Founded: 1937
Ground: Varley Park, Heaton Mersey, Stockport
League: Regional L1 North West of Northern Division (National 3)
Sharklinks: Sharks have been swimming in Burnage waters for some time now, Sam and Luke James grandfather, David and Father, Neil, both played at Burnage for many years! David was both President and Chairman after his playing years and Neil a first team captain and outstanding number 10 for the black and ambers.
Unsung Heroes: Like so many grass roots amateur clubs, we could not function as we do without the commitment, loyalty and love that our volunteers, committee, playing and social members show to Burnage RFC.
We must thank and recognise the outstanding work done within our mini and junior section. That restarted with just one U11’s side in 2010 by Steve Willock and Richard Cowley after many years with no M&J section at all. Later taken on by Jonny Cross, who took us right back to U5’s and latterly Mike and Laura Thomas, who have now grown to over 300 boys and girls through to U14’s enjoying rugby every week.
Favourite Sharks Moment: The good ol’ Friday night lights at Edgeley Park were a regular highlight for so many Burnage members. Watching Sebastian Chabal destroy anything in front of him and Sale Sharks winning the Premiership title in 2006, remain fond memories along with trips to CR La Vila, Villajoyosa, Spain and to France including over the border with Biarritz to San Sebastian and against Toulon a game that Jonny Wilkinson made us want to forget, but also where Steve Diamond joined Racing Club d’Burnage for a port side lunch.
Club Goals: In 2022 we have celebrated 85 years and although celebrations were curtailed somewhat by the aftermath of Covid, we are looking forward to the next 15 and more as we head toward a centenary in 2037. As one of the first clubs to self-fund and install an artificial pitch in the North back in 2010, we have just invested again and resurfaced it in 2022 to new World Rugby and FIFA standards. We build a strong community around it, and we support multiple other sports activities from our base with over 1000 children a week using our 4G floodlit pitches for multiple sports every weekday & night.
Our goals are quite simply to maintain a sustainable and attractive amateur club, with first class facilities, an all-inclusive and diverse membership and provide a platform for rugby in South Manchester to develop for the next 100 years.
With three senior teams we welcome new or returning players of all standards and ages, fully supported by excellent coaching and professional medical and physiotherapy support.
