The new season kicks off at Waterhall at 3pm. The newly refurbished club house will be open from 1:30pm with a complimentary buffet and usual kitchen and bar facilities. Come down and cheer on the Blues!!

With England hosting the Women’s World Cup and the England team finishing runners up, now is the perfect time to encourage more women to take up the sport.

We are looking for an enthusiastic coach to take on the challenge to create a brand new team. 

Training is likely to be Wednesday evenings with games on Sunday afternoons.

An experienced Level 2 Coach would be preferred but all candidates considered. CPD funding can be made available for the right candidate.

For more information contact: Claire Byrne: julianbyrne@sky.com or 07828236386

There will be a team building day at the club on Saturday 21st August for all players. This will be followed by pre season friendlies against London Irish at Sunbury on Saturday 28th August and Bognor away on Saturday 4th September. The Blues kick off their league campaign on Saturday 11th September against Old Elthamians at Waterhall, 3pm kick off.

Last season was very different from my first at the club. After the Sussex 1 season of scoring points for fun, we were hit very hard with a dose of reality about what challenges we faced in London 3 very early on. We played the top five teams in the league in our opening 5 games and came unstuck in 3 of them. As a squad we definitely needed time to adjust to the new level and that wasn’t something we had. Slowly but surely we began to see improvements in our performances at the new level. The final 15 minutes away at Park House certainly stand out in my mind as giving the squad a huge confidence boost when we started to play with the sort of accuracy we have come to expect of ourselves. That was backed up with an excellent performance at home to the then London 3 South West leaders, Ellingham & Ringwood beating them comprehensively, 53 – 12. In my opinion we never really looked back after that game and whilst we had some occasional sloppy performances, the players were playing with confidence week in week out. There was a firm belief that we could compete and beat the teams at the top of the league. The National Cup offered us a nice mental break from the league and allowed us to try out different options within in the squad. It also gave us an opportunity to look at different styles of play that may or may not suit us.

The weather began to play havoc with the fixture card and we were pleased to get to Christmas having built up a six game unbeaten run. Just before we split up for a short Christmas break, we sat down as a squad and agreed 3 core values that we felt represented us as a club and a team.  We also laid out some targets for January which saw us take on the top 3 league teams that had beaten us in our opening few games. Our target was clear, beat all 3, and we believed we would be in promotion contention. We did just that and as the weeks passed, it became clear it would come down to the last game of the season – it ended up being later than that!

We had played just 3 games in the national cup and already found ourselves in the quarter finals. After two away games we were very pleased to be drawn at home against Gosport and Fareham who were now the leaders of London 3 South West. In basking Waterhall sunshine and a 500+ crowd we enjoyed a tense and tight win to secure an away semi final in Gloucestershire.

With two league games left, we knew we not only had to win but we had to score as many points as possible. Despite winning narrowly earlier in the season, we were now full of confidence and managed to rack up an additional 108 points in our last two games against Medway and Horsham. This left Heathfield with an all but impossible points tally required in their final game of the season to deny us a second successive promotion. Heathfield won their game but way short of the required points and so our promotion was confirmed. By that stage I think it was a feeling of relief as opposed to mass celebration!

Whilst the league was very much done and dusted we still had a National cup semi final to look forward to. Cirencester, I would say were the best team we faced last season and whilst most people have said we probably deserved to win the game, it could have been a very different story. For the first time in the National Cup our fate was taken out of our hands when Cirencester had a penalty kick to win the semi final. 9 times out of 10 I imagine the Cirencester kicker would have kicked it but with close to 1000 supporters and a trip to Twickenham at stake, you can understand why he missed it. I remember thinking as he lined up the kick that it would be a very good lesson for us to lose after we made some very poor decisions in the closing stages of the game – ever the optimist!!  

There was a far more focused and relaxed build up to Twickenham the second time around. Having had the experience the previous season, we were hopeful we could take full advantage against an opposition who had gone the entire season unbeaten. That was not the case and it probably took us 50 minutes to get into our stride.

