Petersfield Rugby Club

Petersfield Rugby football club was formed in 1927.

Affiliated to the Hampshire Union in the same year, the club quickly became a focus for both sporting and social activity.

PRFC rapidly established a reputation as a highly hospitable venue; a reputation that continues to this day.

By 1934 the club was running two teams and gained its first county honour when G.E.Twine was capped to play against Kent (Hampshire won 6-3).

In 1938 the club changed its colours to its well-known scarlet and white hoop. Also in that year, Mr. K.Gammon is minuted as having “ bought an additional bath for 1/6d”. The club played on a field at Bell Hill and older members recall driving cattle from the pitch and removing certain offensive deposits before play could commence.

The AGM planned for early September 1939 did not take place until August 1946 owing to some unpleasantness with the Boche. Despite the Bell Hill ground being ploughed for the war effort, the first match was played in February 1946.

The club affiliated itself to the Rugby Football Union in 1948 and in that year moved to Love Lane. It was now able to get back to running two teams. Post match facilities were provided formerly at the Volunteer Arms (later the Welcome Inn) and then latterly at the Red Lion. The Volunteer Arms backed onto the coal-yard, the manager of which was a Vice-President. The club became very popular as one of the few places with constant hot water. For many years after, the club occupied a back room at the Red Lion in College Street. This used to be a popular place to break the journey for other clubs travelling home to Portsmouth or London.

As the club grew, the need was soon recognized to provide a more permanent home in town. In fact plans were well advanced to build a club at love Lane, when the Town Council decided to develop the Penns Place facility. The club moved from playing on three assorted pitches around the town to playing at Penns Place in 1979, and in 1989 Frank Guy, our founder member, officially opened our current clubhouse with a celebratory match between a Petersfield XV and Derek White’s Invitation XV.

The club has gone from strength to strength with the move to these playing fields and the development of the Youth Section, and it is proud of the fact that it provides rugby for an age range of 6 to 60. The senior playing strength is some 80 players and there are over 300 Mini, Youth and Colt playing members. Parents, and over 100 non-playing members, including Vice-Presidents, (who are a vital part of our club), make up the rest of the membership which overall, represents a true cross-section of our community.