Drybrook Rugby Club

THE national rugby spotlight fell on Drybrook on Wednesday, after the  rugby club was chosen to launch England’s new kit.

England captain Chris Robshaw was joined at The Mannings by national sevens’ skipper Rob Vickerman, women’s captain Katie McLean and women’s sevens’ captain Michaela Staniford for the first public airing of the new Canterbury home and away strips.

Former England Grand Slam-winning captain Bill Beaumont, who is now chairman of the RFU, was also present.

Drybrook won a national competition to stage the launch. Clubs from all over the country had to submit an entry in 150 words or less, saying what rugby means to their community.

Chairman Paul Mason wrote the winning entry which included the killer line ‘To Drybrook rugby is more than a game, it’s the lifeblood of the community’. Paul said: “This is a very big day

for the club and a lot of members still can’t believe it is happening.”

Drybrook received five brand new complete sets of Canterbury kit, worth more than £21,000. They had a say in the design of their own strips and players and committee members were also featured in promotional England videos and photos. The photos were taken by David Bailey.

On Wednesday afternoon the club’s juniors got a once-in-a-lifetime training session with the four England captains and were presented with England shirts.

England are ending a 15-year relationship with kit manufacturers Nike after signing the new four year deal with Canterbury.