Avon RFC was first formed in 1925 by members of the Avon Rowing Club who wanted to do some other exercise during the winter months to help them keep fit during their rowing down-season. They also hoped to recruit new members for the Rowing Club from amongst the newly formed rugby club players.

The original founder members of the Avon rugby club included Preston Jones, Don Tate, Laurie Fraser, Jack Pitt (Captain), Frank Balding (Secretary), Rudi Meyer (Treasurer) and S V Rolleston (President), who was also the President of the Rowing Club.

Avon RFC inherited two of the “parent” club’s features, both of which have continued through the following 100 years up to the present day. Firstly, the authentic club colours of Black and Amber; and secondly, the original motif of the “rampant lion.”

Those intrepid oarsmen were obviously versatile sportsmen as they enjoyed an excellent first season in 1925-26 with a final record reading: Played 26, Won 17, Drawn 2, Lost 7, Points For 247, Points Against 123. The Bath Chronicle and Herald included the following in its report of the Avon Rowing Club AGM in 1926:

“The Rugby Club had, in its first season, been very successful and the members were to be congratulated on not only having won the majority of their games but in having laid the foundations of a sports club which is carrying on the true spirit of rugby and rowing.”

These were prophetic words indeed which remain true today.

To commemorate their Centenary, Avon are organising a series of special events and memorabilia. They are reverting to a similar style of shirts as used by the 1925 team, namely an all black strip, together with a specially re-designed centenary logo by Damien Sawyer, which features the rampant lion and rowing oars. These new playing shirts are being kindly sponsored by the Elizabethan Lodge of the Bath Freemasons, for which Avon are hugely grateful. A retro-style social shirt is also being designed by tailor Russ Hindmarch for members to wear as a souvenir.

A celebratory tour to Amsterdam has been arranged in memory of Avon’s initial tour there in 1959, which was believed to be the first by a West Country junior club outside Great Britain. One of their matches back then was billed on Dutch publicity posters as a “Grand International Match – Holland vs England!”

An unique Centenary painting is being produced by club artist Jake Coates for display in the clubhouse. This will feature some selected stalwarts from Avon RFC across the 10 different decades, wearing the kit of their time. Avon are also hoping to stage a special commemorative match at their Hicks Field ground, in addition to a family-friendly fun day.

Finally, to round everything off at the end of the season, a grand Centenary Dinner Dance will be held at the Apex Hotel on 9th May 2026. Tickets are already in great demand with over 200 reservations already made. To book one of the few remaining places at this prestigious event, contact Steve Bird asap (email stevebird59@btinternet.com)

But, whilst looking back to the past and celebrating the present, Avon are also preparing for the future. Funding for a pitch maintenance programme has been obtained from the Football Foundation, a new electronic scoreboard is being installed and other ground improvements are taking place at Hicks Field.

The experienced coaching regime continues under Director of Rugby Clive Book and Head Coach Kai Harwood. Training sessions for the senior teams have already resumed on Tuesday and Thursday evenings as Avon seek to build on their 3rd placed league finish last season. Avon also won the Bath Combination Vase final on the Rec, whilst their second team play a series of sociable friendlies throughout the season. Any new players of any age and ability will be made most welcome as Avon embark on their new campaign in this momentous year.

After Jack Pitt helped to launch Avon RFC as the first-ever Club Captain, Kane Book has the honour of following in his footsteps to captain the club during this centenary season. Those early pioneers from the Rowing Club would undoubtedly be pleased to see that Avon rugby is in safe hands and once again looking towards the future, with Kane also acting as the coordinator of the Avon Minis. Both the Minis & Juniors sections also resume their sessions on Sunday mornings from the start of September. Again, any new youngsters and their parents are welcome to come down to join in at Hicks Field.