Building On Our Successes
The league promotions and cup successes of the 2006/2007 season have been achieved through hard work from Merton players and coaches both on and off the pitch. New leagues provide new challenges, and so if Merton want to compete for promotion in Surrey League Three and Surrey Conference League 3 this season they will need to further improve their perfomances on the park on Saturdays.
In addition to the introduction of more innovative training programmes to improve the general playing standard, we are also looking for new players to strengthen last year's successful squads.
If you are interesting in joining us for another successful season, please contact us.
Email Merton RFC.
2007 Season Successes Mark Club's 50th Anniversary In Style
Merton officials attending the 2007 Surrey RFU Awards Dinner received three awards to commemorate the club's impressive performance in the league and cup competitions this season.
Merton were also runners-up to National League Esher for the award given to the most successful Club in the county.
Merton 1st XV
were run-away
Surrey Division Four
league champions and successfully defended their
Surrey Bowl
title against Raynes Park at Imber Court in April.
Merton 2nd XV
won the
Surrey Combination Three
league and were beaten finalists in the
Surrey Plate.
Merton will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary at the beginning of the 2007/08 season. The festivities will begin with the first game of the season being played against Old Beccehamians who played Merton in their first ever fixture all those years ago.
Merton already have two sponsors in place for their 50th Anniversary season; Stonebridge Corporate and K2 Moving.
Our Club
Merton Rugby Club is a junior club that play their rugby in Surrey and the south west area of London.
The first team have always proudly represented the Club in the RFU Surrey leagues,
although the restructuring of the Leagues has not done them any favours.
Merton draw their players from many walks of life and
many geographical locations. The club try to put out three sides every Saturday, so there is always an opportunity
for a game whatever the calibre of player, as standards do vary between our sides.
Our fixture list is made up of matches against opposition throughout Surrey and the adjoining counties;
junior sides of senior clubs, such as Rosslyn Park, and, of course, our league games.
A full list of this season’s fixtures can be found on this site.
The Club is currently undergoing a rebirth of sorts as many of the offspring of the ageing old guard are starting to
figure highly on the park for Merton on Saturday afternoons. The long hours spent throwing balls around with their
kids in the back garden are now at last beginning to pay off, and soon many of the old walking wounded will be able to
hang up their boots. These are very exciting times for the Merton. Many believe at last that the fortunes of the Club
are on the turn and it will not be long before the Club will begin to climb its way back towards Surrey division one, where it belongs.
Our History
Merton Rugby Club was founded in 1957 and has flourished through the ensuing years into the
friendly place that it is today! A lot of the improvements made to the Club facilities have been undertaken by
the Club members themselves. These include a bar extension in the late Seventies and, more recently, the installation
of floodlights in 1987, which are the envy of many other clubs, especially our local rivals!
Our Facilities
Our Clubhouse facilities include a bar, changing rooms, kitchen and dining area and the culinary
skills of our Pasty rota ladies are renowned.
On the playing side, Merton has purchased a top-of-the-range Powerhouse scrummage machine,
and makes use of the usual range of training aids.
Training
During the season the training sessions are held under floodlights on Wednesday evenings.
The sessions start at 7.30 pm and are supervised by the Club's experienced coaching staff.
The pre-season and early season sessions focus on fitness and basic skills. As the league programme gets going
there will be more emphasis on ball skills and match tactics.
Out of season the Club runs Touch Rugby and light training sessions.
These take place on Wednesday evenings, starting at 7.30pm.
Many players attend these sessions for fun before the serious business
of pre-season training begins again in July.
Membership
The playing membership is very cosmopolitan and covers many nationalities,
with players from all teams mixing socially both before and after games.
On the field the Club can boast players with first-class rugby experience,
and those who have represented the County, both at full and Surrey Clubs level.
Merton is always looking to welcome new players.
News
Merton produce a weekly newsletter with details of team selections, match reports, Club activities and
any news that may be of interest to the membership. The newsletter is sent out by e-mail to the Club membership,
and by post to the Club dinosaurs. There is also regular coverage in the local press.
The social committee run an active social calendar throughout the season, which culminates in the annual Dinner and Dance.
Club Tours are also organised, with Belgium, Germany and Ireland being the three most recent destinations.
There is also a healthy Club representation at Internationals, the Varsity Match and the Middlesex Sevens.
The Club Rules
Click this link to Download the Merton Club rules.