Junior Fixtures

Download all 2009/10 Junior Fixtures by clicking here.

Next Matches

Under 7s
No Match
Under 8s
No Match
Under 9s
No Match
Under 10s
No Match
Under 11s
No Match
Under 12s
No Match
Under 13s
No Match
Under 14s
No Match
Under 15s
No Match
Under 16s
No Match

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Sidmouth RFC Juniors History

On the evening of Monday 13th September 1971 Sidmouth became the pioneers of Mini Rugby in Devon, and one of the first in the country, when a group of players and ex-players under the leadership of Club Captain Terry O'Brien welcomed the first batch of eager younsters for their first taste of the game. About 40 boys between the ages of nine and fourteen attended that first session and within two weeks in number had doubled to eighty.

There was no inter-club games played in that first season simply beacuse there were no other clubs with teams to play. However an exhibition game was staged between two ten-a-side under 11 teams prior to the 1st XV game on Boxing Day. Also the Pullin Cup was revived and played for at the end of the season by three teams drawn from different areas of the town and one of those who came from outside.

The following season the first inter-club matches were held against teams from Exmouth and further games were played against Tiverton and Hele's School. In April 1974 Sidmouth staged the first Junior Rugby Tournament in Devon with ten-a-side Mini Rugby for Under 12s and a seven-a-side competition at Under 14.

At that time Terry was ably assisted on the coaching side by ex-players Les Cody and Des Bridgeman. For the 1974-75 season they were joined by David Keast who took charge of the Under 16s when the first cohort of boys reached that age group. Sidmouth was now fielding teams from Under 10 to Under 16 as more clubs followed the trend and provided regular opposition.

The venture came to fruition in 1978 when the Colts reached the final of the Devon Colts Cup where they were defeated in a thrilling match by Plymouth Albion Juniors. Now the products of the scheme began to filter into the senior teams and players of the calibre of Graham Bess, Kenny Bradley and Graham Denner appeared in the Chiefs.

In 1979 Terry O'Brien stood down and Derek Marchant took over the administration of the Junior Section. It continued to thrive and in 1981-82 the Under 16 team, coached by Geoff Retter, won the Martecia Trophy, the forerunner of the Jewson Cup.

In the mid 80s the Juniors went into decline due to the lack of willing coaches. However in 1986 Bernard Holland came on the scene to help out and soon found himself taking over the reins. His hard work and dedication breathed new life into the set up. He was also fortunate that at the same time a particularly talented group of boys were starting their Rugby careers. Along with them came a set of parents who wanted to get involved. Gradually a strong coaching set up developed and was backed up by an efficient administration.

In 1989 the Under 10s won the Devon Tournament and went on to repeat the feat as Under 11s and Under 12s. They eventually completed their time in the Juniors at Under 16 level in 1995 by winning the Jewson Cup and going on to win the Devon Shield and so becoming County Champions. In the same year the under 15s team, coached by Colin Nice and managed by Stuart Hayman won the County seven-a-side Tournament. They repeated the performance in 1995 when they also reached the final of the Jewson Cup.

In 1996 the Junior section celebrated it's Silver Jubilee.

TO BE CONTINUED.......

Our thanks to Terry O'Brien.