Unlike the Liskeard final the previous season, which went down to the wire, we could enjoy the final 15 minutes of the game safe in the knowledge the game was won. I was delighted the entire squad managed to get a decent run out on the hallowed turf – something that was very tough to do the previous season.

Looking back it was a strange season and whilst similar in successes to 08-09, very different at the same time. More than 2 years ago now we set about a plan to win 2 promotions in 3 seasons. That has been achieved now with a year to spare. That is not to say we now have a year to waste and not to push on. London 2 will inevitably be our biggest challenge as a squad so far. Our opening few fixtures look extremely tough and I can’t imagine we will be given any time to settle in to life in London 2.

I do not know what the new season will bring in the way of results and league positions. We are to some extent entering the unknown as very few of the players has played in this league. What I do know is that if our team replicate the same character and commitment that was shown to turn around last season, the club is in safe hands.

The All Blacks having been relegated from the top division in week 1 found themselves in the 3rd division in the final week. A narrow victory against the Destroyers, 8 – 6 meant they could top div 3 if they overcame the ever improving All Stars. Age and experience proved in the end when the AB’s won a closely fought game with 2 late tries making it another 8 – 6 victory. The Destroyers and All Stars have been ever presents in Div 3 and as yet the All Stars have yet to beat their great rivals. A draw was as close as they have come in week 2 and again a win was just beyond them this year. The Destroyers won 9 – 6.

Div 2 was one of the closest fought leagues of the competition with all 3 teams picking up at least a point. Speed vs Logo Sports and Speed vs Cunning Stunts both ended in a draw, meaning the winner of Logo Sports vs Cunning Stunts would top the division. The game was gripped at 1 – 1 for most of the second half until Logo Sports managed to tear through the Stunts defence to take a 2 – 1 lead. Despite a valiant effort by the Stunts, the experience and fitness of the Logo Sports defence proved too much, thus giving Logo Sports the top spot.     

In the final week of Division 1, the division was rife (not for the first time) with corruption, cheating, poaching, you name it, it was happening. Team Tea Pot kicked off against the Rebels in the game that was tipped to be the title decider. Both sides had earlier been accused of poaching and the fierce rivalry was evident from the start. The excellent, referee Houldley did well to keep tempers at bay and the game ended 8 – 8. The Egg Chasers who are the only team to play in every division over the 4 weeks must have fancied their chances when they took an early 2 try lead against the Rebels. Naturally the referee (from TTP) was abused and blamed for everything but then the rebels started to play. They manged to claw back to win 5 – 3 but would that be enough of a try difference to prevent TTP from topping the group for a 3rd consecutive week? With the Rebels providing the referee and the Egg Chasers players now looking mysterious like those of the Rebels it would certainly be an interesting match up between. TTP managed to sneak an 8 – 5 victory to top the division and with it the touch crown. There were a number official complaints lodged once the tournament had ended and results published but with TTP winning the “organising committee” decided not to take them any further.      

That concludes this summer’s touch rugby league. It was great to see so many players of all ages mixing and competing against each other. There are plans to expand the touch league next season with more teams and more weeks of competition. We also plan to introduce a ‘touch rugby day’ where teams will compete in an all day tournament. Watch this space!!

Senior training at Brighton will be back in full swing every Tuesday and Thursday 7-9pm from Tuesday 3rd August. Any new or old players are welcome to attend.

Division 3 threw up the biggest upset of the night when the all stars made up predominantly by the Brighton u8′s turned over the once title hopefuls, Egg Chasers. Speed of thought and intelligent play were widely said to be the difference between the two teams with the All Stars taking the spoils, 11 – 10. The division was thrown wide open when the Egg Chasers salvaged some pride with a 13 – 6 win over the destroyers. The All Stars needed to win against the side they drew with the previous week to ensure promotion with a spotless record. It was to be a bridge too far for the youngsters who narrowly lost 8 – 5 in a highly entertaining match. By the skin of their teeth, the Egg Chasers managed to sneak the promotion spot in the most closely fought division so far.

