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Rochford Hundred Round-Up (November)
Your Monthly Round-Up from Across the Club
November 2025
Welcome to November’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.
Coach Stevie has been recovering from surgery, so he’d like to say a BIG thank you to Coach Danielle (Jones) for covering and keeping things going with such fun rugby games. I know all the Little Rascals had a great time and enjoyed your enthusiasm throughout.
- Coach Stevie
Well done, Rascals!
Thank you all for being so good for me over the last three weeks. It’s been a pleasure coaching you, and I look forward to hopefully seeing you all come up through the minis as your rugby journeys progress.
- Coach Danielle (aka Jones)
New Kits
Yes, the Little Rascals are now wearing their replica tops, as shown here by some of the group at last Saturday’s session. These are available from the club shop at shop@rochfordrugby.com or directly from Coach Stevie.
Minis
A Fantastic Start to the Season and Lead-Up to Christmas
It’s been a brilliant start to the season for the Rochford Hundred Minis! Early November saw us travel to Southend for their annual festival — always a fantastic event and a great opportunity for the kids to enjoy plenty of rugby.
We also made our first trip to Basildon in a while, where the teams put in some excellent performances and played some outstanding games.
On Friday 21st November, the U10s and U12s took part in the annual Friday Night Lights fixture at Canvey — always a highlight of the autumn calendar.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to be hosting Thurrock and Westcliff in the coming weeks, leading us nicely into the Minis Christmas Party on Saturday 20th December at the club.
We’re also thrilled to have welcomed several new boys and girls across all age groups. It’s wonderful to see our Minis section growing stronger each week — long may that continue!
- Matt Valentine, Minis Chairman
Growing Stronger Every Week
The girls’ section at Rochford Hundred is really starting to take off, and it’s been amazing to watch. We’re not just growing in numbers — the girls are developing in confidence, understanding of the game, and belief in themselves every single week. We constantly talk about how impressed we are with them. They turn up ready to learn, ready to work hard, and ready to have fun, and it really shows in how they’re playing.
A massive thank you to all the parents as well; you bring the girls week after week, no matter the weather, and your support genuinely means so much. We honestly couldn’t do this without you.
One of the best things about coaching this group is seeing the friendships forming both on and off the pitch. You can really see it in training — the way they chat to each other, encourage one another, and celebrate even the small wins. They’re becoming a proper team, and it’s showing more and more each week.
On 15th November, we headed to the Girls Tag Festival at Saracens. The girls played their four games first and absolutely held their own. Watching them put into practice everything we’ve been working on was such a proud moment for us. You could see things starting to click, and their confidence growing with every game.
After the matches, the U7s had the chance to be mascots for Saracens, while the U9s - U11s formed the Guard of Honour. The excitement on their faces said it all — it was the perfect way to round off the day.
We are so proud of every single one of them. Their improvement, energy, and commitment have been incredible. And this really is only the beginning. The future of girls’ rugby at Rochford is looking incredibly bright, and we honestly can’t wait to see where the girls go from here.
- Anneliese Maher and Danielle Burridge – Girls Coaching Team
U13s – A Mixed Start
The U13s have had a mixed start to the season, winning four games and losing four. There’s plenty to be positive about, and the team is showing great promise as the season progresses.
U14s – Strong Start in Tier 1!
Our first season in Tier 1 is off to a fantastic start! Eight games played, with three fixtures lined up before the Christmas break, and the team is showing excellent spirit and determination.
We’ve also welcomed some brilliant new faces at training – it’s fantastic to see the squad growing, and there’s always room for more!
We’re looking forward to building on this momentum in the second half of the season.
U15s – Rising to the Challenge
The U15s have had a few friendlies to get into the season and currently have two wins and one loss in the league (should be three from three).
We faced a physical Westcliff side in the second round of the cup. Although beaten, the team took plenty of positives from the game.
