Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC

Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC is a gay and inclusive rugby union club based in Brighton & Hove in Sussex, England.

Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Full nameBrighton & Hove Sea Serpents Rugby Football Club
UnionsInternational Gay Rugby (IGR)
RFU
Sussex RFU
Nickname(s)Sea Serpents
Founded4 November 2015
LocationBrighton & Hove, England
Ground(s)Hove Recreation Ground, Shirley Drive, Hove
ChairmanMackenzie Soley
PresidentIan Chaplin
Coach(es)Tom Foy
Captain(s)Dan Humphrey
League(s)Harvey's of Sussex 4 West 'Wild Hop' League
Team kit
First match
Sea Serpents 0 - 25 Kings Cross Steelers IV
(20 February 2016)
Largest win
Sea Serpents 92 - 7 Northampton Outlaws
(12 November 2022)
Largest defeat
Sea Serpents 3 - 104 St Leonards CP
(15 October 2016)
Official website
www.bhssrfc.com

Club history

The Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents were formed on 4 November 2015 at a meeting at the Camelford Arms pub in Kemptown, Brighton,[1] to give gay and bisexual men the opportunity to play rugby in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Season 2015/2016

The Sea Serpents played their first match against the 4th XV of London's gay and inclusive rugby club, the Kings Cross Steelers, on 20 February 2016 at Hove Recreation Ground, losing by 25 points to 0.[2] Over the next two months during March and April 2016, the Sea Serpents played a return match in London against the Steelers' 4th XV,[3] an away match against the Birmingham Bulls,[4] and were admitted as members of International Gay Rugby (IGR.[5])

Season 2016/2017

The Sea Serpents kicked off their second season in existence with a summer touch rugby tournament in Birmingham organised by the Birmingham Bulls - Touch My Brum 2016.[6] During the tournament the club registered their first ever win, a 2-1 victory against the Amsterdam Lowlanders.[7] The club continued to play friendly matches against other IGR teams,[8][9] and local Sussex teams. The Sea Serpents registered their first win in a full XVs match on 21 January 2017 against the Reading Renegades, a 37-3 victory, including 7 tries, also witnessed by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove.[10] At the end-of-season Union Cup in Madrid, the Sea Serpents caused quite an upset by winning all of their group matches in the third-tier Union Bowl and making the Gold Final ahead of their closest rivals Kings Cross Steelers IV, the more established Bristol Bisons and Manchester Village Spartans III and the newly formed Munich Monks. They lost in the final to French side Rebelyons, finishing runners-up in their first international tournament.[11]

Season 2017/2018

Once again the Sea Serpents kicked off their season with a trip to the Birmingham Bulls touch rugby tournament finishing in the middle tier competition, a level above the previous year. The club was accepted into the Sussex Leagues and are competing in the Sussex Division 4 East against 9 other teams home and away.[12] Their first league match was on 9 September 2017 against Heathfield & Waldron III at Hove Recreation Ground, the visitors winning 58-12. Their first league win came at the end of the season on 28 April 2018 against East Grinstead III in a double header match with the Sea Serpents winning 33-31.[13]

Season 2018/2019

The Sea Serpents were moved to the West division of the Sussex League's Division 4. After registering three losses, they won their 4th match of the season away at Burgess Hill by 62-12.[14]

Club Crest & Colours

The club's emblem depicts a rampant green sea serpent, carrying a white rugby ball, with a blue, rolling wave in the background, to signify the fact that Brighton & Hove is a seaside city. The club's colours are light blue and green, taken from the colours of the respective railings on the seafront in Brighton (light blue) and Hove (green), with the double symbolism of representing the English Channel and the South Downs which surround the city to the South and North respectively. The first kit used from the 2015/2016 season onwards was sponsored by the Camelford Arms,[15] a pub situated in Brighton's gay village, and site of the first meeting of the club in November 2015.

Domestic League

The Sea Serpents took part in their first league campaign during the 2017/2018 season in the Sussex Division 4 East. The following season they were swapped to the West division.

