Kent Cup

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2019}} {{for|the football competition|Kent Senior Cup}} {{Infobox rugby league football competition | name = Kent Challenge Cup | logo = | sport = Rugby Union | founded ={{Start date and age|df=y|1890}} | country = England | teams = 21 | champion = Old Elthamians (1st title) | season = 2018–19 | most_champs = Blackheath | count = 16 | website = [http://www.kent-rugby.org/ Kent RFU] }}

The '''Kent Rugby Challenge Cup''' is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the Kent Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1890–91 season, with the inaugural winners being R.N.C., Greenwich. It was discontinued after the 1926–27 season,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jordan|first=J. P.|title=History of Kent Rugby Football|publisher=London: Parnell|year=1949|pages=93–95}}</ref> but reintroduced during the 1969–70 season, the winners in that year were Sidcup.

The cup cost fifty-two guineas (around £50 in 1890–91) and does not become the property of the winners, being a perpetual challenge cup.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 13, 1899|title=Park House Football Club|work=The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News}}</ref>

In 1952, during the period the competition had been discontinued, Kent Rugby Football Union provided the Kent Rugby Challenge Cup to Gravesend Rugby Football Club, for presentation to the winners of the North Kent Seven-a-Side Rugby Tournament, an annual tournament organised and run by the club from 1935 until 1972.

The Kent Rugby Challenge Cup competition, now more generally referred to as the Kent Cup competition, is the most important rugby union cup competition in Kent, ahead of the Kent Shield, Kent Vase, Kent Plate and Kent Salver.

The Kent Cup is currently open to the first teams of club sides based in Kent that play in tier 5 (National League 3 London & SE) and tier 6 (London 1 South) of the English rugby union league system, along with the 2nd teams of local clubs that play in tier 3 (National League 1) and tier 4 (National League 2 South). The format is a knockout cup with a first round, second round, semi-finals and a final, typically to be held at a pre-determined ground at the end of April on the same date and venue as the Shield, Vase, Plate and Salver finals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kent-rugby.org/competitions/club-rugby/kent-cup/|title=Kent Cup (Men)|publisher=Kent RFU|access-date=21 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619050746/http://www.kent-rugby.org/competitions/club-rugby/kent-cup/|archive-date=19 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Teams that are knocked out of the first round join the teams knocked out of the first round of the Kent Shield to compete for the Kent Plate.

