Celebrating 125 years of Sidmouth RFC

Sidmouth Rugby Club, then known as Sidmouth Football Club, was founded by local doctor Bingley Pullin in 1884.

To celebrate the 125th anniversary, Sidmouth Rugby Club will be holding a series of events during the first week of the season.

On Sunday, August 30, Sidmouth Chiefs take on Plymouth Albion at 3pm.

Links between Sidmouth and Plymouth Albion go back to the 1895-96 season when Sidmouth won the Devon Senior Cup at the first attempt.

In the competition, which was a league, Sidmouth played both Plymouth and Devonport Albion, which eventually amalgamated to form Plymouth Albion.

On Tuesday, September 1 The Pullin Cup will be played for by the mini/junior section, starting at 6pm.

Sidmouth Rugby Club has recognised the importance of nurturing young rugby players from its foundation.

The Pullin Cup was introduced in 1904 as a competition for youth teams in the town. In 1971 Sidmouth became the first club in Devon, and one of the first six in the country, to set up a mini/junior section.

On Wednesday, September 2, Sidmouth Colts take on Exeter Chiefs' Colts at 6.30pm.

Sidmouth's first ever match was played away to Exeter on November 1,1884. Their Colts will represent the Exeter club to celebrate that event.

On Friday, August 4, the 125th anniversary dinner will be held at the clubhouse starting at 7pm with Guest of Honour Nigel Redman (Bath, England and the British Lions).

On Saturday, September 5 Sidmouth Quins play Cullompton 2nds with a 2.30pm kickoff.

And at 5pm a Sidmouth College Over-35 team take on a King's School Over-35 team.

These two schools have been the main suppliers of young players to Sidmouth Rugby Club since the Second World War.

In the evening there will be a Sidmouth Past and Present players' social evening, starting at 7pm.

The evening will include a Pig Roast and the presentation of commemorative mugs to the Top 50 Sidmouth players of the modern era (the last 40 years).