League History

Season Tournament P W D L F A +/– Pts Pts % Position
2017/2018 Sussex Division 4 East 14 3 0 11 209 665 -456 31 49% 7/10
2018/2019 Sussex Division 4 West 19 9 0 10 421 658 -237 47 3/8
2019/2020 Sussex Division 3 West

4 points for a win, 3 points for a draw, 1 point for a loss, 1 point for an away match, 1 point for losing by 7 points or less

Domestic League Matches

2017/2018 Sussex Division 4 East

9 Sep 2017 15:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC12 – 58Heathfield & Waldron RFC III
Match Report
Hove

16 Sep 2017 15:00
Lewes RFC II74 – 0Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Lewes

30 Sep 2017 15:00
Seaford RFC II104 – 14DBrighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Seaford

7 Oct 2017 15:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC7 – 60Hove RFC III
Match Report
Hove

21 Oct 2017 15:00
Crowborough RFC III0 – 40ABrighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Crowborough

4 Nov 2017 14:30
St Francis RFC II23 – 19Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Crawley

25 Nov 2017 14:30
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC12 – 52Crawley RFC III
Match Report
Hove

2 Dec 2017 14:00
Heathfield & Waldron RFC III78 – 5Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Heathfield

9 Dec 2017 14:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC7 – 53Lewes RFC II
Match Report
Hove

6 Jan 2018 14:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFCC – CBNewick RFC II
Match Report
Hove

13 Jan 2018 14:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC10 – 34DSeaford RFC II
Match Report
Hove

17 Feb 2018 14:30
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC5 – 51Crowborough RFC III
Match Report
Hove

10 Mar 2018 15:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC7 – 73St Francis RFC II
Match Report
Hove

24 Mar 2018 15:00
Crawley RFC III32 – 24Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Crawley

21 Apr 2018 15:00
Hove RFC III59 – 5Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Hove

28 Apr 2018 15:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC33 – 31CEast Grinstead RFC III
Match Report
Hove

^A Match result: 36-19 to Crowborough RFC III. Awarded 40-0 to Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC due to Crowborough RFC II cancelling their match.
^B Match was to be played as double header due to Newick RFC II cancelling first match. Newick RFC II also cancelled the second match and were removed from the league due to too many cancellations.
^C Match played as double header due to East Grinstead RFC III cancelling first match.
^D Seaford RFC II were removed from the league due to too many cancellations. Results against Seaford RFC II were nullified.

2018/2019 Sussex Division 4 West

8 Sep 2018 15:00
Horsham RFC III50 – 7Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Horsham

15 Sep 2018 15:00
Crawley RFC III37 – 34Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Crawley

22 Sep 2018 13:30
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC15 – 59BSMS RFC
Match Report
Hove

29 Sep 2018 15:00
Burgess Hill RFC III12 – 62Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Burgess Hill

6 Oct 2018 15:00
Worthing Knights12 – 26Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Worthing

3 Nov 2018 14:30
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC41 – 39Crawley RFC III
Match Report
Hove

17 Nov 2018 14:30
BSMS (Medics) RFC0 – 40ABrighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Falmer

1 Dec 2018 14:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC40 - 0BBurgess Hill RFC III
Match Report
Hove

8 Dec 2018 14:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC28 - 27Worthing Knights
Match Report
Hove

15 Dec 2018 14:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC10 - 12Chichester RFC III
Match Report
Hove

5 Jan 2019 14:00
Bognor RFC III68 - 0Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Bognor

12 Jan 2019 14:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC19 - 15Horsham RFC III
Match Report
Hove

26 Jan 2019 14:00
Chichester RFC III78 - 14Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Chichester

9 Feb 2019 14:30
Bognor RFC III65 - 14Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report
Bognor

16 Feb 2019 14:30
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC52 - 22Horsham RFC III
Match Report
Hove

2 March 2019 15:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC12 - 52Bognor RFC III
Match Report
Hove

23 March 2019 15:00
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC40 - 0CChichester RFC III
Match Report
Hove

29 March 2019 19:30
Horsham RFC III36 - 7Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
Match Report

^A Awarded 40-0 to Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC due to BSMS (Medics) RFC cancelling their match.
^B Awarded 40-0 to Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC due to Burgess Hill RFC III cancelling their match.
^C Awarded 40-0 to Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC due to Chichester RFC III cancelling their match.

