A massive thank you to Devonport Services RFC in Plymouth, Devon, and to Mike Yeats (pictured), for an equally massive donation of rugby shirts – so many that they filled a Skoda Fabia car to bursting point!

SOS Kit Aid will be sending these overseas to underprivileged children and young adults, to help them learn to play rugby.

In the early days, the famous Devonport Services RFC did not start playing rugby in September like every other club in the UK. They were a little more gentlemanly, and quite properly waited until the cricket season was over !!

And looking through the newspapers for signs of the beginning of the club is difficult, as things seem a bit vague.

Whilst there will have been a moment when it all began, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact date. Go back to 1901 or so and Her Majesty’s Royal Naval Engineering College (RNEC) is mentioned as the main Service team.  However, in 1904 there is reference to a United Services Club in Plymouth.

On the 1st October of 1904 they played a game against the Plymouth Rugby Club (one of the parents of the present Plymouth Albion), and, before a crowd of 6,000, the game ended in a draw with each side scoring a try.

Nowadays, Devonport Services RFC is one of the leading rugby clubs in the south west of England, and welcomes players of all ages – boys, girls, men and women – to come and play for them.

If you are interested, take a look at their website:

devonportservicesrfc.com

And if your club or school would like to help SOS KIT AID send good quality used or new rugby kit to underprivileged young children and adults all over the world, simply go to: SOS Kit Aid