Saturday, 6th September 2025.
The men’s section returned to Kent league Rugby on Saturday with the newly reformed Brigands side made up of the core of the successful Bandits team which won the Kent Metropolitan league last year. Another successful summer of recruitment for the men has meant that two league teams will be fielded from the section for the first time in over a decade. While the Bandits remain in the Kent Met league and will kick off their league season on 13 September at Westcombe Park, the new-look Brigands (with quite a few familiar faces) opened their season at Medway with a solid 0-59 win.
In truth, the Brigs started brightly and hardly looked back. Debutant winger Juvé Iragaba opened the scoring with a nicely finished try inside three minutes, with the Club forwards and centres carrying strongly to gain field position and create space. Within another three minutes inside centre Tommaso Simpkins doubled the club lead, with Medway able to do little to stop the Brigands getting over the gain line and space appearing freely. Oli Savill in his first adult game at fly-half added the second conversion, and then took a prominent role in piling the points on a Medway side who also suffered a litany of injuries through the game. Tries followed for wing James Pierson, outside centre Alex Omeyer, again for Simpkins and Pierson, scrum-half Alex Laurenti, a third try for Simpkins and a second for Omeyer.
Though not among the scorers, full back Rory Macleod impressed with several quick breaks and setting up two tries for the others, and the forwards were firmly on top in open play and the lineout. The scrum appeared to be Medway’s main weapon, but as injuries reduced them to their bare 15 by half time and then threatened to bring them down to as few as 11 players in the second half, the threat disappeared and the decision was made to call the game a little early. As a result of the 4-try bonus point and points difference, the Brigs sit at the top of Kent 5.
The Brigands’ first home game takes place on Saturday against close rivals Sidcup IIIs, while the Bandits are playing Westcombe Park IIIs. Both Club sides are strong, with a fine blend of experience, youth and new faces. All support is very welcome, and anyone looking to get back in to social rugby or who knows anyone who may be keen, men’s section training is on Wednesday evenings at 7.15pm.
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