As another season comes to a close, it’s been a year to be proud of across Southwold RFC. We’ve seen strong performances on the pitch across all sections with growing participation throughout the club, and plenty of memorable moments both on and off The Common.

The support from players, coaches, volunteers, sponsors and supporters has once again been fantastic, helping to create the welcoming and community-focused club environment that makes Southwold RFC so special.

Below, you’ll find updates on the 2026/27 season from each section: Men’s, Women’s, Youth, and Minis.

Senior Mens:

As another season draws to a close, it is a fitting opportunity to reflect on a hugely positive year for Southwold Rugby Club’s Senior Men. The season was not without its challenges. Injuries and player availability tested the squad through the middle of the campaign, which, together with a run of tough fixtures, resulted in the 1st XV briefly slipping to ninth place in the league. However, a positive response from the players, coupled with the return of greater squad depth, saw the side put together an outstanding run of 11 consecutive victories in all competitions. That momentum propelled the team to a fourth-place league finish before ending the season in style with a thrilling Suffolk Cup Final victory over Stowmarket, securing a third consecutive Suffolk Cup triumph for the club.

The 2nd XV also enjoyed a successful season, providing valuable opportunities for a number of Colts to gain their first experiences of senior men’s rugby. The continued development of these young players is a real positive and bodes well for the future. We are thrilled that the 2nd XV have been promoted to Eastern Counties 1 North at Level 9, creating even more opportunities for player development.

We enjoyed another season of strong numbers across both senior squads, providing excellent depth throughout the club. The 2XV continued to play a vital role in supporting the 1XV, while also providing valuable game time for returning players and those new to senior rugby. It was particularly encouraging to see a number of Colts make the transition into senior rugby this season, pulling on a senior Southwold shirt and gaining valuable experience alongside more established players. Their progression is a testament to the strength of our youth pathway and bodes well for the future of the club. The blend of experienced heads, returning players and emerging young talent has created a strong squad environment which we’re looking forward to growing and strengthening in pre-season.

Success on the pitch would not be possible without the efforts of so many people behind the scenes. We would like to thank our coaches, volunteers, medical team, matchday staff and supporters for their unwavering commitment throughout the season. A special thank you goes to Shaun for everything he has done at the Pavilion, and to our sponsors for their continued support of the club.

Senior Womens:

The 2025/26 season was another memorable chapter for Southwold Women, built on hard work, commitment, and the strong team spirit that sits at the heart of our club. Inspired by the continued growth of the wider women’s game and the success of the Red Roses on the international stage, the Women of the Wold carried that momentum into an impressive campaign of their own.

Across the season, the squad produced some outstanding performances both home and away, finishing third in the league with 8 wins out of 12 matches. One of the season’s standout achievements was remaining unbeaten at home. Every fixture brought a challenge, and we would like to thank all of our opponents for their competitiveness, commitment, and contribution to another excellent season of rugby.

The progress made by the squad was evident throughout the year. Strong individual performances combined with excellent teamwork from both forwards and backs demonstrated the continued development of the group and reflected the dedication shown week in, week out at training.

We were also proud to see four members of the squad: Abi, Honor, Josie and Charlotte, selected to represent Norfolk & Suffolk this season, with several others attending representative training sessions. Club captain Abi Pipes was additionally selected to represent Eastern Counties, a fantastic achievement that reflects both her dedication and the strength of rugby being played at Southwold.

Our end-of-season awards evening provided an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of players across the squad. Congratulations to Charlotte, who claimed the Golden Boot and finished as the league’s highest points scorer, Maisie as Most Improved Player, Rachel as Coaches’ Player, and Abi as Players’ Player. These awards recognised not only individual success but also the collective effort, support, and commitment that have defined the season.

As another successful year comes to a close, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to our sponsors. To Walfinch, Overton Surveying, Adnams, Collen & Clare, Old Hall Southwold, EDF, OA Chapman & Son, L&G Building Contractors, BrickBros, and all of our individual player sponsors, your support continues to play a vital role in helping the women’s section grow and thrive.
We would also like to thank Michaela, Gemma, Emma, Annabel, and our coaches Luke and Ben for the countless hours they have given behind the scenes throughout the season. Thank you to Andrew and Ian for capturing so many special moments through their photography, and to the clubhouse and catering team, club committee, volunteers, supporters, friends and families whose contributions help make Southwold Rugby Club such a special place.

As we look ahead to the 2026/27 season, we are excited to welcome Toni and Elyse into the leadership team as they take over from Abi. Their passion, commitment, and enthusiasm will help drive the squad forward as we continue to build on the foundations established this year. We look forward to creating more memories, welcoming new faces, and sharing further success both on and off the field in the seasons to come.

Colts & Youth:

As another fantastic season comes to a close, we would like to recognise the commitment, resilience and achievements of all our youth players, coaches and volunteers.