==Kent Challenge Cup winners== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;" |- |colspan="5" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"| {| border="0" style="width:100%;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" |- | style="width:20%; border:0;"| | style="border:0;"|'''Kent Challenge Cup Finals''' | style="width:20%; border:0;"| |} |- ! Season ! Winner ! Score ! Runners–up ! Venue |- align=left |1890-91 |R.N.C., Greenwich | |Thanet Wanderers |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1891-92 |Blackheath "A" | |Chatham Garrison |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1892-93 |Queen's | |Sidcup |Charlton |- |1893-94 |Chatham Garrison |8–7 |Queen's |Plumstead |- |1894-95 |Duke of Wellington's Regiment |5–0 |Queen's |Charlton |- |1895-96 |Royal Engineers | |Queen's |Catford |- |1896-97 |Park House | |Royal Engineers |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1897-98 |Park House | |Royal Engineers |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1898-99 |Park House | |Duke of Wellington's Regiment |Berlin Road, Catford |- |1899-1900 |Catford Bridge | |R.N.C., Greenwich |Catford |- |1900-01 |R.N.C., Greenwich | |Catford Bridge |Catford |- |1901-02 |R.N.C., Greenwich | |Royal Engineers |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1902-03 |Catford Bridge |13–0 |Royal Engineers (Chatham) |Catford |- |1903-04 |R.N.C., Greenwich | |Park House |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1904-05 |Catford Bridge | |R.N.C., Greenwich |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1905-06 |R.N.C., Greenwich | |Catford Bridge |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1906-07 |Catford Bridge | |Old Charltonians |Catford |- |1907-08 |R.N.C., Greenwich |18–3 |Old Charltonians |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1908-09 |R.N.C., Greenwich |18–0 |Royal Engineers |- |1909-10 |Catford Bridge |17–8 |Guy's Hospital |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1910-11 |Catford Bridge |5–0 |R.N.C., Greenwich |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1911-12 |Royal Engineers | |Old Charltonians |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1912-13 |Royal Engineers | |Goldsmiths' College |Catford |- |1913-14 |Royal Engineers |8–6 |R.N.C., Greenwich |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1914-18 |(War. No Competition) |- |1919-20 | |- |1920-21 |(Competition unfinished) |- |1921-22 |R.N.C., Greenwich | |Royal Engineers |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1922-23 |Guy's Hospital "A" | |Old Dunstonians |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1923-24 |R.N.C., Greenwich |- |1924-25 | |- |1925-26 |King's Own Royal Regiment (Shorncliffe) |19–17 |Westcombe Park |Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- |1926-27 |Guy's Hospital "A" |- | | |- |1969-70 |Sidcup |- | 1970–71 || Sidcup || |- | 1971–72 || Blackheath || |- | 1972–73 || Sidcup || |- | 1973–74 || Maidstone || |- | 1974–75 || Canterbury || |- | 1975–76 || Sidcup || |- | 1976–77<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.odrfc.co.uk/a/club-history-8031.html|title=Club History|publisher=Old Dunstonian RFC|access-date=22 June 2017 }}</ref> || Blackheath || 10–3 || Old Dunstonian || |- | 1977–78 || Blackheath || |- | 1978–79 || Maidstone || |- | 1979–80 || Blackheath || |- | 1980–81 || Blackheath || |- | 1981–82 || Blackheath || |- | 1982–83 || Blackheath || |- | 1983–84 || Blackheath || |- | 1984–85 || Blackheath || |- | 1985–86 || Blackheath || |- | 1986–87 || Blackheath || |- | 1987–88 || Maidstone || |- | 1988–89 || Askeans || |- | 1989–90<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gravesendrfc.co.uk/news/great-quiz-for-rugby-swats-1141878.html|title=Answers to the Rugby Quiz|publisher=Gravesend RFC|date=10 February 2014 }}</ref> || Gravesend || 12–0 || Park House || |- | 1990–91 || Sidcup || |- | 1991–92 || Old Colfeians || |Westcombe Park |Donald Biggs Drive, Gravesend, DA12 2TL |- | 1992–93 || Westcombe Park || |- | 1993–94 || Old Colfeians || |Charlton Park |Mote Park, Willow Way, Maidstone, ME15 7RN |- | 1994–95 || Westcombe Park || |- | 1995–96 || Blackheath || |- | 1996–97<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sevenoaksrugby.com/history/|title=Recent history|publisher=Sevenoaks Rugby|date=21 June 2017}}</ref> || Sevenoaks || 28–24 || Canterbury || |- | 1997–98 || Westcombe Park || |Old Colfeians |Donald Biggs Drive, Gravesend, DA12 2TL |- | 1998–99 || Westcombe Park || |- | 1999-00<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maidstonerugby.org.uk/history|title=Club History|publisher=Maidstone Rugby|access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref> || Westcombe Park || || Maidstone || |- | 2000–01 || Thanet Wanderers || |- | 2001–02<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/170573.display/|title=Super Combe are Kent champions!