All about Canvey Island Rugby Union Football Club
part of the Canvey Island community since 1970
About us.....
“Hello and welcome to Canvey Island Rugby Club!”
We are a tight knit community rugby club, small in stature but big in heart. We currently run 3 senior men’s sides, a Touch rugby side, have over 200+ youth and mini players with around 25 coaches and are looking to start our first female rugby side!
We believe rugby is the greatest team sport around and there is something within it for everyone, here’s why…
(excuse the pun), Watching your children play on a Sunday and regret not having a go yourself? A former player who misses playing, wants to keep fit and misses the social life? Then we have a great ‘FREE’ Touch rugby program available to ALL on Friday evenings!
Need a fresh start at a different club? Having trouble transitioning from junior /colt rugby to senior? we have 3 senior men’s sides ready to cater for all abilities and experience levels.
Our youth rugby costs just £1 a session! “a quid for a kid” to come and learn the game of rugby with RFU qualified and DBS checked coaches! There is a position for everyone in rugby, big, small, fast, slow, male and female.
around and we work closely with our local schools to support after schools clubs.
as a coach, referee, volunteer? Whatever the capacity, we can help you on that journey.
Our club is growing and continues to help and provide for the people of this community as it has done over the last 50 years!
Come and be a part of it
History of the Club...
the way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
Where it all began
“Our club was founded in November 1970”
by a small group of local players who wanted to play rugby locally instead of travelling to clubs situated off the Island.
Canvey played their first game with just 13 players wearing some borrowed shirts. Remarkably they won 18-0 against Mid Essex Tech at Chelmsford.
Without a ground or a clubhouse, all games were played away, and by 1978 the club had begun to field three sides.
In 1979 after much work the club was granted two pitches at its current home of Tewkes Creek. Shortly afterwards in 1983, in a huge joint effort by many club members, a clubhouse was built!
“The club had now transformed from being a pub-based rugby side to a club with its own facilities"
In the late 1980’s a link between the Essex Education Authority and Cardiff College, saw an influx of Welsh PE Teachers ‘don’ the Red & Blue hoops of Canvey.
With the help of these players Canvey began their rise up the league system, culminating in playing in London 3NE and reaching their first Essex Cup Final. It was here in 1989 that they lost by one point to Chingford.
These teachers also sparked an interest in rugby for the lads at the local schools they were teaching in. Cornelius Vermuyden, Furtherwick Park & Castle View.
As a result the club had a small, but promising colts side come through to take over the reins. They managed to keep the club in the London leagues for a good few seasons and managed another cup final. This time they met Campion, where again Canvey were beaten.
Towards the late 1990’s early 2000’s, this side started to break up and a void was left. Canvey endured a series of relegations and found themselves wallowing in Essex 2. It was a difficult time for the club.
"Tough times don’t last but tough people do"
In 2004 a new young group of players, sprinkled with a dash of experience gave the club its most successful period ever.
They achieved an unbeaten record of 24 games and were unbeaten at home for two years. This side became the first Canvey team to win the Essex Cup and get to back to back finals. They are also the first Canvey side to win a League and Cup ‘double’
This side stayed together for most of the decade and made their way from Essex 2 to London 2 NE. As the sun set on this era, there was little coming through to the seniors by way of the youth system.
In 2017 the club turned its attention to developing its youth section to address this cyclic issue they constantly face. In two years the club have gone from 7 to over 200 registered youth players. The clubs youth section has won national awards for their work and the club has a positive future.
With the senior rugby landscape changing, the club have started to attract new senior players from clubs outside of the area. As a result in 2019 the club was able to field 3 x Men’s senior sides for the first time in over 10yrs!
The Management
well someone has to do it
The Committee
As everyone who has been involved with a club knows, it doesn’t run itself. It takes dedication, commitment and enthusiasm from volunteers across a broad spectrum to keep it all going. Fortunately, that’s exactly what what we have here, at Canvey Island RUFC.
Club
Chairman
Dave Gillespie
davegillespie.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Vice
Chairman
Alex Breading
alexbreading.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Hon.
Secretary
George Walker
georgewalker.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Asst. Hon.
Secretary
Darren Smith
darren.smith
@hygienecontracts.com
Hon.
Treasurer
Rob Huntley
robhuntley.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Asst. Hon.
Treasurer
Paul Bartley
paulbartley.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Director
of Rugby
Alex Breading
alexbreading.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Senior Fixtures
Secretary
Jamie Breading
jaybreading.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Club
Captain
Brett Smith
brettsmith.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Youth
Chairman
Tony Musgrave
tonymusgrave.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Communications
Officer
George Walker
georgewalker.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Compliance
Officer
Richard White
richwhite.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Facilities
Manager
Brett Smith
brettsmith.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Membership
Secretary
Kevin Cooper
membership
@canveyrugby.club
Other Volunteer Roles
Club
President
Danny Horton
Bar
Manager
Jackie Bedford
jackiebedford19
@gmail.com
Safe Guarding
Officer
Alex Breading
alexbreading.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Adult
Registrar
Alex Breading
alexbreading.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Discipline
Officer
Alex Breading
alexbreading.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Data
Officer
Alex Breading
alexbreading.canveyrugby
@gmail.com
Club Membership
kids for a quid.... we're not kidding!
Membership costs
Being a family orientated grass roots club, we aim to set membership prices as low as we can, whilst maintaining high standards and quality in all we do / provide. Value for money to our members is a key priority and we work tirelessly to ensure this is the case.
To make life easier for everyone involved, we have taken the bold step to incorporate all match day and training fees into your yearly membership. After the successful trial with our family memberships, we have decided to offer monthly payments to all of our Memberships.
Go to the club shop to purchase a membership.
(please note, by buying a Membership to the club, you are agreeing to abide by the Club Rules and associated Club Policies).
Family Membership
1 Player
from
Family Membership
2 Players
from
Family Membership
3 Players
from
Family Membership
4 Players
from
Colts and Students
Membership
from
Adult Membership
Player
from
Adult + Youth Membership
Player + Child
from
Vets Membership
Playing Vets
from
Social Membership
Adult
from
Life
Social
from
Membership benefits
Membership to the greatest little rugby club doesn’t just mean you’ll have a great time playing and socialising, your pocket will have a good time to. Our Committee has worked hard to obtain discounts from wonderful partners. So long as your membership in up to date (and yes, they will ask us) then you could enjoy the benefits outlined below:
