Plans are being hatched for the long-awaited upcoming trip to our adopted twin club Stade Francais/Old Hirelings, and we need you to put your name down and join the Warly army for its annual celebratory game on March 14th 2026. Read on to find out more!

What’s it all about?

Well, it is probably the longest lasting fixture in the WRFC calendar. We have played SF/OH home and away pretty much every year since 1978.

Why? Because a rather fine Irishman called David Smythe, working in Paris in the 1970s and playing in the SF pack, organised a few English buddies to travel over to Paris to supplement the SF club which was rather in the doldrums. They were Warlingham buddies. Some played several seasons at SF.

And from those beginnings came a feast of history, touring, good times and friendships that have endured for the thick end of 50 years.

Always on the England vs France 5 then 6 Nations weekend, doughty players and supporters, British and French have made the Channel trip.

The Stade team evolved into Old Hirelings, Stade’s original Vets, as the main club rediscovered its eminence and WRFC remained the solid Surrey club we are.

The key is classic rugby touring for both clubs. The commitment is to a game for a range of age/ability players. A good few Warly boys have travelled and played with their dads. It has never been beneath the dignity of 1st team squad members.

It provides for a run out for the occasional, the serious, the one who should not really have brought his boots.

And there is what our friends call “The third half” : the after-match. This year we hosted OH and the clubhouse was a riot of fun, singing, eating and drinking after a rolling subs game where each side fielded 25-30 players.

You had to be there. But if you missed it, you can do it in Paris next March!

2026 sees some new “management” taking the baton in the form of Cédric Bunel and Alex Glover. Braithwaite and Robson are “advising” and will tour, albeit without boots. Danny Gillespie is team manager, as for the last 15(?) or more years.

It is a Friday to Sunday trip.

Settle into hotel after a Eurostar crossing (you can drive it!). Discover/re-discover Paris in the evening. Don’t get arrested.

We will play Saturday morning, lunch and the 6N is at Stade de France that evening.

It is a great event.

You should be there.

Interested parties are requested to signal their interest by either emailing the tour email address, lecrunch@warlinghamrfc.com. To secure the best rates for our group, we kindly request expressions of interest to join the tour be made by 10pm, Sunday 2nd November! We would like to book our travel arrangements soon afterwards, so please let us know as soon as possible, thank you!