Watching the adults on a Saturday afternoon match day or the juniors at Sunday morning training, it takes no time to understand why Kettering Rugby Football Club is held in such high estimation across the Midlands and beyond as a club that personifies the ethos of rugby. Men and women, the young and not (so) young meet together to be part of a rugby club whose history is as proud as its future is
bright. So many of our current and past players who have had the privilege of wearing the ‘Blues’ shirt give their time freely to enthuse, inspire and educate the up and coming members of Kettering rugby future. Only time will tell where this future lies but if looking back is a guide to what is ahead, our successes both on and off the field will be numerous. Ever since the Rector of Barton Seagrave founded our club in 1875, Kettering Rugby Football Club has been at the very heart of Rugby Union in the East Midlands. We called many sites ‘home’ within the area before finally settling down at Waverley Road, our home now for over forty years, where we are proud of our reputation for tough but fair rugby, usually played with flair and always with a smile and where our newly refurbished clubhouse is ready to offer a welcome to newcomers and veterans alike. Despite our highs and lows, Kettering Rugby Club has had the honour of nurturing rugby talent and fine people. We have been represented at all levels of the game; from regional to premiership to representing their country but the call of the familiar beckons many of these members back and they can be seen coaching at all levels from our youngest U6’s to supporting our veterans side as they remember their salad days (and just how big the pitch is!). We now field over 16 sides ranging from our 1st XV to our Under 6’s who form part of a section of which the whole club is immensely proud and from many of our 1st XV honed their craft. KRFC is recognised by the Senior Midlands Clubs as a breeding ground for talented players and each season sees the club represented at all levels and age groups in Regional sides and beyond. Indeed, the Mini Junior section now sees over 250 children training on Sunday mornings under the enthusiastic but watchful eyes of RFU accredited coaches and it’s success at promoting junior rugby was recently recognised by the RFU as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ and awarded the ClubMark Seal of Approval. The future for Kettering Rugby Club is bright, why not see how you can get involved in shaping our future and help inspire the stars of tomorrow.