Division 2 kicked off with a pulsating match up between last weeks disgraced Rebels, looking to make amends for their actions and the All Blacks, desperately keen to get back into the top division. The game did not disappoint with the Rebels winning narrowly 11 – 10. The AB’s went onto beat the newly promoted Cunning Stunts, 15 – 5 which meant the Rebels just needed to get a win in their last game to gain promotion. Anyone would have thought the game would be a full gone conclusion looking at the Cunning Stunts previous results but they came out fighting. The Rebels stuttered and scraped to a victory winning, 9 – 7, gaining promotion to the top division where they will renew their fierce rivalry with Team Tea Pot.

Speed kicked off the top flight as number 1 seeds against Logo Sports where they won comprehensively, 6 – 1. Back to back games proved too much for the youngsters of Speed in their second game against Team Tea Pot. After a cagey beginning to the game, with both sides running into each others defence, TTP ran out 9-3 winners. TTP needed just one more win against the now booze fuelled, Logo Sports team who ran out of steam and succumbed to a 6 – 2 defeat meaning TTP took the top spot for week 2.

With just two weeks left, the Rebels make their first appearance in the top flight where they will take on Team Tea Pot and Speed. Logo Sports join the All Blacks and the reinstated, Egg Chasers in division 2. Division 3 is made up its original trio being, Cunning Stunts, All Stars and Destroyers.

Results for Thursday 15^th July

In Division 3, it was the Cunning Stunts who took pole position and earned themselves promotion after two closely fought wins against the All Stars and the Destroyers. The All Stars and the Destroyers, desperate not to finish bottom, went head to head but neither side could keep hold of the lead and the game ended in an enthralling 3 – 3 draw. The Destroyers, by the skin of their teeth piped the All Stars to 2nd place on tries difference.   

Division 2 was always going to be interesting with all 3 teams gunning for promotion to the top tier. The Egg Chasers were given a couple of heavy beatings, compounding them to relegation which set up a promotion play off between the Rebels and Team Tea Pot. The Rebels, made up predominantly by mercenary players, recruited from other teams just hours before the tournament started, proved you can’t buy a team and were soundly hammered by TTP, 5 – 1.

The top flight was riddled with discussion and debate straight after the opening game between the ‘experienced’ Team Logo Sport and the youthful All Blacks. It is so often now we see teams at the top of their sport accused of negative play and playing unattractively in the fear of defeat. This conversation was rife again after the opening nil - nil draw. The division sprung into life, when the aptly named ‘Speed’ team took centre stage and romped to two superb victories over the All Blacks, 5-3 and Logo Sports, 6-4 in two excellent matches. In the closest call of the competition it was the All Blacks who were relegated to the 2nd division with Logo Sports having scored 1 extra try.     

So, next week, Team Tea Pot joins the much fancied ‘Speed’ team and Logo Sports in the top division. The All Blacks join the disgraced, Rebels, and newly promoted, Cunning Stunts in Division 2. Division 3 will see the All Stars and the Destroyers commence battle again with former title hopefuls, the Egg Chasers joining them.   

All the results from Thursday 8th July are below. 

The social league is aimed at players of all ages and abilities – boys, girls, men and women. This league will run from 6pm – 7:30pm for 4 weeks.

The open league is for anyone but targeted at club level players. The open league games will also run for 4 weeks starting on July 8th from 7:30pm – 9pm.

The entry fee is £30 per team. Teams will be made up of 6 players on the pitch at any one time and we suggest you have a squad of between 8 – 10 players per night. It is a great opportunity to introduce new players to rugby and you don’t have to be a member of the club to enter.  

The clubhouse will be open with food and drink being served throughout the evening.

In order to structure the leagues with the right number of teams, places are limited and both leagues have started to fill up. So, get your entries in ASAP!

To enter a team, please email neil.mcgovern@brightonblues.co.uk with; your team name, your captains name and contact details and the league you wish to enter. The entry fee will be payable on the first day.