We also travelled to Old Brentwood with just 15 players, showing real determination. Just three minutes into the match, we went down to 14 players after a flanker suffered a knee-to-head injury. As it was a league game, Old Brentwood didn’t match numbers, so we played a man down for almost the entire match. This fired up the team, and they went on to score five tries in a superb 12–29 victory.
Eton Manor are currently top of the league — we play them next! C’mon the ROCH!
U16s – Building Strength and Confidence
The U16 squad is developing very well, showing good resolve and winning more of the tighter games than last season. The set piece is strong, with a solid scrum, and the boys have adapted exceptionally well to contested line-outs.
Special mention to Alex Abbott, who recently played for Saracens against Bath — an impressive achievement!
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Calum Brackett for his hard work and dedication during his time as Youth Chairman. His commitment to supporting our young players and volunteers has been hugely appreciated across the club. I am stepping into the role on an interim basis until the end of the season.
- Paul Cullis, Youth Chairman
Continuing Excellent Form
The Harts have maintained their excellent form across October and November, with league victories against Bancroft, Upminster, and Ilford Wanderers, as well as a cup win against Maldon. This puts them into the 2nd XV Essex Cup Semi-Final against Woodford in January.
There have been some standout performances and impressive debuts, and the lads will be training hard to finish strong in their next block of games leading up to the Christmas break.
On the social side, the boys recently enjoyed a pizza night and have a Christmas night planned to round off the year with some festive fun!
- Nick Dolman, Harts Manager
A Strong Start to the Season
The Vixens’ season is now well underway and is already proving to be a fruitful one, with four back-to-back wins. We’ve seen the team showcase the hard work they put in during pre-season and at training each week. What a display of rugby they’ve given us so far!
The players are a real credit to themselves, the club, and the coaching staff. Their bond and commitment continue to grow stronger, and our newer players are really finding their confidence, becoming a real asset to the team.
As always, we welcome any new players to join the Vixens family and would like to thank all our supporters for their encouragement and enthusiasm from the sidelines!
This month, as we approach the halfway mark of the season, we face Ipswich away in a top-of-the-league clash — set to be a tough test for the Vixens.
Supporters, please keep bringing the noise! I’m excited to see where this season takes us as a team.
- Danny Ryan, Vixens Head Coach
In my role as Chairman, I visit many rugby clubs, and one thing is clear – no two clubs are set up in the same way. Some clubs have only a couple of people making all the decisions, while others involve many people in the process. Each approach has its pros and cons: fewer decision-makers can mean things get done quickly, but does it always reflect the views of the membership? Conversely, involving more people often ensures that all voices are heard, but it can sometimes slow progress when different sections, such as youth and minis, have differing opinions.
I like to think that Rochford Hundred RFC strikes a good balance. Our committee is representative and covers all the key areas of the club, with a shared mission to create an inclusive, ambitious, vibrant, and sustainable club. This shared purpose makes decision-making much easier, as we are all working towards the same goal: making our club the best it can be.
This mission isn’t just for the committee – it’s for everyone connected to the club. Volunteers, coaches, players, parents, and carers all contribute in their own way. Whether it’s putting in hours of coaching preparation or getting up early on your day off to support your young player from the sidelines, your sacrifices make our club what it is. I am extremely grateful for everything you do.
We are not a rugby club with members, we are a membership with a rugby club. Rochford Hundred RFC simply couldn’t operate without the dedication of our people. Keep doing what you’re doing, and if something isn’t working as it should, please share your feedback. I learn something new every day, and the best lessons come from you.
Finally, as I often say: we don’t own Rochford Hundred RFC – we are just looking after it for our minis and youth!
- Steve Maguire, Club Chairman & former Mini!
Rochford Hundred Annual New Years Eve Party
7:30pm - 1:00am
Party poppers provided!
Bring your own nibbles.
Tickets:
- Adults: £7.50
- Children (5yrs - 16yrs): £5.00
- Under 5s: Free
- Family Ticket (2 x adult, 2 x children): £20.00
Tickets available on Bookwhen now!
All proceeds raised will go directly towards supporting the club and its activities.