Saturday 10 October 2026 | Blackheath RFC

Kent SuperVets (Cantiaci) took to the field for their historic inaugural fixture against a visiting Hertfordshire SuperVets side, who demonstrated throughout the true values and spirit of rugby.

The match was played in an excellent atmosphere, with both sides showing great enthusiasm, commitment and sportsmanship. There was some excellent ball handling, strong running and front-foot rugby on display, proving that age is certainly no barrier to enjoying the game. The superb 4G pitch provided by our hosts, Blackheath RFC, was particularly appreciated by the players (and their old bones!), providing the perfect surface for an entertaining afternoon of running rugby.

The Cantiaci fielded a strong squad drawn from no fewer than 14 clubs across Kent, bringing together players who had previously been opponents on the pitch but were now proudly representing their county. Well prepared by the Sevenoaks coaching team, Kent produced some impressive passages of play, running in a number of excellent tries. These ranged from clean line breaks through the centres and powerful runs from deep to determined forward drives over the try line.

Although the final scoreline reflected a convincing victory for Kent, the result was only part of the story. The real success of the afternoon was seeing more than 40 players enjoying competitive rugby, renewing old friendships, making new ones and experiencing the honour of pulling on their respective county shirts.

The fixture marked an important milestone for the newly formed Kent SuperVets Cantiaci, demonstrating the enthusiasm that still exists for rugby among the over-50s and the opportunities the initiative provides for players to remain involved in the game.

A huge thank you goes to Hertfordshire SuperVets for their contribution to a thoroughly enjoyable and sporting encounter, to Blackheath RFC for their excellent hospitality and facilities, and to everyone involved in organising and supporting this inaugural fixture.

As everyone agreed afterwards, whatever the scoreline, rugby was the real winner.

The Cantiaci now look forward to their next fixture on Saturday 5 December, once again at Blackheath RFC, as this exciting new chapter in Kent rugby continues.

Sponsored by Ebro Foods Ltd and Shepherd Neame