On Sunday 13th July 2003 the hopes and aspirations of Essex Rugby Clubs can finally be realised when the RFU AGM will be asked by way a special resolution to include Essex County Rugby Football Union in the list of its Constituent Bodies.
This special resolution is the culmination of two years of hard work by the Essex Clubs and County committee to separate from the Eastern Counties Rugby Union and become Constituent Body in its own right. The RFU President Derek Morgan has described the Essex application as being one of the longest running sagas in the history of the Union following previous applications in 1972, 1975 and 1977.
Dai Davies, President of Essex County RFU said "Our case has been well presented. Eastern Counties is just too big. It is such a vast geographical area extending from Millwall RFC on the Isle of Dogs in London, to Holt RFC which is nearly on the Norfolk Coast by The Wash. Size has held the Counties back in its development of the Game in the East of England. For example, it was very difficult for the ECRU to get all the best lads from four sub-counties together for training and development squads because of the time and distance they had to travel. We even had to share our RDO with Norfolk. Being a County CB will attract our talented youngsters who previously became disinterested in playing representative rugby at a higher level because of the distances involved whilst we were part of the ECRU. There is now a buzz of excitement within the County as our clubs and players realise that at last we can get down to some really serious County Rugby and development. Its interesting to note that the last county to be elected to membership of the RFU as a constituent body was Hertfordshire in 1954, a County half the size of that covered by the Essex County RFU."
Essex County RFU was established in 1885 and in December 1890, joined Suffolk (1884) and Norfolk (1888) to form the Eastern Counties Rugby Union with Cambridgeshire joining the Union in 1928. Records show that in 1884 the first match between sides representing Essex and Suffolk was played at Chelmsford and was won by Suffolk by one goal, one try, one touch down to one try ,two touchdowns. Suffolk also won the return, at Ipswich, by two goals, one try to one goal, two tries. In the December the Essex Trials were held at Upton Park and this time Essex went on to beat Suffolk by six goals to nil. Saracens had nine players in Essex team, Becton four, Wanstead Viceroy two.
It is from those humble beginnings that there are now 43 established Clubs in Essex who will transfer from the ECRU to the new CB. Hon Secretary Mike Drinkwater said, "The committee has received tremendous support from all our clubs in our attempt to become a Constituent Body. This must be one of the only occasions in Rugby history when in response to a campaign there has been a 100% response from the clubs involved. Though Essex will be separating from the ECRU many of the clubs in the region will maintain their links and the many friendships that have built up over the years through the London and South East Leagues."
The County has already started to raise its "EssexRugby" profile in the Community and with local businesses, which provide invaluable support and assistance in the running of local competitions at schools and clubs. Public Relations Officer Ivor Smith said, "Our new County identity will enhance the work already being done in the Essex schools and clubs. Mainly it will help us provide new opportunities for Essex based companies to grow with us through sponsorship and association with our Club County competitions, development squads and representative teams. We will also work in partnership with these companies with the hope that we will be able to attract a level of funding which will sustain EssexRugby for the foreseeable future, see our Senior and Youth sides at Twickenham in the County Championships, increase the numbers of people having fun and playing the Game in Essex. Who knows who will follow in Jeff Probyn and Jason Leonard's footsteps."