Crediton Rugby are winners!

Just before the under 9 and the under 14 squads went out to play rugby on Sunday they were met by Ian Kingsbury JP, the Provincial Grand Master of the Devonshire Freemasons. He was accompanied by Colin Mackenzie, Alan Tonkin, Ian Penny who are all members of the Unity Masonic Lodge in Crediton and have just sponsored the new playing kit for both teams.

Both organisations have a long history in Crediton, the Freemasons lodge having been there since 1870 and the Crediton Rugby Football Club since 1878. These teams must have met during that 150 years, not in competition but in unity.

The club designed a new playing kit for the First Team two seasons ago, their intention was to roll it out across the whole of the fifteen teams which now play for the club, eleven of which form their thriving and successful junior section and includes three girls teams.

The management thought it would take years to achieve, but thanks to generous sponsorship by many local businesses all but two of them had received their kits. Now thanks to the incredible generosity of the Devonshire Freemasons Ian Penny club President and Colin Mackenzie club Chairman confirm that the work has now been successfully completed.

This year sees the Tercentenary (300 years) of English Freemasonry, they have always been deeply involved with local community life and celebrations will take place throughout the county and country to commemorate being the oldest philanthropic organisation in the world.

The Crediton Rugby Football Club can also celebrate its successes within the rugby world and has an outstanding list of achievements.

They were awarded as the National Community Club of the year in 2015/16 and the RFU Presidents award for recruitment and Retention in the same year. Their junior section had provided a number of players who have gone on to receive County, Regional and National honours and currently have three ex club players in the Exeter Chiefs squad, namely Jack Yeandle, Sam Hill and Harry Strong who is in his early years with the Chiefs. Also the recently retired captain of the Bath Rugby Club Stuart Hooper came from the club which goes to prove the quality and passion for the sport which is felt by it’s members. Continuing on that theme they are also a host club for the England Deaf Rugby teams and hosted them for training and a game last season.

The young members of the two teams then went out and played games against local opponents Bideford looking splendid in their sparkling new outfits as can be seen in the attached photos.