Before the start of the season, the impacts of COVID had taken its toll on the club with a number of dedicated players leaving at the end of last season and struggling recruitment in the previous year leaving the club with low numbers compared to the start of previous seasons. Thankfully, this season started off with one of the best recruitments of freshers in the club’s history, providing us with a great number of new players to integrate with the old dogs. This was also the first full season of the SERFC women’s team. The end of last season brought together a great core of women to get the side going, and the start of the 21/22 season gave the club a great opportunity to expand the side to new heights.

Throughout the course of the season, the men’s 1st XV side went toe to toe with Wath 2s for the league title, something the club has never done before at this level. The 1st XV recorded many notable wins during the season, most importantly the double over Sheffield Medics which included a 66-0 thumping, as well as some hard-fought wins such as 12-7 against Donny Phoenix in arctic conditions, definitely one for the purists. Both of these wins were part of a 6 game winning streak for the 1st XV, which unfortunately came to an end in a top-of-the-table clash with Wath. The boys gave it their all and left everything on the field as they did all season, but it wasn’t to be as the SERFC 1st XV came out second best in a 22-7 loss. The final game of the season came on a glorious spring Saturday where the lads turned up in full force to put on a display of SERFC’s finest rugby vs Sheffield rugby club. The game resulted in a 74-5 win for the lads and provided a fitting send-off for many of the club’s loyal servants for the last 3 to 4 years, who will be leaving at the end of the season.

The 2nd XV took a new look this season with the team mainly taking shape with new freshers. The lads went into Yorkshire rugby with a baptism of fire but grew week on week into a strong unit of great players who really bonded as a group. The lads put their bodies on the line for their teammates week in and week out and never failed to show off the brand. The 2nd XV secured a fantastic 31-5 win in the most important game of the season against rivals History RFC. With such a strong core group of lads playing in the 2nd XV going into next season, plenty more results like this will be coming their way.

This was the inaugural season of the SERFC women’s team, a brilliant addition to the club. Most of the girls joined the club at the start of the season with no previous rugby experience but over the course of the year, they have grown to love the sport and the club. The women’s team took part in the intermural 6-a-side touch league on Sundays to show off their skills against predominately men’s teams. They entered their own team as well as playing alongside some of the men in a mixed side which helped integrate the two sides of the club. Over the season, the men’s and women’s sides have come together amazingly, supporting each other both on and off the pitch. The women have come on leaps and bounds over the season, it is a team full of potential for the future and the women should be immensely proud of what they have achieved.

The club had many big weekends to enjoy including the annual Old Boy’s Weekend which involved a game against the current team where the old boys took the spoils this year. As usual, this weekend was one of the highlights of the season for everyone providing the lads with an opportunity to reunite with former teammates and reminisce about their glory days in the green and purple jersey. The lads also took on Birmingham Engineers RFC in a doubleheader, first in Sheffield and then away in Birmingham. Both weekends provided two great games of rugby with Birmingham securing the victory. With everyone enjoying battling it out on the pitch and a few beers afterward I’m sure this is a tradition that will continue for years to come.

Overall, this has been an exceptionally exciting season to be part of SERFC. The club has built on its foundations of being a successful rugby team as well as being great fun to be involved in both on and off the pitch. Both men’s and women’s sides have so much great potential and can look forward to another terrific season in 22/23.