The Scorpions RFC is an invitation rugby team in East Africa that was established upon principles that have many parallels with the Barbarian F.C. in terms of values, playing style, selection policy and the lack of a home ground. The team wears black shirts and white shorts and, like the original Barbarians and the French Barbarians, players wear socks of their choice provided that they have played for the team that the socks represent (the socks shown to the right are the original Harlequins socks which were also worn by Kenya Harlequins[1] in the 1950s and 1960s).
The club was founded in 1959 in Dodoma, central Tanganyika (now Tanzania) to function as an invitation touring side. The idea was first put forward by W.K.L. Ken Thomas who also became the club's first captain and chairman. With marginal rainfall, rocky outcrops, thorny scrub and dry sandy soil, Dodoma is an ideal habitat for the scorpions after which the club is named, but a less suitable place to play rugby is hard to imagine. The touring element drifted almost immediately into obscurity and the club eventually became based in Kenya as rugby in Tanzania dwindled during the 1970s.
Aims and PrinciplesEdit
The over-riding principle behind the team is to play and foster the playing of rugby football of the best possible type and to insist upon the highest standards of discipline and behaviour, both on and off the field. In the modern day when winning is everything this sounds old-fashioned, even pompous, it does not mean the Scorpions do not like to win, or do not play to win, it purely means that if at no-side enjoyment has been had by all, players and spectators alike, then the Scorpions have been true to their principles.
to play and foster the playing of rugby football of the best possible type and to insist upon the highest standards of discipline and behaviour, both on and off the field.
'Scorpions Constitution (1959)'
The vast distances and primitive transport networks of Colonial East Africa made the playing of rugby difficult, particularly so in Tanganyika. The intention behind the founding of the Scorpions was to allow players in Tanganyika to play high quality rugby that would otherwise be unavailable to them, thus membership (which is by invitation only), would be available to any player in Tanganyika. With time the net was thrown wider to include any player in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania). The Scorpions are able to introduce younger players to a higher level of rugby and to experiment by trying players in unusual positions, something that representative selectors are unable to attempt for fear of criticism.
The club has no club-house, they usually play their matches at the RFUEA Ground and, in order to stimulate interest in rugby to as wide an audience as possible, they never take a gate allowing spectators from all financial backgrounds to watch them play.
Match ListEdit
The Scorpions have built up a sporting tradition of exciting encounters with famous clubs on tour. The majority of these games have been lost but the Scorpions have endeavoured to live up to their principles and have scored notable victories over Anti-Assassins (1964) and London Wasps (1973) and also earned a draw with Blackheath F.C. in 1979.
When, in 1973, the Scorpions played the Old Georgian Club from Argentina, the former England captain Dick Greenwood was in Kenya on a coaching assignment for the RFU. He was selected to play in the second row by Scorpions who lost by one point after a non-stop display of running attacking rugby that ranks among the most thrilling matches ever played on the RFUEA Ground. Dick then travelled to Italy to become the Coach of Rugby Roma Olimpic (1973–1976) and, using the contacts that he had made in Kenya, an East African tour was arranged for the Italian club in 1976 during which they too played against the Scorpions.
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (September 2010)
E. Ted Kabetu (first black player to be selected by Scorpions and to represent East Africa)
Other PlayersEdit
A. Cobb
R.T. Harris
M.C. Barnes
R. Gillett
J. McFie
C.J. Maile
M.G. Lumsdaine
J. Maynard
R.N. Shephard
Oluf Jorgensen
J.W. Eaton
J. Setchell
R. Benyon
H. McGarry
A. Glover
G.T. Tom Thorpe
G. Clode
R.M. Watson
R. Richards
B.Patrick N. Plumbe
K.A.G. Parfitt
P. Ilsley
A.M. Dale
A.L. Mitchell
R.T. Hughes
George Barbour
Lau Larsen
R. Jones
Ronnie Andrews
Mike Evans
J.C.D. Parsons
A. Rees
A. Cure
Richard Mercer
George McKnight
M.J.Hebert
Dicky Evans
R. Smith
J.A. Allison
B. Omolo
Jackson Omaido
A. Scutt
S.L. Rigby
George Roy
Dave Wallace
J. Ellis
Chris J. Onsotti
Mark A. Riley
W.J. Okwirry
Mike Evans
C.G. Sullivan
G. Chief Edebe
W.G. Hadman
C.J.S Taylor
E. Ayodo
D. Awimbo
C. Fraser
Tom Ollerhead
J. Omany
P. Coventry
R.S. Sembi
J.P. Scott
P.E L'Estrange
ReferencesEdit
Campbell, M; Cohen, E.J. (1960). Rugby Football in East Africa 1909-1959. Rugby Football Union of East Africa.