|publisher=Bucks Free Press|date=28 March 2002}}</ref> || Westcombe Park || 41–21 || Thanet Wanderers || Rectory Field, Blackheath, London |- | 2002–03 || Blackheath || || Old Colfeians || |- | 2003–04<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/572379.Blackheath_booted_out_of_Kent_semis/|title=Blackheath booted out of Kent semis|work=Croydon Guardian|date=22 February 2005}}</ref> || Westcombe Park || 36–0 || Blackheath || Merton Lane, Canterbury, Kent |- | 2004–05 || Canterbury || || Westcombe Park || |- | 2005–06 || Canterbury || || Blackheath || Knole Paddock, Sevenoaks, Kent<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/sport/city-slickers-make-rugger-histor-a23634/ |title=City slickers make rugger history |publisher=Kent Online|date=12 April 2006}}</ref> |- | 2006–07<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cantrugby.co.uk/rugby/game/307?comp=99&comp_dir=next |title=Kent Cup 2007 Match Report |publisher=Canterbury RFC |date=4 April 2007 |access-date=21 June 2017 |archive-date=1 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101090945/http://www.cantrugby.co.uk/rugby/game/307?comp=99&comp_dir=next |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Canterbury || 41–27 || Blackheath || William Davey Memorial Ground, Maidstone, Kent |- | 2007–08<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/sport/fourth-straight-kent-cup-win-for-a37463/|title=Fourth straight Kent Cup win for Canterbury|publisher=Kent Online |date=28 April 2008}}</ref> || Canterbury || 28–18 || Blackheath || Tomlin Ground, Cranbrook, Kent |- | 2008–09 || Blackheath || || Gravesend || The Jack Williams Memorial Ground, Aylesford, Kent |- | 2009–10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentnews.co.uk/sport/gs-clinch-kent-cup-and-lordswood-win-vase-1-1062053|title=Gs clinch Kent Cup and Lordswood win Vase|publisher=Kent News|date=27 April 2010}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> || Gravesend || 24–23 || Old Elthamians || Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, London |- | 2010–11<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentlive.news/tjs-pay-penalty-double-dream-fades/story-11982474-detail/story.html|title=TJs pay the penalty as double dream fades|publisher=Kent Online|date=6 May 2011}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> || Gravesend || 34–32 || Tonbridge Juddians || Merton Lane, Canterbury, Kent<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sittl.photoshelter.com/gallery/2011-05-01-Cup-Tonbridge-Juddians-v-Gravesend/G0000RmvjFv53gFA/C0000.tKUf8W1ceQ/|title=Tonbridge Juddians v Gravesend|publisher=Sports Images|date=1 May 2011}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> |- | 2011–12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/canterbury-add-kent-cup-to-natio-a64871/|title=Canterbury add Kent Cup to National League 3 London & South East success with win over Westcombe Park|publisher=Kent Online|date=30 April 2012 }}</ref> || Canterbury || 22–14 || Westcombe Park || Priestfields, Rochester, Kent |- | 2012–13<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/oldelthamians/teams/13217/match-centre/0-1677639|title=Blackheath 43 Old Elthamians 25|publisher=Old Elthamians RFC (Pitchero)|date=28 April 2013 }}</ref> || Blackheath II || 43–25 || Old Elthamians || Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent |- | 2013–14<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gravesendrfc.co.uk/teams/100531/match-centre/0-2377104|title=Gravesend triumph in Kent Cup final|publisher=Gravesend RFC (Pitchero)|date=27 April 2014 }}</ref> || Gravesend || 27–24 || Blackheath II || Footscray Road, New Eltham, London |- | 2014–15<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentlive.news/tonbridge-juddians-beat-old-ethalmians-kent-cup/story-26400145-detail/story.html|title=Tonbridge Juddians beat Old Ethalmians to the Kent Cup|publisher=Kent Live|date=28 April 2015}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> || Tonbridge Juddians || 34–17 || Old Elthamians II || Tomlin Ground, Cranbrook, Kent |- | 2015–16<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westcombeparkrugby.co.uk/teams/20223/match-centre/0-3296261|title=Combe triumph in Kent Cup Final clash with 'Club'|publisher=Westcombe Park RFC|date=1 May 2016 }}</ref> || Westcombe Park || 16–12 || Blackheath II || The Jack Williams Memorial Ground, Aylesford, Kent |- | 2016–17<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeslocalnews.co.uk/local-news/rugby-tonbridge-juddians-cruise-past-sidcup-to-win-double/|title=Rugby: Tonbridge Juddians cruise past Sidcup to win double|publisher=Times of Tunbridge Wells|date=3 May 2017 }}</ref> || Tonbridge Juddians || 62–3 || Sidcup || Merton Lane, Canterbury, Kent |- | 2017–18<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/oldelthamians/teams/13256/match-centre/0-4003950|title=Cup woe as Extras fall at the final hurdle|publisher=Old Elthamians RFC (Pitchero)|date=29 April 2018 }}</ref> || Sidcup || 33–27 || Old Elthamians II ||Footscray Road, New Eltham, London |- | 2018–19 ||Old Elthamians |55-29 |Sidcup |60a Broad Walk, Kidbrooke, London, SE3 8NB |- |2019-20 |(Competition unfinished) | | | |- |2020-21 | | | | |- |}

==Number of wins== *Blackheath (16){{#tag:ref|Blackheath's Kent Cup victories include wins by both the 1st and 2nd teams.|group=a}} *R.N.C., Greenwich (9) *Westcombe Park (8) *Canterbury (6) *Catford Bridge (6) *Sidcup (6) *Gravesend (4) *Royal Engineers (4) *Maidstone (3) *Park House (3) *Askeans (2) *Guy's Hospital "A" (2) *Old Colfeians (2) *Tonbridge Juddians (2) *Chatham Garrison (1) *Duke of Wellington's Regiment (1) *King's Own Regiment (1) *Old Elthamians (1) *Queen's (1) *Sevenoaks (1) *Thanet Wanderers (1)

==Notes== {{Reflist|group=a}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.kent-rugby.org/ Kent RFU]

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1970 Category:1970 establishments in England Category:Rugby union cup competitions in England Category:Rugby union in Kent