A monumental week not only for rugby, but for Romford and Gidea Park RFC!

What a week it’s been for rugby, and especially for Romford & Gidea Park Rugby Club!

After the Havering Daily broke the story of the club’s remarkable growth, the news quickly gained national attention, with coverage by the BBC, The Times and Sunday Times through the Rugby Union Weekly Podcast, hosted by Ugo Monye, Danny Care, Chris Ashton, and Chris Jones and The Ruck podcast-to name but a very famous few!

The club’s impressive week didn’t stop there. In the first three weeks of the new season, Romford & Gidea Park confirmed the signing of an astounding 30 new players, ranging from minis to youth and senior teams. This surge in recruitment has also seen the club have three senior men’s teams playing this weekend. This is part of a wider positive trend in rugby participation across England. According to Statista, around 223,000 individuals participated in rugby union last year, a significant increase that marked a four-year high for the sport. It seems this growing interest is very much alive at Crow Lane.

Last Saturday’s fixture was particularly special for the club as it marked Micky James’s 350th cap for the senior men’s 1st team – a truly incredible milestone. Micky, a long-standing member of the RGP family, has been a dedicated player, served as captain for a decade, and is now an assistant coach.

Reflecting on his time with the club, Micky told the Havering Daily: ” I started in the youth teams and this club has given me so many positive life experiences and friendships. Yes, the club winning the Essex Cup and leagues was important, but it’s the lifelong friendships and experiences that mean the most. I’m am celebrating by playing rugby this weekend in Gibraltar – under the sun!”

As Romford & Gidea Park continues to grow and celebrate achievements like Micky’s, the club looks set to build on its success and give people of all ages positive life experiences though rugby.

Congratulations Micky!

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