Welcome to April’s edition of the Rochford Hundred Round-Up! Each month, we’ll bring you news and updates from across the club. Whether it’s match results, player achievements, or upcoming events, this is your one-stop place to stay in the loop with everything at Rochford Hundred RFC.

A fairly quiet start to April with the Easter holidays, but things quickly picked up as we headed into a busy end to the month and season.

Friday 17th April saw the U8s and U9s travel over to Basildon for a brilliant evening of rugby under the floodlights. The teams faced some tough opposition and produced some fantastic performances across the board — a great experience for everyone involved.

On Sunday 19th April, all Minis squads were away to local rivals Westcliff. Every age group enjoyed competitive, exciting matches, with plenty of great teamwork, effort and smiles on show.

We finish the season on Sunday 26th April at home against Romford — shaping up to be a fantastic way to wrap up the season together.

Coming up:
Water fight — 2nd May
End of season meal — Saturday 9th May

A huge well done to all players, coaches and supporters for another brilliant season of Minis rugby. We look forward to seeing you in pre-season during the summer.

- Matt Valentine, Minis Chairman

U14s

What a few weeks it has been for the Rochford Hundred RFC U14s. After a narrow loss to Maldon, the boys bounced straight back with a brilliant cup win over Woodburn, followed by a huge test against Kent champions Old Dunstonians, going down 21–31 in a real battle. Since then, momentum has been building with strong wins over Campion and Southend.

Then came tour. Clacton delivered the goods — a Saturday of laughs, slides and chaos at the local water park, followed by a tough Sunday tri-fixture against Clacton RFC and Beccehamian RFC. Despite some seriously tired legs, the lads dug deep and produced two outstanding performances, winning both games. Sunshine, rugby and team spirit — you could not ask for more.

It was also great to link up with the U16s, who were touring in the same location for their final tour. It will be sad not to see you all training on a Wednesday. Good luck for your final league game on Sunday 26th, 14:00 kick-off — go well, boys. The U14s will be there to cheer you on.

Now our attention turns to this Sunday, 26th April:

Waterfall Cup Final — number 3 final — v Thurrock RFC
Home kick-off 12:30

Bring the noise. Bring the energy. Back the boys. Come on Roch!

- Nick Cook – U14s Coach

U16s

April brought just one outing for the U16s, but they made it count with a gritty performance against a strong Chelmsford side, pushing them all the way and making them work hard for their win.

With Maldon unable to fulfil the final league fixture, the boys wrap up the season in a well-earned second place behind runaway leaders Campion — a spot secured thanks to last month’s nail-biter at Romford.

The squad also enjoyed a great weekend on tour in Clacton, squeezing in a round of footgolf before cheering on the U14s.

Now all eyes turn to the final run-out of the season, at home to Old Cooperians on 26th April.

- Nick Yelland – U16s Coach

What a season for the Vixens. With a mix of returning players and new additions this year, we have done it again — NC3 champions.

With only one loss this season, I am proud of each and every player for their dedication and commitment, both on and off the pitch. Our forwards have been on fire, and the set pieces from the backs have been a real game changer.

A massive thank you to our home and travelling supporters — your cheers from the sideline make a huge difference. Thank you also to Danny and Kiera for coaching (and putting up with us) this season, helping to shape us into the team we are today and as we move forward into NC2.

Now it is time to put in the hard work in pre-season and look ahead to the challenges of the coming campaign.

- MJ Ryan, Vixens Co-captain

As co-captain, I am incredibly proud to have stood alongside such a strong, powerful group of women who came together not just as a squad, but as a true rugby family.

What we achieved wasn’t by chance. It was built on graft, belief, and the way every single player brought something unique and valuable to the team. Different strengths, different voices, different roles — all contributing to one shared purpose. And together, we did something special.

We won NC3. We secured promotion. We did it as one.

A huge thank you goes to Danny and Kiera, whose coaching, guidance and unwavering belief in us unlocked potential we didn’t even realise we had. Their commitment shaped our identity this season and pushed us to play the kind of rugby we always knew we were capable of.

As we celebrate what we’ve achieved, there’s also real excitement about what comes next. This team has momentum, hunger and heart — and I can’t wait to see where next season takes us.

- Danielle Burridge, Vixens Co-captain

This is my final Chairman's message of the season, and what a season it has been. I am really proud of the collective achievements this year; Essex and London South East representation and Saracens Academy representation were just some of the highlights.

The dedication shown by coaches and managers has been nothing short of superb, especially when faced with some of the challenging weather we experienced at the start of the year. It is a tough task to keep everyone engaged and enthused when training is cancelled, but I know coaches went the extra mile to ensure that players continued to receive a positive experience.

Recent donations have helped us invest in improved pitch maintenance capabilities for next season, with the arrival of a new tractor, which is being collected this month. This will allow us to carry out a range of work on the pitches that we have not been able to do previously, including slitting to reduce ground compaction. While improvements will not be immediate, over time this new equipment will help us provide the best possible playing surfaces, thereby reducing disruption.

Other donations have enabled us to invest in an enhanced array of solar panels, which are scheduled to be installed over the summer. This will help us become more sustainable in the face of ever-increasing energy costs.

While these are positive developments, we still need investment to keep up with the necessary improvements to our ageing clubhouse. It costs a significant amount to ensure the building remains in a suitable condition, so support from our community — whether through sponsorship or the offer of services — is always gratefully received.

Back to the rugby. The 1XV concluded their season with a spirited performance against eventual league champions Eton Manor. This was a closely contested match despite the result; Manor’s champagne was definitely kept on ice for the majority of the game before they pulled away in the final third. After narrowly missing out on the play-offs by two points, overall it has been a good season for the 1XV. A big thank you to Kevin Harman and the coaching team, who have created a strong foundation for next season.

I would also like to extend huge congratulations to our Vixens, who secured the NC3 Midlands Champions title in the final game of the season, following an emphatic victory against a tough Crusaders XV. They assured me that minimal alcohol was consumed at Coach Danny Ryan’s 40th birthday the night before — although that certainly was not the case after promotion was confirmed. Again, a huge thank you to Danny and the team for achieving this fantastic result.

Once again, a big thank you to everyone involved in making this a great season. Enjoy the break, come back fitter and stronger than ever, and let’s show the world how rugby should be done next season.

- Steve Maguire, Club Chairman

Afternoon Tea

Date: 10th May 2026

Sittings available: 13:30/14:00/14:30/15:00

Tickets: £20 per person available at: Bookwhen

Rochford Hundred End of Season Awards Night

Date: 5th June 2026

Time: arrival from 18:30, dinner served at 19:30

Tickets: £30 per person available at: Bookwhen