A brief history of the Sussex football Rugby Union
The earliest clubs to take up rugby in Sussex include Brighton F.C. in 1868, Hastings in the 1880’s and Eastbourne in 1892. Rugby was also played in Worthing in the 1890’s. Schools, too, were playing the game in the 19th century. The formation of the Sussex R.F.U. dates from 1883 and the County Championship from 1890.
In 1914 with the outbreak of war rugby clubs ceased to play the game as many young men had joined up. Schools and military units continued to contest matches, however. Many rugby players lost their lives during the course of the conflict.
The return to a full resumption of sporting activities was slow. New clubs were formed, among them Bognor, East Grinstead, Horsham and Chichester in the 1920’s; Lewes, Hove, Seaford and Crowborough in the 1930’s. Again in 1939 war intervened and rugby pitches were turned over to the growing of vital food supplies for the beleaguered people of the United Kingdom.
After the war rugby returned to the playing fields of the county and independent and grammar schools provided a steady stream of boys to play for clubs. School rugby competitions started in earnest in 1954.
New clubs joined the county scene: among them Haywards Heath, Crawley, Burgess Hill, Plumpton, Holbrook, St. Francis Crawley, and Uckfield. Later formations included Heathfield & Waldron, Hellingly, Shoreham, Littlehampton, Rye, St Leonards Cinque Ports, Newick and Ditchling. Also part of the county set-up there are teams from Midhurst, Barns Green, Steyning, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, the Sussex Police and the most recent addition of the Brighton and Hove Sea Serpents.
In the 1970’s a Sussex Cup competition was introduced. Later competitions were organised for the varying levels of teams. In the 1980’s Merit Tables were created and these were later transformed into leagues to cater for 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams and single team clubs.
Mini rugby was introduced in the 1970’s; followed in the 1990’s by Women’s and Girls rugby. Both the Men’s and Women’s County sides have reached the finals of the County Championship.
Bob Rogers of Worthing R.F.C. also a one –time county scrum-half and Sussex R.F.U. President, was also R.F.U. President from 2006-7.
It must be added that a number of illustrious international rugby players started their careers in Sussex. There were four English internationals from Sussex in 2017; Hugo Southwell, an Eastbourne College boy, played 59 times for Scotland and today we have Marcus Smith of England who was a Brighton College student.
And clubs from Sussex have participated in The Middlesex Sevens (Worthing); Lewes entertained Gloucester in the National Cup competition and East Grinstead won the RFU Intermediate Cup Final at Twickenham. Brighton also reached two Cup Finals at Twickenham.
Today both independent and state-run schools provide teams for competitions locally and nationally.
Although the numbers of male players have decreased over the years, Mini and Junior rugby continues to thrive with festivals and leagues. The real growth area is in Women’s and Girls’ rugby.
Following the depredations of the Covid Pandemic rugby in Sussex continues to re-establish itself and offer the pleasures of the sport to a wide spectrum of people of all ages and backgrounds.
For any enquiries relating to the history of the Sussex RFU please contact the County Historian
