We want to assure our members that the committee has been working in the background during this crisis. The efforts over the past two years by the committee & finance teams to ensure the clubs long term sustainable, is becoming apparent. The measures in place means that the club will be solvent for the foreseeable future, based on budgeting forecasts. This has taken into account membership, which is an annual payment and we ask our members not to cancel their memberships as it could affect this outlook drastically. If you are having issues in these trying times, please contact your relevant membership secretary so that we can work with you during this period as all our members are part of one rugby community family. 

The delivery of the blazers will be later this week. The supplier has been working hard to ensure that the delivery was in time for the Veterans tour, which has unfortunately been delayed for obvious reasons. 

We understand that payment for the blazers could be difficult at this time, so we can offer a payment extension to 15th May to those that have ordered. The total sum as disclosed before is £156. For delivery, please contact the Admin team or wait until we can re-enter the clubhouse.

You can do a BACS transfer to the club account using the details below.

Account name: Maidstone Rugby Club

Account # 00062872

Sort Code: 30-95-37

Ref: YOUR NAME & 'Blazer'.

The RFU has communicated today that this season is now concluded for all levels except for the Gallagher Premiership. There are ongoing talks about how to conclude the top flight league season.

They will also continue to monitor the situation and advise when they can give the all clear for rugby activities to resume.

More as it develops.

As a kind reminder, your monthly membership is structured as a twelve-month annual payment. This helps run the club for an entire calendar year and at a cost that is more manageable for our members. We ask you to help assist the club at this difficult time and not suspend your membership, as rugby could very well return in the regular ‘off-season’.

We do bear in mind that some of you maybe affected by the current situation and ask that you contact your relevant sections membership secretary to discuss any difficulties.

Further to this, the club has a very small pool of volunteers that will be on hand to assist our most senior members with any shopping that they may need, for as long as we can. An email will be going out to those most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic shortly.

If you would like to join the volunteer team, please contact MaidstoneRFC@outlook.com.

We urge all members to work with us and each other through this crisis. Rugby is a community and a fellowship. Together, we are all stronger and we may be down, but together, we will never be out!

With all Rugby of all types currently suspended why not keep yourself in shape with the RFU Activate programme? Your can do it as an individual wherever you have space.

On Sunday 15^th March the club hosted the Kent Veterans Competition Finals day. The weather stayed conducive to rugby with bursts of sunshine, and the rain holding off until packing up time.

First up setting the tone for a thrilling days rugby, was the Shield Final between Vigo & Old Gravesendians. A cracking game finished with an unbelievable finish. With Vigo needing a converted Try to tie the game, their winger broke the OG’s defence and crossed the line. As he headed to touchdown behind the posts, a last-ditch tackle came in. The Vigo players knee was adjudged to have crossed the dead ball line just before he grounded the ball. Heartbreak for Vigo but relief for Old Gravesendians as they walked away with the shield 29 – 22.

The Bowl final was dogged contest between Gravesend and Old Colfeians, with the latter looking to add more silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet this season. In a back and forth contest, Old Colfs took the spoils with an unconverted Try and a penalty kick 11 – 0.

Drama continued in a spectacular Cup final between Westcombe Park and Sevenoaks. With Park scoring first and Sevenoaks equalising, the tit-for-tat scoring continued. Midway through the second half, Park pulled two tries ahead and it looked enough for them to win. Oaks did not give up and came back to tie the game with less than five minutes remaining on the clock. In this event, under the competition finals day rules, Westcombe Park would be crowned champions having scored first, given that no cards had been handed out and the number of converted tries was even. Sevenoaks were rallied and well aware of this from previous experience and earned a penalty in the middle of the posts, albeit around fifty metres out. The attempt was just wide and just short, and Park immediately came back up the pitch. In a moment of madness, Park were handed a penalty which they appeared to be looking for touch with. The Oaks number 10’s remonstrations were a little too much for the referee, who promptly marched Oaks back ten metres. Westcombe Park punished the error by slotting the penalty and ended the game 29 – 26 victors.

It was a great day for rugby, played in the best of spirits and long may veterans rugby continue. Our thanks go to Kent RFU, lead sponsors Shepherd Neame, our very own competition director, Richard Ewence & to all players, spectators and volunteers for making it a fantastic day to be a part of.

Let’s hope that rugby is not off of our calendars for too long.

Safety and health is paramount for our members and we will now be bringing in stage 3 of the clubs plan.

Following the announcement from the government today, all activity for the club will cease effective immediately.

No training, games or gatherings are to take place until further notice. An update is expected in early April  

If you have an event booked at the club, please contact us.

Thank you for your understanding at this difficult time.

The club committee is closely monitoring the current developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The club has also been closely working with the governing bodies as the safety of all our members is paramount. Although there are mixed feelings on the severity of the outbreak, it is prudent to exercise caution. As the saying goes, "It's better to be safe than sorry".

As defined by the WHO, the symptoms of the COVID-19 virus are;

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Dry cough

These are the symptoms to be aware of as others are most likely common seasonal colds, or flu.

If you do exhibit any of the above symptoms, we request that you do not visit the club, until you have been cleared by the hospital as being COVID-19 free.

All games and tournaments are scheduled to go ahead as planned. Kent RFU is monitoring the situation and may limit the number of visitors for the Youth Finals days. This is not confirmed, but any action taken will be communicated by your relevant youth coaching team.

We urge all members and parents to be as cleanly as possible, especially at the clubhouse. Please ensure that all hands are washed, especially prior to handling any food & after visits to the restrooms. Our staff is taking extra precautions to ensure that this is being followed and may refuse service if someone has not clearly washed their hands. For example, if they are covered in mud.

For more information about the COVID-19 virus, please see the below links.

Government COVID-19 education

Government COVID-19 advice

Should the situation change and any games, tournaments or facilities be affected, we will communicate as soon as possible.

The Under 12’s took part in the inaugural edition of a new tournament at Medway RFC, called the Rucker Cup, and we are delighted to report that they won.

The Committee has agreed to take Vice President Graham Norton's offer of compiling a review of the club. Graham will be interviewing members of the club as he constructs his report on the state of the Maidstone FC and provide recommendations.

He will be looking at all aspects of the club for his report that will be submitted to the committee at the end of the season. We ask that you please assist him, should he contact you. Alternatively, if you feel that you would have a constructive input, please get in touch with Graham at grahamnorton100@hotmail.com.

The club is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Oram as Director of Rugby. Steve has coached all the way through at youth level before becoming the youth manager at Aylesford. He then had stints as a coach at National sides Blackheath & Canterbury with endorsements coming from both Des Diamond & Andy Pratt. 

Steve will begin work with the coaches George Flatman, Dave Charlton & Mustangs Manager Jason Smith straight away as we build for the future. He will be responsible for the senior playing sides and will work with the youth section as we progress all age groups along with the Academy with Mick Walker. 

Throughout the process Steve has been astute with his observations of the team and his vision for the future of the club is in line with the committees. 

On behalf of the club we welcome Steve Oram as Director of Rugby and look forward to the future. 

The club also sends a massive thank you to Richard Weston, for holding the fort as Head of Playing in the interim.

The club is pleased to announce that it has formed a new sponsorship team.

The team will be headed up by club licencee Trevor Marvin, who will coordinate the activities of the team. Bob Hayton is also on board as an advisor whilst they look to continue on his fantastic work.

Further information will follow in due course.

London & South East Division 

London SE Division 2