Our Colts squad finished the season with an impressive record of 12 wins, 2 draws and 6 losses. Despite operating with a small squad and being heavily affected by injuries after Christmas, the team topped the Colts Conference before the festive break with an unbeaten run. Strong team performances included victories over Sudbury, Woodbridge and Norwich, alongside a memorable draw away at North Walsham. The squad’s determination never wavered, with support from our U16 players helping the team compete strongly in a challenging cup campaign.

The U16s faced a challenging season, regularly testing themselves against some of the most established and competitive teams across Norfolk and Suffolk. Throughout the season, fixtures provided valuable development opportunities and showcased the character and determination of the squad. A standout achievement was their impressive run to the Final of the Suffolk Cup, a testament to the hard work and progress made by the players and coaching team. With many players now progressing into Colts rugby, the future looks very promising.

Our U13s enjoyed another successful campaign, playing 25 fixtures and recording 16 wins, 1 draw and 8 losses. Festival performances were a particular highlight, including a perfect record at the second EC Festival and a second-place finish at the third.

The U12s showed tremendous growth, increasing their numbers from 8 to 17 players. Strong recruitment, dedicated coaching and significant improvements throughout the season have created an excellent platform as they move into youth rugby next year.

Across all age groups, the season has been defined by teamwork, development, perseverance and enjoyment. Thank you to every player, coach, parent and supporter who has contributed to another memorable year. We look forward to building on these successes in 2026/27.

Minis:

The 2025/26 season has been another fantastic year for Southwold RFC Minis, with continued growth and development across all age groups. We are delighted to report a 24% increase in membership, reflecting the strength of our minis rugby and the hard work of everyone involved in making the club such a welcoming and enjoyable place for young players.

Across the season, we have continued to build teams and create exciting opportunities for our players to engage with the wider rugby community. Highlights included our U10s attending the Leicester Tigers Cup and our U12s competing in the Defender Cup at Northampton Saints. Our U11s also enjoyed a memorable away day at Kettering Rugby Club, followed by joining the U12s at Franklin’s Gardens to watch the Saints v Bath. These experiences have provided invaluable opportunities for our young players to develop their skills and create lasting memories.

We were also pleased to host Northampton Saints rugby camps at Southwold, which were exceptionally well attended by our members. Many of our mini players and their families have also enjoyed attending Southwold RFC senior matches as well as Premiership and international fixtures (both men’s and women’s), helping to further inspire our younger generations of players.

I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank everyone who contributes to our thriving minis section: our amazing coaches, brilliant volunteers, supportive parents, and, most importantly, the wonderful young people who turn up every week, whatever the weather, to enjoy this great game.

There is plenty to look forward to over the summer, with our Summer Touch Rugby programme starting at Halesworth Campus on 7 June, followed by our stand at the Heveningham Country Fair. We look forward to seeing everyone again for the start of the new season in September.

Off the pitch:

Away from the pitch, it has been another fantastic year for the wider club and social side of Southwold RFC. Our match day lunches once again proved hugely popular, with record numbers attending throughout the season. A huge thank you goes to Lucy for the countless hours spent organising bookings, raffles and all the logistics behind the scenes, and to Shaun and his team for providing outstanding hospitality week after week. From the kitchen and waiting staff to the bar team, their efforts have helped create a welcoming environment that has become a key part of the match day experience and has been highly praised by many lunch guests.

The Pavilion has continued to grow as a hub for the wider sporting community. With Shaun's hard work and the addition of live international rugby and other sporting fixtures on the screens, it has been fantastic to see new faces through the doors and a growing community enjoying the sports pavilion throughout the year.

Our annual Boxing Day fixture was once again a highlight of the season. The Unders v Overs match, alongside the Parents v Children opener, brought generations of the club together and raised an incredible £1,219, split between Cancer Research UK and East Anglian Air Ambulance. It was a wonderful reflection of the spirit of Southwold RFC and what can be achieved when the club comes together. We were also delighted to see our U21s come out on top in the Christmas Round Robin fixture, in true wold style winning with a boat race after a draw in the final.

Charitable giving remained an important focus for the club this season. Following our final match day lunch, we were proud to donate £330 each to Challenging MND and CRY, Toby’s CRY Memorial Fund- Forever 23. Two charities with close links to members of our Southwold Rugby family.

None of this season would be possible without the dedication of our volunteers. From coaches and committee members to those helping behind the scenes with events, fundraising, administration and day-to-day running of the club, thank you. The club continues to thrive because of the time, effort and enthusiasm given by so many people behind the scenes.

We would also like to thank all of our sponsors and partners. Your continued support enables every aspect of the club to operate and grow across all sections.

Looking ahead, all members are invited to attend the Southwold Rugby Club AGM on Thursday 25th June 2026 at 7pm at the Southwold Sports Pavilion. The AGM is an opportunity to reflect on the season, hear updates from across the club and discuss plans for the future. Whether you are a player, coach, volunteer, parent, sponsor or supporter, we would love to see you there.

Updates on committee positions, pre-season arrangements and plans for the 2026/27 season will be shared via our website and social media channels as they are confirmed over the coming months.

Thank you once again to everyone who has contributed to another memorable season in Black & Gold. We look forward to seeing you all back on The Common in September.

ARN THE WOLD