International Tournaments

The Sea Serpents took part in their first international tournament at the Union Cup in Madrid in April 2017 and were drawn in the third level competition - the Union Bowl.[16]

Bingham Cup History

Year Tournament P W D L F A +/– Win % Round Position Overall Rank
Netherlands Amsterdam 2018 Challenger Cup 6 4 0 2 97 61 +36 67% Challenger Bowl Winners 57th of 70
Canada Ottawa 2022 TBC

Bingham Cup Matches

Amsterdam 2018

Pool Q Matches


8 June 2018 11:15
England Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents13 – 12Southern Barbarians AustraliaNew Zealand
Amstelveen, Amsterdam

8 June 2018 14:55
United States Nashville Grizzlies12 – 10Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents England
Amstelveen, Amsterdam

9 June 2018 10:20
France Les Coqs Festifs15 – 7Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents England
Amstelveen, Amsterdam

Challenger Bowl/Shield Quarter Finals


9 June 2018 16:50
England Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents28 – 5Toronto Muddy York Canada
Amstelveen, Amsterdam

Challenger Bowl Semi Finals


10 June 2018 09:25
England Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents22 – 5Ottawa Wolves Canada
Amstelveen, Amsterdam

Challenger Bowl Final


10 June 2018 13:05
England Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents17 – 12Kings Cross Steelers D England
Amstelveen, Amsterdam

Union Cup History

Year Tournament P W D L F A +/– Win % Round Position Overall Rank
Spain Madrid 2017 Union Bowl 4 3 0 1 76 25 +51 75% Gold Final Runners Up 26th of 30
Republic of Ireland Dublin 2019 Cu Chulainn Bowl 4 2 0 2 64 43 +21 50% Semi Final Joint 3rd 23rd of 36
England Birmingham 2023 TBC

Union Cup Matches

Madrid 2017

Group Matches


29 April 2017 13:05
England Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents15 – 5Bristol Bisons England
Orcasitas, Madrid

29 April 2017 17:40
England Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents19 – 0Manchester Village Spartans III England
Orcasitas, Madrid

30 April 2017 11:00
England Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents42 – 3Munich Monks Germany
Getafe, Madrid

Gold Final


30 April 2017 15:50
France Rebelyons17 – 0Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents England
Orcasitas, Madrid

Dublin 2019

Group Matches


8 June 2019 08:50
England Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents24 – 0Straffe Ketten Brussels Belgium
DCU, Dublin

8 June 2019 11:50
England Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents19 – 12Kings Cross Steelers III England
DCU, Dublin

8 June 2019 16:30
ItalyPortugal Libera Rugby/Lisbon Dark Horses10 – 7Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents England
DCU, Dublin

Semi Final


9 June 2019 09:20
England Kings Cross Steelers III21 – 14Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents England
DCU, Dublin

Notes

  1. "New rugby club for gay and bisexual men in Brighton & Hove". 20 October 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  2. "Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents vs. Kings Cross Steelers IV". 20 February 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. "Kings Cross Steelers IV vs. Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents". 2 April 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  4. "Birmingham Bulls vs. Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents". 16 April 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  5. "Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC elected to IGR". 14 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  6. "Registration now open for Touch My Brum 2016". 25 February 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  7. "Amsterdam Lowlanders vs. Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents". 9 July 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  8. "Kings Cross Steelers IV vs. Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents". 3 September 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  9. "Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents vs. Birmingham Bulls". 7 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  10. "Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents vs. Reading Renegades". 21 January 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  11. "Union Cup 2017 Madrid Competition Results". 30 April 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  12. "Harvey's of Sussex 4 East 'Bonfire Boy'". 24 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  13. "B&H Sea Serpents vs. East Grinstead 3". 28 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  14. "Burgess Hill 3 v BH Sea Serpents". 30 September 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  15. "Sponsors". Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  16. "Union Cup Competition Seedings". 27 April 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
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