Monday 22nd November 2010

Chesterfield Panthers RUFC played host last week to a group of players, all local lads, who had started their careers at the Stonegravels club over the last ten years and had gone on to play at the highest levels of the game.

The evening was arranged in conjunction with the Mini and Junior section of the Club and saw the players taking a wide range of questions from those present before autographing a number of shirts and other items.


(back row, L to R) Charlie Davies, Dominic Parsons, George Barnes and Ian Kench along with a group of young players that aspire to follow their example.

The presence of these stars will hopefully provide inspiration to the young players currently at the Club and show them just what can be achieved.

All four began as players in the Club's mini section and played through the Junior ranks before their talent took them on to higher things.

GEORGE BARNES, who is currently not playing whilst awaiting an operation on a shoulder injury, made the grade with the Scotland Under 18's squad having been spotted whilst playing for the Scottish Exiles Junior team. He joined the squad in 2009 for their summer training camp in Spain and hopes to renew his progress once recovered from his injury.

CHARLIE DAVIES, who played at the Club as an Under 10 and stayed until he was 17 had played First Team rugby at Stade Francais at the age of 19 before joining the England Under 20 squad this year and playing in the Under 20 World Cup in Argentina.

He is currently playing at Wasps in the Premiership and came to the evening having played the previous day in their victory over Bath in the LV Cup.

IAN KENCH spent 10 years at the Club until at 17 he went to Nottingham. Whilst there he was selected for the England Under 18 team and on going to University he was selected for the England Students team and made captain in his second season with them. He moved to Oxford University to take his Masters Degree and in 2008 and 2009 played in the Varsity game at Twickenham for the university side. Ian joined Sale Sharks last season and played in the Premiership before a move this season to Championship side Nottingham.

DOMINIC PARSONS also joined as an Under 10 and played all of his Junior rugby at the Club. During that time he progressed via the NLD selection process to the Midlands team and England trials. On going to Sheffield University he was spotted by Sheffield Tigers and after a spell with them moved on to Doncaster where he is currently playing on a full contract in the RFU Championship.

The interesting thing will be to see if the Clubs two old boys come up against each other when Nottingham play Doncaster in the Christmas fixture. If they do it will put them in direct competition as both play at second row.

RECENT STORIES

MATCH REPORTS,
12th - 13th MAR 2011 -
A decisive win by 6 tries to 1 over favourites Ashfield has put Chesterfield U14's into the Three Counties' Shield final. More...

MATCH REPORTS,
26th - 27th FEB 2011 -
Panthers 1st XV returned to winning ways with a comfortable league victory over Leesbrook. More...

MATCH REPORTS,
19th - 20th FEB 2011
AND OTHER NEWS -
The U13's earned a 3rd NLD Shield victory, topping their group and earning a semi final place, the 3rd squad from the Juniors to do so. More...

MATCH REPORTS,
5th - 6th FEB 2011 -
For the second week in a row, the Under 10's produced a feast of tries to beat a spirited Tupton team that never gave up trying. More...

MATCH REPORTS, 22nd - 23rd JAN 2011 -
Strong forward work through the 2nd half gradually broke Ilkeston's defence and on 70 mins, Fergus Wish scooped up a pass to crash over the line More...

MATCH REPORTS, 15th - 16th JAN 2011 -
After the long enforced break, the Panthers Ladies finally got back into action with this away trip to Oxford... More...

LAST MINUTE TRY SEALS CUP WIN -
After a six week lay off due to bad weather both teams were desperate to play rugby and on a morning ideal for rugby a cracking game ensued. More...

MATCH REPORTS, 20th - 21st NOV 2010 -
Panthers took arguably the youngest side in the league to third placed East Leake and pulled off a great win. More...

MATCH REPORTS, 13th - 14th NOV 2010 -
The game began with both sides exchanging attacks and neither really getting the upper hand until Panthers managed to work some space... More...

MATCH REPORTS, 6th - 7th NOV 2010 -Chesterfield made the long journey to Grantham for their latest league encounter and put in a creditable performance, although the score-line doesn't reflect their dominance. More...

MATCH REPORT -
U14's v ASHBY
31st OCTOBER -
There were no Halloween horrors as an excellent team performance from the Panthers brought a well-deserved victory. More...

WORK BEGINS ON NEW RUGBY GROUND -
Work has begun on the Chesterfield Panthers RUFC's new ground at Dunston after a "First Sod Turning" ceremony was held last week More...

MATCH REPORTS, 16th - 17th OCT 2010 -
With the long journey to the West Midlands for this National Vase game, the Panthers team took to the field without time to warm up, reflecting in their first half performance. More...

MATCH REPORTS, 9th - 10th Oct 2010 -
Panthers played host to a good, well organized side from Boston and a high scoring game ensued. More...

MATCH REPORTS, 2nd - 3rd OCT 2010 -
Panthers lost to Belper in this away league game with the players and spectators wondering how? More...

MATCH REPORTS, 25th - 26th SEPT 2010 -
Panther's second team manager Mark Blair was delighted to have a squad of 26 players for this home game with Hope Valley. More...

A WHIZZ-BANG FRIDAY NIGHT PROMISED-
Friday evening (1st Oct) will see the Club putting on a firework display that will light up the sky in the neighbourhood... More...

MATCH REPORTS, 18th - 19th SEPT 2010 -
Panthers lost to their local rivals Tupton much to the obvious delight of the opposition supporters. More...

MATCH REPORTS, 11th - 12th SEPT 2010 -
Panthers travelled to the seaside for their first league game of the season and ran out comfortable winners in a high scoring game. More...

LAND BOUGHT FOR NEW FACILITIES -
Chesterfield Panthers Rugby Union Football Club is pleased to announce the acquisition of land at Dunston... More...