Monday, September 13 will mark the 50th anniversary of the start of junior rugby in Sidmouth.

Sidmouth became the first club in Devon and the fourth in England to start a junior section, when 40 boys between the ages of nine and 13 turned up at the Blackmore Field for a coaching session.

There were no inter-club matches possible in that first season, but exhibition matches were played at Christmas and Easter. Also, the Pullin Cup, first introduced in 1906, was revived and contested by four teams at the end of the season.

The first inter club matches were played in 1973 with Under 12 and Under 14 teams taking on Exmouth.

Happy Anniversary to everyone at Sidmouth Rugby, where the junior programme continues to thrive 50 years on from its introduction.

Sidmouth Herald: SRFC U12s 1973SRFC U12s 1973 (Image: Sidmouth RFC)