ShoozDry

ROY HARRIS – RIP

12th December 1933 – 1st November 2025

Portsmouth RFC are sorry to announce the passing of their oldest club member Roy Harris. The word legend is used far too often these days, but Roy definitely was one and will be missed by his many friends and family.

Roy played scrum half for England Schools U15’s, Redruth, Plymouth Albion, Cornwall and Portsmouth! He also played cricket for Cornwall and Havant Cricket Club.

Before moving to Portsmouth in 1961 Roy’s last game for Redruth was partnering Richard Sharp the England fly half.

To no surprise Roy captained Portsmouth RFC in 1962/63 and continued playing into his 40’s, before becoming the first club coach in 1979. He was also heavily involved in Hampshire RFU, acting as Coaching Co-ordinator for a number of years.

Roy loved Portsmouth RFC and dedicated his life to the club for over 60 years. His children Jane and Mark would like to thank everyone for all their kind words and tributes, which they have received.

A minutes applause to celebrate Roy’s life will take place on Saturday 8th November before the 1st XV game against Eastleigh 2.30pm KO.

The funeral will take place at Portchester Crematorium on Friday 21st November 2025 at 10.00am. All are welcome to celebrate Roy’s life afterwards at Portsmouth RFC.

Members please wear club blazers.

Nigel Morgan
President Portsmouth RFC

Ken Reilly

Click on the link below for The News tribute to KR.

Ken Reilly’s funeral will be held at St Thomas’s Cathedral, Old Portsmouth at 10 a.m on 10 December, the wake will follow at Portsmouth Rugby Club. Dress code is black for ladies and club blazers for gentlemen. Family flowers only.

Kens Just Giving page can be found here for donations www.funeralguide.co.uk/obituaries/128655

Farewell Ken Reilly – ‘a true Portsmouth RFC legend, a great family man and a good bloke!’

News Round Up

So with the rain once again taking it’s toll on the pitches at Rugby Camp all the Mens teams played away on Saturday. The first xv had a trip to Littlehampton where they played Bognor in Counties Division 1. Bognors pitches like ours were under water. The 1sts produced another outstanding performance winning by 28 points to 5 for a fourth successive win. Sam Olie was voted man of the match.

The Casuals played Romsey on their 4G pitch but despite a spirited fightback they lost 48-25. The thirds went to New Milton who opted to host the game at the last minute, the home side winning 35-0.

On to this coming weekend, the firsts are at home to Andover and they will hope to keep the winning run going. With the Casuals at home to Christchurch it’s an exciting double bill at Rugby Camp, both 1500 kick offs.

No games for The Valkyries this coming weekend but The Colts are away to Ellingham and Ringwood on Sunday.

The two Six Nations matches are being screened this Saturday at the club, Italy v Scotland at 1415 and the big one, England v Ireland at 1645. So come along and cheer the first team on against Andover, then strap yourselves in for the huge game at Twickenham where England will attempt to stop Ireland from getting another step closer to the Grand Slam.

Weekend Round Up 17/18 February

by Simon Newsham

We had a clean sweep throughout the senior club this weekend, victories for all three mens teams on Saturday and The Valkyries second fifteen on Sunday who went to Havant winning in convincing style.

The first team put 62 points on their hosts Bournemouth ii who managed just a solitary try in response. Our Man of the match was Stewart Davies with a brace of tries on his return.

The Casuals just edged it in a tight and feisty affair at home to Aldershot and Fleet, 15-12 the final score in that one.

The thirds were also at home, this time with visitors Petersfield who are always tough opponents but the Vandals were impressive winners with a 35-12 scoreline.

Moving onto Sunday and for once Havant was the place to be. The Valkyries second xv put on an absolutely brilliant display to take the points with a 14-45 win. The impressive Emily Joss helped herself to a hat-trick in a bonus point win. Scrum-half Emily Hare scored a try and four conversions while other scorers were Lydia Lairson and Alexia Seamer.

On to the upcoming games this weekend, on Saturday the 1sts make the short trip to Gosport in Counties Division 1. We hope to see a large Pompey contingent make the journey across the water to cheer the lads on. The seconds are away to Overton in Counties 3, but there’s no game as yet for the third xv.

This Sunday the Valkyries seconds hope to carry on their winning ways with Poole the visitors to Rugby Camp, whilst the Colts host Tottonians. There are also home games for the U16s and U15s on Sunday.

On a sad footnote, the funeral of our good friend Kevin Ricketts takes place at Christ Church, Widley 1145 tomorrow 20th February. There will be a wake at Havant Rugby Club from 1300 where we can share our memories of Kevin, a truly lovely man.

Weekend Round-Up

It was a very busy Saturday at Rugby Camp with the visit of a coachload of Welshmen from the Rhonnda, whilst the firsts took on New Milton with a commanding performance, winning 47-5. See Jim Dixons match report. There was also the Rugby Against Cancer Bottomless Brunch in the clubhouse which was well supported on RAC sock takeover week.

The seconds went away to Alresford coming away with the points in a narrow 14-15 victory.

The 3rd XV went down by 35 to 20 against United Services and I assume the Vets won by the customary 76-0 against Abercwmboi who provided the soundtrack in the bar during Wales narrow defeat to Scotland.

Sunday saw our U14s take on Alton in the cup semi final, they weathered the early pressure from the visitors to bounce back winning 24-17 in a highly physical, attritional match against skillful and determined opposition. As coach Chris Morrow said “It was ugly, but we were immense”. They play the U14s Cup Final on March 17, opponents to be announced.

