WEARING their new strip, Crediton Rugby Club’s First Team lined up with major sponsors, Helmores, estate agents, before the Crediton v Exeter University match last Saturday (September 18).

Welcoming everyone to the sponsors’ lunch before the match, club chairman, Colin Mackenzie, said the club has had “incredible success”, receiving the National Community Club of the Year Award in addition to the National Award for Player Retention.

The successes of its players and the support of all of its volunteers who had helped refurbish the clubhouse, providing the two new bars, “makes this a community facility for use by the community,” he said.

Stuart Hooper, last year’s captain at Bath Rugby Club, and Jack Yeandle and Sam Hill from Exeter Chiefs, began playing with Crediton RFC, and nine of Crediton’s U17 Colts (now 18), who won the National Bowl at the A J Bell Stadium (home of Sale Sharks) in 2014, are now playing First and Second Team rugby at the Club.

Crediton RFC also has three girls’ teams. Its U15 girls, in only their second season last year, were runners up in the National Knock Out Cup.

Colin said: “We have eight junior teams, three girls’ teams, four senior sides and all have full fixture lists and this is the success of Crediton RFC.”

For him the playing sides and the numerous volunteers are all important.

“We are a small club but the atmosphere is incredible,” he said. “Our coaches teach rugby and its ethos is about team work, respect and sportsmanship and this is mirrored in our younger players.

“We are in the fortunate position where we have the facilities and the people here who can allow more than 200 young people to come and have fun. This is an investment in the future of rugby in Crediton and nationally,” he added.