Programme of Anti-Assassins tour of Kenya. Rugby Football Union of East Africa. 1982.
^Kenya Harlequin Constitution. Kenya Harlequins. 1950.
^Whyte, R.A.M. (1961). Harlequins in East Africa (Report). Harlequins F.C.
^Roberts, V.C. (1973). Harlequins East Africa Tour (Report). Harlequins F.C.
September 01, 2023
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The Scorpions RFC is an invitation rugby team in East Africa that was established upon principles that have many parallels with the Barbarian F C in terms of values playing style selection policy and the lack of a home ground The team wears black shirts and white shorts and like the original Barbarians and the French Barbarians players wear socks of their choice provided that they have played for the team that the socks represent the socks shown to the right are the original Harlequins socks which were also worn by Kenya Harlequins 1 in the 1950s and 1960s ScorpionsUnionsRugby Football Union of East AfricaKenya Rugby Football UnionTanzania Rugby Football UnionUganda Rugby Football UnionFounded1959Team kitFirst matchNondescripts RFC Scorpions 1959 Contents 1 Foundation 2 Aims and Principles 3 Match List 4 Match details 4 1 Blackheath 1979 5 Members 5 1 Past Administrators 5 2 Past Captains 5 3 Notable players 5 4 Other Players 6 ReferencesFoundation EditThe club was founded in 1959 in Dodoma central Tanganyika now Tanzania to function as an invitation touring side The idea was first put forward by W K L Ken Thomas who also became the club s first captain and chairman With marginal rainfall rocky outcrops thorny scrub and dry sandy soil Dodoma is an ideal habitat for the scorpions after which the club is named but a less suitable place to play rugby is hard to imagine The touring element drifted almost immediately into obscurity and the club eventually became based in Kenya as rugby in Tanzania dwindled during the 1970s Aims and Principles EditThe over riding principle behind the team is to play and foster the playing of rugby football of the best possible type and to insist upon the highest standards of discipline and behaviour both on and off the field In the modern day when winning is everything this sounds old fashioned even pompous it does not mean the Scorpions do not like to win or do not play to win it purely means that if at no side enjoyment has been had by all players and spectators alike then the Scorpions have been true to their principles to play and foster the playing of rugby football of the best possible type and to insist upon the highest standards of discipline and behaviour both on and off the field Scorpions Constitution 1959 The vast distances and primitive transport networks of Colonial East Africa made the playing of rugby difficult particularly so in Tanganyika The intention behind the founding of the Scorpions was to allow players in Tanganyika to play high quality rugby that would otherwise be unavailable to them thus membership which is by invitation only would be available to any player in Tanganyika With time the net was thrown wider to include any player in East Africa Kenya Uganda and Tanzania The Scorpions are able to introduce younger players to a higher level of rugby and to experiment by trying players in unusual positions something that representative selectors are unable to attempt for fear of criticism The club has no club house they usually play their matches at the RFUEA Ground and in order to stimulate interest in rugby to as wide an audience as possible they never take a gate allowing spectators from all financial backgrounds to watch them play Match List EditThe Scorpions have built up a sporting tradition of exciting encounters with famous clubs on tour The majority of these games have been lost but the Scorpions have endeavoured to live up to their principles and have scored