Bexley RFC

Bexley RFC is an English rugby union team currently playing in Shepherd Neame Kent 2, the tenth tier of English rugby union competition.
Bexley RFC currently runs 3 Senior teams, the First XV currently play in the tenth tier of the English RFU league setup and the Second and Thirds XV's play in merit leagues at a regional level. Bexley RFC also has good representation at Junior and Mini level.
History
Bexley Rugby Club was founded in 1957 by several members of , Blackheath.
The Original intention was for the club to become an official Old Boy's team so two of the founding members Lawrence Sullivan and Ronald Munro approached the Headmaster at St Joseph's Academy to become an official Old Boy’s team, however the Headmaster pointed out that this may be difficult as the tradition was for Old Boys to join Park House RFC and indeed Blackheath RFC. Not discouraged they chose to form the team independently of the Old Boy’s Association.
The newly formed club was initially named “The Hermits Rugby football Club” as due to being independent of the Old Boy’s Association games had to be played away and like the Hermit Crab they moved from home to home. The club registered with the Rugby Football Union and Kent Society of Rugby Football Union Referee’s. Eventually the club were able to rent a ground at Hall Place and became established in Kent running 3 senior sides as well as a Colts team.
When Bexley became a Greater London Borough in 1965 it was decided to re-name the Club “Bexley Rugby Football Club”. However the club maintains it’s link to the original name by retaining the Hermit Crab on the Club badge and naming their second team “Hermits”.
Although the Senior sides were predominately made up Academy Old Boys, there was also fierce competition with local clubs for players eventually prompting Park House to approach Bexley RFC to merge, this proposal was declined by the members of Bexley RFC.
In August 1978 the club finally obtained it’s clubhouse after successfully getting permission to rent the nearly derelict St, John’s Fisher Catholic Church in Thanet Road, Bexley from the local council. The Club in it’s new home continued to foster links with local schools, particularly Bexley and Erith Technical High School for Boys and Downs School, Dartford. By 1980 the Club ran six senior sides, together with occasional Kent Cup, Colts and sevens games.
Finally in 1997, Bexley Council sold the land in Thanet Road for development and the Club were once again homeless. The Club were able to persuade Bexley Hospital Social Club to provide not only the use of their clubhouse but also a pitch on the same ground .
Bexley RFC has a great tradition in youth rugby, having originated from young enthusiasts and by continuing to be sustained with regular recruitment’s from local schools over the years. Bexley RFC therefore recognise the importance of encouraging young people to get involved in the rugby, as a result of this Bexley RFC established “The Mini-Rugby Section” in September 1997. The section meets regularly for coaching / training and matches on Sunday mornings at the Bexley Hospital Ground. The numbers are growing, with boys and girls in all age groups U7, U8, U9, U10, U11 , U12 and Juniors (U13/U17) and qualified coaches to provide good guidance. Bexley's commitment to developing local youth players has reaped rewards for the club as youth players have begun to bring success to the club and the game as a whole.
The work Bexley RFC has put into working with youth in the community and developing the Rugby in England has not only been recognised by improvements in results in youth competitions and player representation at national and county level but also within the local council who have stated this also.
Currently the Club runs three Saturday teams with the 1st XV competing in Shepherd Neame Kent 2 and the national “Powergen Junior Vase”, and Shepherd Neame Junior Vase competitions.

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