ERRFC 1st XV are Rugby World Team of the Month October 2007

(Article in December 07 edition of Rugby world)

It's hard to believe that, eight short years ago, Ellingham & Ringwood were ridiculed in The Times for having the worst cup record in English junior rugby. Today the club, close to the New Forest, is pulling up trees in Hampshire One, wins over Farnborough (21-5), East Dorset (53-3), Fareham Heathens (62-0) and Sandown & Shanklin (36-0) putting them on track for promotion as the Christmas lights went up.
Steve Anderson says the revival began during the club's make-or-break 2000-01 season. "There was a new committee, [RFU Leisure Rugby Project manager] Dan Brown came to coach and we won more than we lost," explains Anderson, a bricklayer who joined that season as manager before becoming head coach in 2005-06. "It snowballed from there. Our Real Ale Rugby Festival made a massive difference because of word of mouth. Our first-team squad has five doctors who came from the medical university at Southampton."
Two promotions in five years ensued and last season saw the E's clinch a play-off with London South Africa. "We were well beaten but we learnt a lot about fitness, scrummaging and how to keep the ball. We play with freedom and our back-line runs in tries from everywhere. To go from near extinction to pushing for London Four is beyond our wildest dreams."
The dynamism of skipper Rob Mitchell and co-flanker Rob Saltrick, a recent colt, typifies the side's fluid style; centre Adam Fityan is racking up the tries and at fly-half Andy Weeks bosses every game - at 50 years old. With permission granted for a new ground in the town, the mood at the club couldn't be more positive.
Ellingham & Ringwood are the Rugby World/Canterbury Team of the Month for October, and win a personalised set of 22 Canterbury kitbags.