In September 2002 Rachel Kenyon started a new job as School Sports Coordinator for the Faringdon Partnership of Schools; based at Faringdon Community College. Over the next 2 years, she was to attend school club link meetings for various sports; rugby being one of them. It was slightly frustrating that our nearest clubs were Grove (8 miles away) and Supermarine (7 miles away and in different counties) which made encouraging our local children to attend these clubs difficult as many could not get to them. The only decision in her mind was for Faringdon to have its own club!

After some persuasive conversations with her husband Darren Kenyon, their next-door neighbour Nick Carter and friend Chris Smith they decided that they would set up a Mini's and Junior's rugby club to be based in Faringdon and welcome any children who would like to be part of this new venture.

In June 2004 they held a ‘taster’ event for over 200 children at Faringdon Community College. This was run by coaches from the RFU, Grove Rugby Club and FCC Sports Leaders.

In September 2004 Faringdon Rugby Club (in association with Grove Rugby Club) ran its first ever Sunday morning session at the school field. The RFU brought along the Heineken Cup and the Premiership trophy to celebrate this new venture. To begin with they were heavily supported by Grove (Dave Jones especially) who helped with equipment, shirts, paperwork and safeguarding; and the RFU (Jason Bowers in particular) who made sure they were compliant with all the regulations and making sure we could train the coaches to the correct levels.

As time went on, Rachel started to receive calls and messages from adults wanting to join, only for them to be disappointed that the club was just for children. More conversations were had amongst friends and the RFU until eventually enough men had been persuaded to form a side and start having some training and friendly games. The Silverbacks were formed! Why Silverbacks I hear you ask...because many of our newly formed rugby team were of a certain age and sporting more than a few grey hairs!!

Darren Kenyon has always liked designing shirts so in addition to the Silverbacks, the children became the ‘Blackbacks,’ the girls' team were the ‘Pinkbacks’ and the really old and retired team became the ‘Goldenbacks’! In addition to this they decided to do their very own ‘6 Nations’ so once again Darren could design some T-Shirts for the children and helpers to wear at the end of the season whilst taking part in a variety of activities – this tradition has continued and has now become the ‘8 Nations’ due to the increase in numbers – who knows how many nations will be in the years to come!!

The club spent many years using Faringdon Community College as their training and playing ground with the Duke of Wellington and the Red Lion as their clubhouse. The lack of changing facilities and refreshments outside made it difficult, but we persevered until they became part of the planning for a new sports ground to encompass cricket, rugby, tennis and skating – The Folly Park Sports Ground.

We started with a handful of children (all belonging to the coaches) in 2004 and no adult team to now having 130 children and 60 adults all training at the wonderful Folly Park Sports Ground and with the use of a lovely clubhouse.
There are many people that have been involved over the years who have helped to create and nurture this club into the fantastic, inclusive, welcoming, and resilient place it is today. Many, many thanks to all those who have been involved in whatever way and long may it continue to grow and thrive.