Chiswick Rugby Club Cuts Ribbon on New Changing Rooms
Gala event celebrates facility expansion and community growth
The new facilities were official opened by Sophia Ball (third from left) and Brian Marting (third from right). Picture: Chiswick RFC
October 14, 2025
Chiswick Rugby Club hosted a day of celebration this Saturday ( 11 October ), marking the official opening of its new changing rooms and reflecting on a period of significant transformation. The event, held at the club’s grounds, brought together invited guests, club members, and supporters to acknowledge recent developments and the individuals who helped make them possible.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Sophia Ball, captain of the newly formed under-12 girls team, alongside Brian Martin, the club’s longest-serving member. Their joint role symbolised both the club’s heritage and its evolving future.
The new facilities, which have been operational since the summer, were funded in part by a £100,000 grant from the London Marathon Foundation. The charity’s representative, ultra-marathon runner Eleanor Grant, attended as guest of honour.
Eleanor Grant (centre) at the lunch event
Following a marquee lunch, Rob Udwin, former President of the Rugby Football Union and a former Chiswick player, gave an address praising the club’s rapid development, which he described as “stunning.” Mr Udwin first joined the club in 1986 and later served on its committee before moving into national rugby governance.
The changing rooms had been in planning since 2016 but faced delays due to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Their completion is part of a broader regeneration effort at the club, which has undergone a management restructure over the past two years. The new leadership team—comprising former players—has shifted focus toward financial sustainability, leveraging revenue from adjacent facilities such as the Adrenalin Rush laser tag centre to fund initiatives like a Wellbeing Fund and subsidised player memberships or a full waiver if required.
The club has also invested in wider infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to the clubhouse, grass pitches, and the creation of a new outdoor hospitality area and coffee shop. As the site is designated Metropolitan Open Land, the grounds remain accessible to the public.
The expansion of the club's facilities was decribed as 'stunning'. Picture: Chiswick RFC
Sporting highlights on the day included a league match between Chiswick’s first XV and Finchley, which Chiswick won, and a women’s demonstration fixture between teams from King’s College London and Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ medical schools—the first women’s match to be held at the ground. The new facilities now allow for simultaneous male, female, and youth and minis fixtures.
Chiswick's First XV celebrate after defeating Finchley
The club’s multi-sport offering has expanded to include rugby union, rugby league, Aussie Rules, lacrosse, youth football, and plans for padel tennis, which is currently at the formal planning stage. Youth membership has increased by 40%, and adult teams have doubled from two to four. Female participation has grown at both junior and adult levels, and the club has re-established links with Chiswick School, supporting rugby coaching across Years 7 to 9 and an after-school programme.
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