Introduction to Hove Rugby Club by Martin Macdonald
Hove Rugby Club is an inclusive, intergenerational sports club in the heart of Hove’s community. We have a thriving men’s and women’s squad, and an outstanding youth programme, as well as an affiliation with a LGBTQ+ team, whose matches we host at the recreation ground.
Formed in 1952, Hove Rugby Club has become an established community sports club for 70 years. Throughout this time, the club has built a keen men’s and women’s section with four senior men’s teams, three senior women’s teams and well over 300 registered minis players.
Based in the heart of Hove and just a short walk from the station, the club is an ideal spot for the local supporter, parent, player and dog walker! A full stocked bar and kitchen make it a popular place to bring friends and enjoy the vast array of sport on offer. With the men’s playing on Saturdays and the women’s on Sundays, there is no shortage of free-flowing rugby!
The importance of fundraising
In recent years the club has grown to a point where there is a need for an extension. Planning has been approved and the first steps are being taken to try and secure funding. The extension will allow more games being hosted at the rec, additional changing facilities and a balcony giving 180 degrees view of the grounds and pitches. The plans are ambitious which match that of the club and with the 75th anniversary of the formation of Hove RFC around the corner, there is an added sense of opportunism to move forward with fund raising.
Playing wise, the men’s 1st team play in Counties 1 Surrey and Sussex whilst the women’s 1st team play in Championship 1 South. Both are extremely competitive leagues and there has been big push to recruit players following release of covid restrictions which, like many sports clubs caused issues with playing numbers. However, this season, numbers are rising back up to pre pandemic levels and there is a real buzz around both sections and what they could possibly achieve this year.
Community club
Being a community club, we rely heavily on the support and generosity of our sponsors. We are well connected to local business in Brighton & Hove and tend to establish strong relationships with each sponsor through family links, supporters introductions and past players recommendations. In return for sponsorship, we offer a wide range of advertising and options to give businesses a great chance to associate with amateur sports club whilst building their brand. Its great to welcome back Rubix this season, particularly as the main sponsor for the men’s team as well as continuing to support the women’s section.
One of the benefits of being connected with a local business is that it drives networking with other businesses associated with the club. This is something we hope to develop over the course of the season and to help Rubix and other sponsors spread their brand identity and become embedded within the Hove family.
