History Of The Club

The club was brought into existence in the Summer of 1996. A group of like-minded individuals met at their base, The Beehive pub on Steam Mill Lane in Ripley, and formed Ripley Rugby Club. Subscriptions were taken and the first set of shirts were bought (all red). Entry was granted to the Nottinghamshire 2nd team Pennant league. Ripley played their first game at Mill Hill School against local rivals Amber Valley who unfortunately won a close contest. This proved to be a playing highlight for Ripley who were suffering with a drop off in playing numbers as the initial euphoria wore off. Efforts were made to recruit more players and they continued through the season with two matches standing out; firstly a victory over Tupton 2nds at our home pitch of the time, Swanwick Hall School, and also a second team fixture against Cosby 2nds that was narrowly lost.

The Summer of 1997 saw Ripley adopting the second name of Rhinos in order to give the club an identity and merchandising opportunity. The Men continued playing in the Pennant league. Rhinos were given a new kit thanks to Cresswell Builders & Joiners, our first sponsor (Phil Cresswell of Cresswell Builders - loyal backer and past Club Chairperson). This kit was black shirt with a white band and the new Rhino logo stitched on. The Men had an upturn in results, winning some games and playing a better standard of rugby. The Ladies side were attempting to get off the ground but were finding it difficult to raise numbers above four or five players per session. The club introduced a free programme for all home matches thanks to a number of local businesses supporting them. The Men finished the season by touring South Wales.

Summer 1998 saw the Men make the decision to enter the lowest of the RFU 1st XV leagues (what was then NLD 3). It was realised this was a tough hurdle but it was felt that it was needed to fast-track the club. Unluckily, a drastic injury list saw the side having to pull out and revert to friendlies having thoroughly enjoyed their short league exposure.

The Ladies found themselves a kit for £18 in a sale at a local shop - £1 a shirt! They played their first full season with a mixture of friendlies, and league matches in the East Midlands Merit League. Victories were obtained against Chesterfield and Beverley (which is still the club record victory) in significantly shorter time than it took the Men to win their first match. Hayley Burden was the first Rhino to play representative rugby when she was picked for the East Midlands Under-18 side.

The season finished with the Men on tour of Skegness, and the women to Bridlington. This saw what is probably the only occurrence in rugby history of twin sisters captaining sides AGAINST each other - Sarah Burdett for Bridlington and Liz Trubee for Ripley. The Summer period saw Ripley moving ahead with their coaching plans and having four coaches pass the RFU Preliminary Award (Anna West, Liz Trubee, Sarah-Jayne Dominic and Dave Trubee).

Season 1999-2000 saw the Men have another transitional year as they lost several older players and replaced them with younger talent. There were also injuries to key players pushing others forward into positions of responsibility. The team reached the quarter-finals of the NLD Vase. The Women had a hugely successful season and won the East Midlands Merit league - the first silverware in club history. They won 4 matches in a row (still the club record) and played excellent rugby. The Men finished the year by touring South Wales and the Women by touring South Hampshire.

The Summer of 2000 saw Anna West & Dave Trubee pass their RFU Adult Level 1 Award, and another 10 coaches take the RFU Mini/Midi Coaches Foundation course. Both teams looked to change to a more running style of game under the tutelage of Head Coach Brent Lyon. The Women were promoted to East Midlands Division 4 and with the largest squad in their history. The Men continued in the Security Plus Pennant league. The club took another step forward with the purchasing of a new kit for each side - many thanks to Vitraseal and to Cresswell Builders and Joiners, and to a keen follower of the Ladies side - and can now offer a wide variety of merchandise such as replica shirts, fleeces, woolly hats, baseball caps, jumpers etc.

Season 2000-2001 witnessed the men hit a low streak of form and go several months without victory, though they did come a creditable third in their Pennant division. Play improved towards the end of the season. The Women found it tough going in the higher division but again finished the season holding top clubs to close results having learnt a tremendous amount during their year. They could also be proud in supplying three players to the East Midlands region teams - Frances Gilbane & Tracey Chambers to the Seniors and Lizzie Fletcher to the Under 18s.

2001-2002 saw the club win its second piece of silverware - again thanks to the efforts of the Women who defeated Derby University Ladies in the final of the Derbyshire 7s. The women had a fairly successful season, third in their league and had a number of players playing regional rugby - Jen Walton, Lindsey Neale and Anna West all made their Senior regional debuts whilst Tracey Chambers and Liz Trubee played for the East Midlands for a second season. The men were in transition again but finished a creditable fifth in their league and had notable league wins over Southwell home & away. Dave Trubee broke the record for most points scored in a season and Daryl White deservedly won player of the season.

Rhinos also supplied coaches throughout the Summer term to Fritchley Primary School for Tag Rugby, as they have done previously to schools in Chesterfield, Clay Cross and Ilkeston. As well as this, Rhinos had another two coaches qualify - Carl Whitley & Liz Trubee are both now RFU Youth Level 1. Additionally, Judith Williams, Liz & Dave Trubee all passed their national 15-a-side referee certificate.

Season 2002-2003 saw both sides staying in their respective leagues. The men found it hard, at times, to have a full fifteen each week but gamely battled on and turned out some great results with scratch sides. Skipper Dave Trubee smashed his own record for tries and points in a season (16 & 165 respectively) and the squad numbers picked up towards the season end. The women found a strong unit and beat most of the sides in their division.

The following seasons saw the club continue battling in the Pennant League and whatever region the RFUW decided the women should play in. The men have since had Andy Manley and Dave Trubee represent the Derbyshire Development Team, and Lorna Hunter, Laura Blackwell-Moore & Claire Brickley play for the East Midlands regional side. The men now put out two sides each week and the women have a squad of around 25 players.

The club has come a long way in the 14 years it has been in existence but one basic thing has remained the same - everyone is out there to enjoy themselves, win, lose or draw! We still meet at The Beehive, still play at Mill Hill and still want to put Ripley on the map thanks to rugby.