May 2026
As we come to the close of this season, it is important to reflect not only on what we have achieved, but on the direction we are setting for the future of Weavering Warriors RFC.
This has not been a season of rebuilding. It has been a season of laying foundations.
After three years without a permanent base, the most significant milestone for the club has been securing our long-term return to Parkwood. Our move to Parkwood Community Sports Centre at The Heathers marks a defining moment in the club’s journey. It provides us with stability, identity, and a platform from which we can grow with confidence.
This is more than simply having a pitch to play on. It is about being rooted once again at the heart of the community. The opportunity in front of us is to build a club that is not only competitive on the field, but one that plays a meaningful role in the life of the local area.
On the rugby side, this season has been characterised by both progress and intent. We have secured some excellent wins, played some genuinely electric rugby, and consistently looked to play with ambition. The squad has scored freely, demonstrating the attacking mindset we want to be known for, and we are pleased to have finished in the top half of the table. While there is still work to do to achieve greater consistency, the direction of travel is clear and positive.
The club continues to make important progress in its formal standing within the game. We have submitted our application for voting membership status with the Rugby Football Union, with the endorsement and support of Kent County Rugby Football Union. In parallel, we have applied to rejoin the league structure, with the intention of returning to the Counties leagues for the 2026/27 season. These steps are critical in re-establishing the club within the competitive rugby landscape.
This progress has also been recognised at County level. Kent County RFU have not only endorsed our application, but have awarded the club a £7,500 grant to support the final stages of our clubhouse fit-out and operational readiness. In addition, we have been invited to host the Kent County RFU Annual General Meeting in September.
This is a significant moment for the club. It reflects both confidence in what we have achieved to date and trust in our ability to play a central role in the future of rugby within the County.
In terms of player development, we have secured club approval, based on our safeguarding and coaching standards, to submit individual applications for 17-year-olds to play up into senior rugby as part of their player pathway. This is an important mechanism that will allow us to begin seeding the future of our senior men’s teams, providing a structured and supported pathway for younger players to transition into the adult game.
It is also important to reflect on youth rugby. This was paused three years ago when we lost our previous clubhouse. That decision, while difficult, was necessary at the time. As we now re-establish the club on a stable footing, the intention remains to reintroduce youth rugby in future seasons in a way that is sustainable, properly supported, and aligned with the long-term ambitions of the club.
Off the field, considerable progress has been made in establishing how the club will operate moving forward. This includes the development of partnerships within the facility, such as with Zilla Training, and a broader approach to ensuring that the centre operates as a genuine community sports hub. These relationships are important not only for financial sustainability, but for embedding the club within a wider network of activity and engagement.
This season has also seen the introduction of a number of new sponsors whose support has been instrumental as we settle into our new home. Their backing has enabled us to begin properly establishing the clubhouse and puts us in a strong position heading into next season, including the introduction of a fresh new playing kit for the squad.
We are proud to be supported by:
• Island Ductwork Ltd. – Main Club and Shirt Sponsor
• Melita Consulting Limited – Club and Shirt Sponsor
• DGP Ltd – Training Sponsor
• Quinn Accountancy Ltd – Shirt Sponsor (subject to contract)
• Kentish Lady River Cruises – Shirt Sponsor (subject to contract)
Their support represents a genuine investment in the future of the club, and we are grateful for the confidence they have shown in what we are building.
A particularly important part of this journey has been the Heritage 50 fundraiser. This initiative has seen members directly contribute to the set-up of the next era of the club, demonstrating both belief and commitment at a crucial time. In recognition of this, the names of those who have supported the fund will be permanently displayed within the clubhouse, creating a lasting legacy that connects this moment in the club’s history to its future. There is still time to take part and have your name immortalised on the club house wall – speak to a member of the committee about not missing out on that opportunity to be engrained in the ongoing history of the club.
Alongside this, we are taking deliberate steps to professionalise how the club is run. This includes streamlining the committee structure to create clearer accountability and faster decision making, as well as introducing more defined operating standards, both for the rugby club itself and for the management of our facilities. These changes are designed to ensure that the club is not only sustainable, but well governed and positioned for long-term growth.
As we look ahead, it is clear that our ambitions require a structure and approach that can support them. The changes proposed at this year’s AGM are an important part of that evolution.
Looking forward to the 2026/27 season, we do so with a clear sense of purpose. We aim to return to the league pyramid after a number years outside of the structure, to grow our playing numbers, and to establish a strong, consistent presence both on and off the pitch at Parkwood. The foundations are now in place, and the focus turns to building with intent.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the club over the past year. From players and coaches, to volunteers, committee members, partners, and supporters, the progress we have made has been a collective effort. The commitment shown, particularly during a period of transition, has been instrumental in bringing us to this point.
We now move into the next chapter with momentum, clarity, and belief in what this club can become.
Laurence Pisani
Chairman
Weavering Warriors RFC