The family thread that runs through Warlingham Rugby Club is no better reflected than by Tom Street, who has gone from player aged eight right the way through first team captaincy to now leading the rebuild of the first team squad.

What is more, Street, who has plenty on his hands as Head of Rugby at John Fisher School, Purley as well, is also following family footsteps, watching his son play minis rugby at Hamsey Green. 

The Wars might be bottom of Surrey Three, but they believe the future – one all about community rugby – is bright.

On the field at first team level, Warlingham were on the cusp of a promotion just a few years ago.

Then a league restructure pushed them down the rugby pyramid and many players left for higher levels.

But that has not stopped them becoming what last Saturday’s rivals Effingham & Leatherhead commended as a “proper rugby club” when they met earlier in the season. 

The feeling was reciprocated on Saturday. Officials, former players and supporters came together for one of Wars’ regular pre-match lunches in a clubhouse that was thriving afterwards with people watching the Six Nations.

Then on Sunday the multiple pitches were awash with players aged eight to late teens. Warlingham have upwards of 300 minis and junior squads, featuring players right across the school age spectrum.

Wars remained rooted to the foot of the division after Saturday’s 38-10 defeat, but the community rugby feel is not just about first team results, as Street testifies.

“It’s obviously going through a rebuilding stage,” said Street of his first team. “We’ve struggled for a couple of seasons now, but we’ve just started to build the right culture and build relationships with our academy, which is very successful.

“We’ve had quite a few of those boys out there week in week out [this season], so that’s a real positive.

“Our captain is 21, we have three boys playing [against Effingham] that were 17 and it’s a really young side, with a lot of talent that’s just about building over the next couple of years. Then hopefully they will start to improve league positions.

“But ultimately, we get the culture right, we get connected with the academy, we have got a player base and they are buying in and hopefully that will see us rise.”

The desire to keep trying to score in the face of adversity was evident. At one point Wars camped on their opponents’ try line for about 10 minutes, but were still unable to score.

“There is a real desire,” reflected Street. “A lot of these boys are pretty young and what they bring with youth is excitement and fitness and energy - and sometimes on those crucial decision moments they aren’t making a correct one but that will come in time. What they are bringing out values that.”

Street’s son is among those in the blooming youth section, playing under nines. That brings Street full circle after his own start at the club. It  also gives him some time off coaching, just to watch, at a club where he “gives back” to where he once played.

“I’ve been involved up here all my life,” said Street, who captained the side in the late 2000s. “My son is playing up here now. There’s a massive family vibe. A lot of the senior boys come out and help coach on a Sunday. A lot of players lead age groups – so that family connection is there through the club.

“With my son being here it’s almost like I’m now in my parents’ footsteps – on the same pitch when I was a youngster,” he said. “It’s always been a big part of my life. I have made lots of friends here. So it is about giving back.” 

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