Club History

In 1957, a few members of the 5th year of St. Joseph’s Academy, Blackheath, headed by Lawrence Sullivan and Ronald Munro, decided to form a rugby team. They asked of the Headmaster if, with the blessing of the Old Boy’s Association, they could eventually become an official Old Boy’s team. The Headmaster pointed out that a long standing tradition was for pupils to join Park House RFC and indeed Blackheath RFC, and that this could prove a stumbling block as regards to recruiting players. Not discouraged, they decided to form a team independently of the Old Boy’s Association.
Without the support of the Old Boy’s Association, the first few games were played away, due to the lack of a ground. They therefore decided to name the club “The Hermits Rugby football Club”, after the Hermit crab, which spends most of its life using other creatures shells as its home. The Hermit crab therefore became the emblem of the club. The Club was then registered with the Rugby Football Union and Kent Society of Rugby Football Union Referee’s. The latter, through the good offices of their Match Secretary, Wilf Merry, became an unparalleled source of guidance and inspiration, in the early years. Eventually the club were able to rent a ground at Hall Place Playing fields, Bexley. The staggering sum of £14 was paid as rent for the season, borrowed from an uncle of Alan (Bugsy) McConnell. Within five or six years the Club had become well established in Kent, particularly Bexley, running three full sides plus a Colts team.
When Bexley became a Greater London Borough it was decided to re-name the Club “Bexley Rugby Football Club”. The crab was not forgotten and the second team, to this day are still known as the “Hermits”.
In the early years the majority of the senior players were Old Boys, of the Academy and contact with the school remained, ensuring albeit a diminishing but steady supply of players from the school. However, there was fierce competition with local clubs for players and eventually an approach was made by Park House to merge with Bexley into one club. A meeting of Bexley members was held and, with one exception, all voted against the proposal. Doubtless the influence of the founder members still prevailed.
The biggest drawback that existed for the Club was the lack of its own clubhouse. Over the years many attempts were made to find one but, until 1976, all had failed. In February of that year the Club, applied successfully to rent the nearly derelict St, John’s Fisher Catholic Church in Thanet Road, Bexley from the local council. As is well known the wheels of local government turn so quickly that by August 1978, we moved in, two and a half years after applying.
The Club in its new home continued to foster links with local schools, particularly Bexley and Erith Technical High School for Boys and Downs School, Dartford. By 1980 the Club ran six sides most Saturdays, together with occasional Kent Cup, Colts and sevens games on a Sunday.
Finally in 1997, Bexley Council sold the land in Thanet Road and the Club were once again homeless. The Club were able to persuade Bexley Hospital Social Club to provide not only the use of their clubhouse but also a pitch on the same ground.
Currently the Club runs one / two regular Saturday teams and an occasional ‘Veteran’s’ side, with the 1st XV competing in Kent League II and the Kent Vase competition. Bexley  also have a mini / junior section, with sides at U6 / 7 / 8 / 10 & 13