The earliest available records indicate that the playing of rugby football in Kettering was initiated by the Rector of Barton Seagrave village in 1871. After a period of playing under Uppingham Public School Rules the club formally adopted RFU rules in 1875, quickly becoming a significant participant in both local community and the fast developing rugby scene in the East Midlands. In the early days games were played on a number of sites including farmers' fields and council owned grounds. It was during this period, prior to adopting a home of its own, that the club developed its high profile in the town. Social occasions and players' "meetings" were held traditionally at the Royal Hotel, later moving to the George, with more formal occasions such as the Annual Ball becoming the highlight of the local function calendar. The club moved to its current Waverley Road home in 1963 where it boasts three pitches, additional training areas and a fully licensed club house.
KRFC today
Kettering currently play in the Midlands 1 East division of the league pyramid which is level 6. The club regularly fields four senior sides plus Colts and Veterans on a Saturday and has a thriving mini and junior section with teams at every age group from under 6 to under 16. The mini and junior section has produced three current Premiership players in James Cannon, Brett Sturgess and Will Chudley as well as a number of players playing professional and semi professional rugby at Championship and National 1 levels
Club Honours
Midlands 1 East champions : 2002-03, 2007–08, 2018–19
East Midlands Cup Winners 2014-15
Recent League results
2016/17 Midlands 1 East 2nd 2015/16 Midlands 1 East 4th 2014/15 Midlands 1 East 4th 2013/14 Midlands 1 East 6th 2012/13 Midlands 1 East 9th 2011/12 Midlands 1 East 4th 2010/11 Midlands 1 East 8th 2009/10 National League 3 Midlands 13th 2008/09 Midlands 1 8th 2007/08 Midlands 2 East 1st
Current 1st XV squad
Featured during 2018-19 season Forwards: D Martin, S Ling, S Fraher, J Aldwinckle, M Watson, L Santos, M Cheatham, A Jones, J Cox; C Horgan, A Toseland, D Bannister, G Newman, A Bayley, A Collett, T Spencer, G Wilson, D Ireland, D Noble, T Bayes, C Chapman, J Watts, K Smith, B Sturgess, D Fay, A Kelman, G Newman Backs: T Bridgeman, B Keir, J Butlin, J Taylor, J Luthayi, A Linnell J Daniel, R Conyard, D Conyard, L Conyard, A Byrne, J Plowright, G Rees, O Furniss, E Drake-Lee, H Styles, J Newman