The Under 12s Hosted Havant in a friendly and came out winners by eight tries to three in a well drilled, clinical performance. Both sides running with ball in hand and equally defending well. The Portsmouth boys defended with great stamina and didn’t give the visitors much space or possession to exploit.

Portsmouth Valkyries first XV played at home on Sunday against Cullompton in the RFU Intermediate Cup quarter final. The visitors showed why they’re a league above our women with a 25-61 victory. Their speedsters on the wing doing the majority of the scoring. The Valkyries really put in a shift and can hold their heads high despite the score which doesn’t reflect the amount of possession they had.

This weekend coming

There is only one senior mens game this Saturday with the 2s away to Andover, however, the club is open on Saturday for the Six nations games in the Peter Golding Bar.

On Sunday the 11th The Valkyries 1st XV travel west to take on Bath Ladies while the 2nds host East Dorset Dockers at Rugby Camp.

In other news the 100 club winners for February were drawn on Monday the 5th, the £50 winner was Nigel Morgan and the £30 went to T Golding.

Weekend Round Up

After being in front at Havant the 1st fifteen eventually succumbed to Havant’s pace in the backs, going down right at the end narrowly by 31 points to 28. This was a fine performance by the lads who outplayed their local rivals for much of the game.

The Casuals did the reverse at Rugby Camp against Havant 3s with a late score to win 27-26.

On Sunday the Valkyries 2nd xv travelled to East Dorset where they won by forty points to nil, although the RFU website shows 0-50 so a couple of the Valks are trying to add the spare tries to their tally.

Colts Win The League

Our Colts are league champions for the second successive season. A 52-12 victory against Bognor gave them the title. Massive congratulations to all the lads and the coaching staff. We can look forward to a bright future with this squad of youngsters.

The U14s visited Saracens where they beat three Essex clubs, Chelmsford by 30 points to 5, Southend by 20 to nil and Westcliff 40-15.

This weekend the firsts host New Milton at 1400 on Saturday while the Casuals (2nd xv) travel to Alresford and the 3s, The Vandals go to Burnaby Road to take on US Portsmouth ii. It’ll be a busy one at the club on Saturday with the Vets hosting a touring side from Abercwmboi also 1400 ko.

The Valkyries have a busy day on Sunday with the seconds hosting Poole at midday in the league then at 1400 the firsts take on Cullompton in the quarter final of the RFU Womens Intermediate Cup. We’re hoping for a big crowd on Sunday to cheer the ladies on.

Kevin Ricketts

It is with great sadness we have to report the death of former club man and referee Kevin Ricketts after a long illness.

Kevin was a greatly respected and much loved member of PRFC, he was a fine referee not just in Hampshire but he reached the very top of the tree as a First Class ref, the equivalent of the Premiership today. Born in Newport, Wales he settled down south and taught for many years at Priory School before retirement. Kevin for many years wrote weekly match reports for the Portsmouth News sports pages covering local rugby, cricket and football. His coverage of our club was always a little more partisan than other local clubs which showed his great affection for PRFC. As an appreciation of his life and love of the club there will be a minutes silence before the games on Saturday and Sunday.

Kevin leaves his wife Ann and sons Christopher and David, we extend our deepest condolences to all the family and friends of such a fine man.

Dr. Richard Tyrrell

We’re extremely sad to announce the untimely passing of Dr Richard Tyrrell! Dr Dick was a stalwart of the club and will be missed by everyone 💛

Our thoughts and prayers are with Cathy and all the family 🖤

Weekend review 21st/22nd October 2023

Bt Simon Newsham

As the dust settles on Rugby World Cup semi final weekend or not, as every refereeing decision is pulled apart by the media we can take a look at how the club got on. The first xv got back to winning ways with a splendid home win against Havant ii (see Jim Dixons match report). There’s a couple of weeks break now for rest and recuperation, some injuries and tired muscles will get a bit of reprieve.

Meanwhile at Hooks Lane the Casuals went down by thirty points to eight despite having been all square at half time they were overpowered in the second period.

The Vets travelled to Fawley where we can only assume they won 76-0.

Sunday saw The Valkyries first team travel deep into Gloucestershire to Chipping Sodbury where they notched up a fine 38-0 away win, opening up a clear four point gap at the top of the table ahead of second place Supermarine. Two tries from wing Katie Wadeson and one each from the other backs Emily Hare, Bronwyn Miller, Georgie Harris, and Megan Jones meant all the tries came from numbers ten to fifteen. Nancy Lismore slotted three conversions while Emily Hare added the other two points.

The Valks second fifteen couldn’t capitalise on a first half lead at home to Trojans who arrived a couple of players short, but with uncontested scrums and having to play under 19s laws didn’t allow the Valkyries to play to their strengths. The final score was 22 – 31 with tries from Luna Lewis, Alex Rainbow, Laura Gazzard with her first for the club and to cap a fine game at fly-half Nicki Buckingham also scored. Sophie Exton-Woodford back in the fold playing at centre grabbed a conversion.

The Colts put in an outstanding performance at Bognor, coming away with a huge forty nil win.

The U14s had a busy weekend with home games on Saturday and Sunday, the first game against Princethorpe College from Rugby on their annual visit. In a fast and physical game Pompey were superior at the breakdown and in defence to take the win by 42 points to 10.
On Sunday they played Fareham Heathens beating them 50-0.

Tickets for Octoberfest at the club on 11 November are now very limited, contact Ollie Simpson if you want to go along £20 is the asking price over 18s only.
olliesimpson@gmail.com for more details.

Have a great week