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Medway Dragons are a Rugby League club based in Gillingham, Kent. They compete in the London & The South Competitions

History

Medway Dragons were founded on the evening of Friday 30 November 2007 at a meeting of 12 men in the, now re-purposed, Roseneath public house in Arden Street, Gillingham. The original plan for two teams at Under 11 and Under 13 was soon surpassed with five teams in the first season.

The primary objective of the club is to provide playing and volunteering opportunities for all in the community. As well as the Primary, Junior and Men's sections, the club operate Masters and Wheelchair teams. For a period of time, the club also ran Handball and Netball sections

Medway Dragons launched an open-age team in 2011 and joined the London & South Division of the Rugby League Conference finishing sixth.

In 2012, the team finished 3rd in the South East Regional League of the Rugby League Conference, reaching the play-offs for the first time ever. They were beaten in the semi-final play-offs by Southampton Spitfires 32–14.

In 2013, Dragons finished top of the South East Regional League, before defeating Sussex Merlins 88–6 in the semi-final play-offs. In the Grand Final on Saturday 17 August, Medway Dragons played United Services Portsmouth Navy Seahawks at Medway Park and were defeated 22–27.

The Dragons announced former London Broncos head coach, Rob Powell, as head coach with a plan to become semi-professional and join the Championship One being the only Kent side to play professional rugby league since Kent Invicta.

This period brought huge improvement to the playing standards of the senior teams in the club and Medway Dragons with the First Grade (under Rob Powell) and Under 17 (under Martin Coyd) winning Premierships in 2014 and 2016 respectively. In 2014, the First Grade went on to beat Cornish Rebels before falling at the semi Final stage to London Chargers in the National Harry Jepson Trophy.[1]

In 2021, Medway Dragons were crowned as Champions of The London Premier League as they beat Brixton Bulls 38–18 in the final on 18 September.[2]

In 2023, Medway Dragons won the Harry Jepson Trophy overcoming the Midlands Champions Telford Raiders 46-30 on Saturday 16 September at Hemel Hempstead.[3][4]

Juniors

Medway Dragons' juniors take part in the London Junior League.

Wheelchair team

In 2015, the wheelchair rugby league team competed in the Challenge Cup and lost to Halifax in the first round.[5] Medway reached the semi-finals in 2016[6] and 2017[7] and were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2018 competition.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Harry Jepson Trophy Final". RFL. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Wests Warriors and Medway Dragons in Southern title success". rugby-league.com. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Hemel Stags to host Rugby League bonanza this Saturday". www.rugby-league.com. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Telford Raiders 30 54 Medway Dragons". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Dragons out browned by Halifax". www.rugby-league.com. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Leeds Rhinos and Halifax to contest Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Leeds and Halifax reach Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  8. ^ Wheelchair Rugby Challenge Cup Final 2018. 20 August 2018. Event occurs at 2:18. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
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