Aylesford

In the Spring of 1975, two Rugby enthusiasts, Ron Huggins and Jack Williams, Landlord of the Bull Inn, Linton, were drinking and talking rugby in Jack's Saloon Bar, and the idea of a Sunday side was mooted, with the intention that Ron would get some more games in his maturity, and Jack in his 'dotage'!!!!! cont. 

In 1957 a few members of the 5th year of St. Joseph's Academy, Blackheath, headed by Lawrence Sullivan and Ronald Munro, decided to form a rugby team. Asking the Headmaster if, with the blessing of the Old Boy's Association, they could become eventually an official Old Boy's team. The Headmaster pointed out that a long standing tradition, was for pupils to join Park House RFC and indeed Blackheath RFC, and that this could prove a stumbling block as regards to recruiting players. Not discouraged, they decided to form a team independently of the Old Boy's Association. cont. 

Cranbrook

The man credited with founding Cranbrook Rugby Football Club was B.L. "Bill" Jaeger.
He was apparently a Cranbrook schoomaster in 1936 - 37 when he formed a team and is said to have bought the field now known as "Jaeger's" for the pitch. They say the team was called The Falcons through a lable inside someone's hat. This photograph among those on display in the clubhouse is of a thirteen man squad plus a referee ( nothing changes!). cont. 

Gravesend

In the 1978/79 season we were still playing at Springhead. These were council-owned playing fields on reclaimed rubbish dump, prone to injuries on re-surfacing flints and old baked bean tins, but we had our own club house, where we mostly ate pie, mash and beans (maybe that's where the tins came from).
We had black and white striped shirts with no numbers or badges, props were, without exception, fat and Alan Tointon managed the Colts (making appearances himself when short - saw him play winger once and get laid out, but still managed to pay for all the beer after. Hurrah!). cont.

Leigh

Leigh rugby club rose up like a Phoenix out the Ashes during England's emphatic win over Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
After months of training and kit borrowed from Tonbridge Juddians Rugby club, the men of Leigh were ready for their first rugby match.
Watched by over 200 spectators on a sun kissed green in Leigh, near Tonbridge, The Layabouts took the lead on what looked like it might become their "Field of Dreams". But evolution took it's course and the Layabouts were beaten in their first game of rugby.

Maidstone

Maidstone Football Club was formed officially in 1880/81, though there is no doubt rugby was played in and around Maidstone as far back as 1868. 

The club’s first ground was owned by Dr Moncton, close to the centre of the town and he allowed them to play there for many years. The club prospered and from 1886 onwards played against clubs including Middlesex Wanderers, Harlequins, Richmond, Eton House, London Scottish and Old Merchant Taylors. cont. 

Medway

On a Sunday after some very good rugby the members were standing in the clubhouse having a few drinks, and at the time there was a smell of burning as if someone had a bone fire near by. After some time Simon Shaw went to go home and saw smoke and flames coming from the roof. He returned to the clubhouse to tell everyone to get out and call the fire brigade, but no-one believed him and continued to drink. He then started shouting out, everyone took notice of him and got out. cont. 

Old Gravesendians

Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club was founded in 1925, but it is some nineteen years earlier that the origin of the rugby in Sevenoaks are are to be found.

In 1906, on his return from the South African War, Major Frank Norman introduced the game to his father’s school. The New Beacon, Sevenoaks. Such was the enthusiasm shown by the boys that spectators from the town were soon attracted to their game. With this steady growth of interest Major Norman conceived the idea of arranging a gentlemen’s match. A suitable piece of land near Hitchen Hatch Lane was found and prepared and in 1910 the first senior game was played between a team from Guys Hospital and a local side. cont. 

Tonbridge RFC played its first game on 24th September 1904, with the Old Juddians RFC debuting on 28th September 1928. TRFC started life playing at the Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells (as TWRFC!!) before moving to Tonbridge for season 1907/08 (as most members lived in Tonbridge and the rail service to T. Wells was so poor!).
TRFC was initially based at The Bull Hotel, with "more suitable dressing accommodation" supplied by the Boating Club from 1912/13. At the outbreak of WW1 in 1914 rugby in the town was suspended until October 1919 - when it was unanimously decided at an EGM that the club should be carried on. cont. 

Tunbridge Wells