	East Grinstead, West Sussex, England
Ground(s)	Saint Hill
Chairman	Bob Marsh^[2]
President	Bob Russell
Coach(es)	Ryan Morlen, Sandy Robertson
Captain(s)	Max Crawley-Moore, Ben Watkinson
League(s)	Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex
egrfc.com

East Grinstead RFC is a rugby union club based in East Grinstead, West Sussex. The 1st XV play in Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex (Level 7). The men's section also run 2 further sides, 2nd XV (playing in Counties 3 Sussex, level 9) and a Vets side. The rugby club also has a flourishing women's team who compete in Women's NC 2 South East.

The first XV (G-Force) played in National League 3 London & SE for three seasons, until 2015–16, a level five league in the English rugby union system. For season 2016–17 the club voluntarily dropped leagues to Sussex Canterbury Jack Division 2 following the resignation of the main sponsor.^[3].

History

The club was founded in 1929 by Brian Desmond.^[1] The current clubhouse at Saint Hill was built in 1997.^[4] The club was incorporated as a company in 2009.

In the 2011–12 season, G-Force played in the London 2 South East division (a level 7 division), which they won,^[5] gaining promotion to London 1 South. In 2012–13 season they were undefeated and won promotion to the national leagues.^[6]

The club made news headlines in September 2020 when its coach, Metropolitan Police officer Matiu Ratana, was shot and killed while on duty in Croydon.^[7]

In recent seasons both the men's 1st XV and 2nd XV have been able to go the entire season undefeated in all competitions, firstly achieved by the men's 1st XV in the 2016-17 season in Sussex 2. Then again in the 2021-22 season, winning 18 matches from 18 with leading try scorers F. Wood scoring 22 trys and G. Johnson scoring 13. The team was lead by J. Andrews until he dislocated his shoulder earlier in the season passing the captains armband to M. Crawley-Moore. This was followed by the men's 2nd XV who secured an undefeated season in both league and cup in the 2023-24. They won 18 games from 18 with leading try scorers W. Roberts scoring 15 in all competitions and C. Taylor scoring 9. The team was lead by captain B. Watkinson and team manager M. Burger.

The men's recent success is closely linked to the coaching team of R. Morlen and S. Robertson who continued Matt's legacy in 2020.

Honours

1st Team:

Kent 1 v Sussex 1 promotion playoff winners: 2007–08
London Division 3 South West champions: 2009–10
London Division 2 East champions: 2011–12
RFU Intermediate Cup winners: 2012
London Division 1 South champions: 2012–13
Sussex 2 champions: 2016–17
Sussex 1 champions: 2021–22
Counties 2 Sussex champions: 2022-23

2nd Team:

Sussex Asahi Division 4 East champions: 2016–17
Counties 4 Sussex East champions: 2023-24
Sussex Junior Bowl Cup champions: 2023-24

3rd Team:

Sussex Asahi 2 East champions: 2012–13

Sunshine Sevens

Since the 1950s, East Grinstead have hosted an annual Rugby Sevens tournament, which raises money for children's charities.

References

^ ^a ^b "About Us". Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
^ "Who's Who". Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
^ Harvey, Neale (22 May 2016). "Talking Rugby". Sunday Independent (Plymouth). p. 62.
^ Satchell, Sam. "East-Grinstead-Rugby-Club-appeals-help". This is Sussex. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
^ "London 1 South". Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
^ "Matches by division". Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
^ Martin, H., and Loren, A., "New Zealand-born police officer Matt Ratana shot dead in London was 'big in heart'," stuff.co.nz, 26 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.