Welcome to February’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.

Minis Tackle February with Energy and Enthusiasm

February has certainly tested us with the weather, and unfortunately several training sessions and matches were cancelled. While it has been frustrating at times, the commitment from our Rochford Hundred Minis has never wavered.

When we have been able to train and play, the players have shown fantastic effort, developing their core rugby skills, building confidence, and continuing to grow as teammates. Their energy, resilience, and positive attitude have been brilliant to see.

A big thank you to our coaches for adapting sessions wherever possible, and to our parents for their patience and continued support during a challenging month of difficult conditions.

We are looking forward to better weather, more rugby, and seeing our Minis back out doing what they love in March. Plus, the biggest weekend of the season: Minis Rugby Tour!

- Matt Valentine, Minis Chairman

One Week to Go – First Match Under the Lights

We’re just one week away from a special evening for our girls’ section, as our U10s and U11s take to the pitch for their first ever match under the lights on Friday 6 March, with a 7pm kick-off.

The girls have been working hard in training, showing real commitment and teamwork, and making excellent progress week by week. It’s been fantastic to see their confidence grow this season, and this match marks an exciting milestone for them all.

It’s not just a match, but a great opportunity to showcase how our girls’ section is growing at Rochford Hundred RFC. The future of girls’ rugby at the club is looking very positive, and it’s a proud moment for players, coaches and families alike.

Support from the Vixens

The Vixens are excited to be supporting the girls by forming a Guard of Honour to welcome them onto the pitch. It’s a brilliant way to bring the different age groups together and celebrate the strength of our girls’ rugby community.

We’d Love Your Support

We’d love to see as many supporters there as possible – parents, grandparents, friends, teammates and members of the wider club. A strong turnout on the sidelines will give the girls a massive boost and make the night even more memorable for them.

Friday 6 March
Kick-off: 7pm

We can’t wait to see you there!

- Anneliese Maher – Girls Coach

From 12-0 to Victory – Harts Book Essex Cup Final

Since last month’s update, the Harts secured a fantastic 12–15 win away at Woodford in the 2nd XV Essex Cup semi-final.
After going 12–0 down early on, the boys showed real character to fight their way back and take the win, booking their place in the final on 2 May against Westcliff! It was a brilliant turnaround and a performance full of determination.

A special moment in the game saw Austin Cooper make his senior debut from the Academy, playing alongside coach Calum Brackett. A huge congratulations to Austin on a well-deserved milestone.

Unfortunately, the Harts haven’t had any other fixtures during February due to opposition cary-offs. However, with five tough games scheduled before the league play-off, there’s plenty to play for. If the boys can carry the momentum from the semi-final they’ll give themselves every chance of competing for silverware at the end of the season.

An exciting few weeks lie ahead for the Harts!

- Nick Dolman, Harts Manager

Vixens Keep Winning and Growing!

February saw the Vixens continue their winning ways, with a home victory against Haverhill and another impressive win on the road at Witham.

Unfortunately, one of our players picked up an injury, which ended the game early at Witham. On behalf of everyone involved with the Vixens, I’d like to wish Ellie all the best and a speedy recovery, and we’d also like to thank Witham for their kind wishes.

The team continues to grow, welcoming two new players this month – great news as we carry on our campaign with the aim of winning our league unbeaten!

- Danny Ryan, Vixens Head Coach

Weathering the Storm – and Growing Stronger

Last month, I spoke about feeling under the weather and how important it is to support each other. This month, I want to talk about being under the weather again – but in a more meteorological sense! January and February have certainly been dull and dreary, with record rainfall affecting training and matches. While other local clubs have faced similar disruptions, I completely understand the frustration this has caused our members.

Recent weather patterns are a clear reminder that we need to do more to maintain our pitches and keep training and games running wherever possible. At the last committee meeting I chaired, we discussed what further steps we can take to reduce disruption for our members. I’m pleased to announce that we have secured £25,000 in funding for essential pitch maintenance equipment, which we will be purchasing shortly. This investment will help us keep our pitches in the best condition and reduce cancellations.

In addition, we’ve established a pitch maintenance group to prioritise game time and improve the overall experience for our members. I’m aware of concerns around the use of the 1st pitch. While it’s essential to fulfil 1XV home fixtures – which generate revenue to reinvest in the club, attract and retain sponsors, and remain competitive – as the weather improves, we’ll be able to make the 1st pitch available more often for the youth section. Coaches and managers will be kept fully informed.

It’s important that we provide an excellent experience for our members, maintain our club ethos, and inspire our minis and youth as they develop their rugby careers. On that note, I want to congratulate the six Academy players who recently represented Essex at U20 level. This is a huge achievement for our club – well done chaps, we’re all extremely proud of you!
These milestones are just the beginning of our continued growth. This month, we celebrate the launch of our all-girls youth team, who will play their first game at home under the lights on Friday 6 March, KO 7pm – be sure to come down and cheer them on! Training also begins on 2 March for our new women’s tag rugby side, a fantastic opportunity to engage with the local community and get more women involved in the sport – not to mention boosting our bar takings!

A huge thank you to everyone who has put in the blood, sweat and tears this season to make all of this happen, especially Danielle Burridge and Anneliese Maher. Your hard work is helping the club thrive.

- Steve Maguire, Club Chairman

Ladies Tag Rugby Training
Date: 2nd March 2026
Time: 19:00 - 20:00

Friday Night Lights for U10 & U11s Girls
Date: 6th March 2026
KO: 19:00

Rochford Hundred Annual Former Players’ Reunion
Date: 28th March 2026
Now SOLD OUT!

Rochford Hundred End of Season Awards Night
Date: 5th June 2026
Time: arrival from 18:30, dinner served at 19:30
Guest Speaker: Andy Powell
Tickets: £30 per person available at: Bookwhen