notable victories over Anti Assassins 1964 and London Wasps 1973 and also earned a draw with Blackheath F C in 1979 Blackrock College RFC is a club originally formed by old boys of Blackrock College an institution founded by the Congregation of the Holy Ghost in 1860 In 1939 the same order set up St Mary s School Nairobi to be run under the same Spiritian ethos an ethos that embraces the benefits of sport in general and rugby union in particular This has begun a long connection between the order and the East African rugby community St Mary s School hosts an annual schools rugby festival and along with Lenana School Rift Valley Academy and Strathmore School it is one of the major producers of rugby players in Kenya In addition Blackrock College RFC toured East Africa in 1971 and the Fourth Tuskers played a return fixture during their tour of Ireland the next year When in 1973 the Scorpions played the Old Georgian Club from Argentina the former England captain Dick Greenwood was in Kenya on a coaching assignment for the RFU He was selected to play in the second row by Scorpions who lost by one point after a non stop display of running attacking rugby that ranks among the most thrilling matches ever played on the RFUEA Ground Dick then travelled to Italy to become the Coach of Rugby Roma Olimpic 1973 1976 and using the contacts that he had made in Kenya an East African tour was arranged for the Italian club in 1976 during which they too played against the Scorpions This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items September 2010 Date Opponent From Location Result Score1959 08 04 Nondescripts RFC nbsp Kenya Parklands Sports Club Nairobi Won 25 91959 08 06 Kitale Rugby Club nbsp Kenya Kitale Sports Club Kitale Lost 8 261959 08 08 Nakuru RFC nbsp Kenya Nakuru Athletic Club Nakuru Lost 3 91959 08 10 Kenya Harlequins nbsp Kenya RFUEA Ground Nairobi Lost 11 151960 10 08 Kampala RFC nbsp Uganda Nakivubo Stadium Kampala1961 05 2 Pretoria Harlequins nbsp South Africa Nakuru Lost 0 141964 Anti Assassins nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi Won 1966 04 24 Blackheath F C nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi1968 03 23 Queens University RFC nbsp Ireland RFUEA Ground Nairobi1968 07 14 Middlesex nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi Lost 0 471969 Anti Assassins nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi Lost 14 481971 03 28 9 Parachute Squadron RE British Army nbsp United Kingdom RFUEA Ground Nairobi 1971 07 04 Blackrock College RFC nbsp Ireland RFUEA Ground Nairobi Lost 13 161972 04 Rosslyn Park F C nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi 1972 07 30 Richmond F C nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi Lost 12 181973 05 05 3 London Harlequins FC nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi Lost 6 411973 07 29 Wasps FC nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi Won 1973 Old Georgians nbsp Argentina RFUEA Ground Nairobi Lost 21 221976 06 05 Rugby Roma Olimpic nbsp Italy RFUEA Ground Nairobi Lost 13 161979 05 12 Blackheath F C nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi Drawn 17 171982 05 22 Anti Assassins nbsp England RFUEA Ground Nairobi 1988 08 Sherborne RFC RC Granvillais nbsp England nbsp France RFUEA Ground Nairobi Won 01 06 2023 Bryncethin RFC Wales Mae Zedong Stadium Zanzibar Won 38 5Match details EditBlackheath 1979 Edit Saturday 12 May 19791630 EAT UTC 3 Scorpions RFC17 17Blackheath F C Try Hadman 1 Omaido 1 Evans M 1 Con Roy 1 Pen NoneDrop Roy 1 Try FORWARDS 1 Purchase 1 Con NonePen Kelsey Fry 3 Drop NoneNgong Road Ground Nairobi Kenya Referee G Fenn London R R S Touch judge R G R Evans Kenya R R S Touch judge P Piper Team ListsSCORPIONSPlayer Club HonoursFB 15 P D Evans Nondescripts RFC nbsp Kenya and East AfricaRW 14 B Omolo Blak Blad RFCOC 