Club Information - West Norfolk RUFC

Club Address

West Norfolk Rugby Union Football Club
Gatehouse Lane
North Wootton
King’s Lynn
PE30 3RJ

Club History

The club was founded in 1925 at a time when there were only two other clubs in Norfolk: Norwich and Lowestoft Yarmouth. The club was initially based in Swaffham, moving to King’s Lynn in the 1930’s and based at the Dukes Head Hotel until the outbreak of the war.

The club reformed after the hostilities and began its association with North Wootton. Initially making its home at the Red Cat Hotel using the stables for its changing facilities, the original pitch was some distance from the hotel out on the marshes.

By the early sixties the club was running two sides regularly and the need for a dedicated clubhouse and ground became more apparent. The present ground comprising of approximately ten acres of land and a layout containing three full size pitches, was acquired in 1965. After draining and seeding the playing facility came into use in 1969 with the initial prefabricated clubhouse coming into use in 1970.

During the seventies and early eighties the club saw significant development on the playing side with the senior side of the club expanding to three regular sides and a strong veteran’s team. During this period West Norfolk was the first side to successfully develop and run an under 19 Colts team. The latter part of the eighties and throughout the nineties has seen sustained growth of all rugby sections with the club developing a strong mini and youth policy resulting in representative sides at all age groups from under 7’s through to under 19’s.

The continued expansion and success of both senior and more significantly junior and mini rugby during the latter part of the eighties has meant that the original clubhouse and facilities became inadequate. This lead to the last major building project to develop the clubhouse and improve both the changing and medical facilities. The project started in 1989 and was completed in 1992.

Over recent years the club has continued to prosper and develop, and has achieved the Rugby Football Union’s Club Accreditation for a third time.

The West Norfolk ethos is to welcome current, past and new members alike – whether you want to learn, play, or just watch and talk rugby, West Norfolk is the club for you!

Men’s

Our Men’s training is taken by our club coaching team, headed by Director of Rugby Darren Clarke at the club on Tuesday and Thursday nights. We currently run two senior sides. If you’d like to have a go then come down to a training session and join in – you can be assured of a warm welcome. Or if you’d like to know more first then contact the relevant coach or team captain (contact details can be found on the team pages of our website – http://www.westnorfolkrugby.com – or e-mail info@westnorfolkrugby.com and we will forward your enquiry to the relevant person).

Ladies’ and Girls

The Ladies and Girls train on Wednesday nights. The Ladies play in National Challenge 1 Midlands League.

Girls training starts from 6pm under the direction of Georgie Lingham (England/Saracens) and Sarah Hodgson (Ladies Captain 2017/19).

Ladies training starts from 7pm under the direction of experienced Head Coach Teresa Dunn.

Junior Section

West Norfolk RUFC Mini and Youth section provides rugby for children of all ages and abilities.

Our Mini Section caters for children of six years old (under 7s) up to 11 years old (under 12s), the club will allow children from the age of 5 to join and train with the under 7s but they cannot play matches until they are in the under 7 team (year 2 at school).

The Youth Section provides for children from 12 years old (under 13s) up to 18, at which age they can join the senior section.

All age groups adhere to the RFU Age Grade Rugby Regulations (rfu.com/Regulations) Regulation 15 – Age Grade Rugby is a playing and coaching pathway by which clubs and schools introduce rugby in stages so that by Under 14 players have the skills and knowledge to participate in the full 15-a-side game. Each stage has its own rules distinguishing it from the adult game. This progression accommodates the changing developmental abilities of children as they mature, with the emphasis on the improvement of individual skills through purposeful and enjoyable activity. Provision is made for testing these skills in match situations during a limited number of competitive fixtures and festivals/tournaments each season.

The enjoyment and safeguarding of children is of paramount importance at West Norfolk RUFC and we are committed to providing opportunities for all children to play rugby in a friendly, fun and safe environment. For a beginner’s guide to rugby’s rules and regulations visit rfu.com.

Spectators

Spectators are welcome at all of our home fixtures. We have full facilities onsite.