13 J Omaido Mean Machine RFC nbsp Kenya and East AfricaIC 12 A Scutt West Kenya RFCLW 11 S L Rigby Nondescripts RFC nbsp KenyaFH 10 G Roy Impala RFCSH 9 R G Leask c Impala RFC nbsp Kenya and East AfricaLP 1 D Wallace Nondescripts RFCHK 2 J Ellis Kenya Harlequins nbsp Kenya and East AfricaTP 3 C J Onsotti Kenya Harlequins nbsp Kenya and East AfricaLL 4 M A Riley Nondescripts RFCRL 5 W J Okwirry Impala RFCOF 6 M Evans Nondescripts RFC nbsp Kenya and East AfricaBF 7 G Chief Edebe Mean Machine RFC nbsp Kenya and East AfricaN8 8 W G Hadman Nondescripts RFCSubstitutes 16 E Kabetu Mombasa Sports Club nbsp Kenya and East Africa17 C J S Taylor Nondescripts RFC18 E Ayodo Impala RFC19 D Awimbo Mwamba RFC20 T Ollerhead Nondescripts RFC21 J Omany Impala RFCCoach None BLACKHEATH F C Player Club HonoursFB 15 B Kelsey Fry Blackheath F C Kent CountyRW 14 K Purchase Blackheath F C Kent and nbsp England U19OC 13 J Kelly Ebbw Vale RFC and Cross Keys RFCIC 12 N Walker Sevenoaks RFC Kent U21LW 11 J Percival Blackheath F C Hampshire CountyFH 10 R Whiteman Blackheath F C Oxford University RFCSH 9 P McFarland King s College Hospital RFC Staffordshire U19LP 1 C Bailward Blackheath F C England Trialist and Eastern CountiesHK 2 J Murphy Blackheath F C Kent CountyTP 3 K Cairns Saracens RFC England TrialistLL 4 R Hill c Blackheath F C England Trialist and KentRL 5 N Joyce Leicester F C England TrialistBF 6 C Hooker Blackheath F C South v nbsp AustraliaOF 7 R Naish Blackheath F C Surrey and London CountiesN8 8 G J Adey Leicester F C Barbarians and nbsp EnglandSubstitutes SH 16 I Tharby Blackheath F C Kent SchoolboysH 17 A Johns Blackheath F C L 18 P Lovett Blackheath F C Notts Lincs Derby U23P 19 J Montgomery Blackheath F C Kent County and Ulster U2120 D Blacklocks Blackheath F C 21Manager John Legge Kent County CoachMembers EditThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items September 2010 Past Administrators Edit W K L Ken Thomas Founder member Chairman and Captain Dennie O Loghlen Founder member and Chairman Charles Hodgson Chairman Rex Chamberlain Secretary Treasurer Alex M Christie Vice president of Wasps FC in London and President of the RFUEA Edwin Eddie Bristow Brian Granville Ross Peter Williams Frank Lawson Bob Shephard Tony Parfitt D P Dougie Hamilton M J A Mike Walsh David Round Turner Mark Riley Chris Everard Past Captains Edit Rob Rowland D P Dougie Hamilton Mike Andrews Peter D Evans Roy Leask Kevin Lillis Notable players Edit Dick Greenwood former nbsp England captain E Ted Kabetu first black player to be selected by Scorpions and to represent East Africa Other Players Edit A Cobb R T Harris M C Barnes R Gillett J McFie C J Maile M G Lumsdaine J Maynard R N Shephard Oluf Jorgensen J W Eaton J Setchell R Benyon H McGarry A Glover G T Tom Thorpe G Clode R M Watson R Richards B Patrick N Plumbe K A G Parfitt P Ilsley A M Dale A L Mitchell R T Hughes George Barbour Lau Larsen R Jones Ronnie Andrews Mike Evans J C D Parsons A Rees A Cure Richard Mercer George McKnight M J Hebert Dicky Evans R Smith J A Allison B Omolo Jackson Omaido A Scutt S L Rigby George Roy Dave Wallace J Ellis Chris J Onsotti Mark A Riley W J Okwirry Mike Evans C G Sullivan G Chief Edebe W G Hadman C J S Taylor E Ayodo D Awimbo C Fraser Tom Ollerhead J Omany P Coventry R S Sembi J P ScottP E L EstrangeReferences EditCampbell M Cohen E J 1960 Rugby Football in East Africa 1909 1959 Rugby Football Union of East Africa Programme of Anti Assassins tour of Kenya Rugby Football Union of East Africa 1982 Kenya Harlequin Constitution Kenya Harlequins 1950 Whyte R A M 1961 Harlequins in East Africa Report Harlequins F C Roberts V C 1973 Harlequins East Africa Tour Report Harlequins F C Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scorpions RFC amp oldid 1159147501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
