The first-ever Rugby Kitchen of the Year not only captured the imagination of clubs across the UK, but it ended up appearing on BBC television and radio and being put forward as an Early Day Motion for UK Parliament.
Rugby Kitchen of the Year was born of a passion for mini rugby, a celebration of why rugby is about more than just the game, and why what happens when the match is over is as important as the rugby itself.
Unique to most campaigns it started with a poem, turned into a video by the Sporting Eric team that captured the spirit of grassroots rugby.
Michelin-starred power
Two perfectly matched brands came aboard in Rhino – rugby equipment specialists – and Koffmann’s – best chips in town – and offering prizes of £1,500 of rugby kit and a year’s supply of chips, the search was on for the first-ever Rugby Kitchen of the Year.
Legendary chef Pierre Koffmann – the name behind the chips – starred in Sporting Eric’s launch video, teasing his return to the kitchen, engaging the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White, Jason Atherton, Tom Kitchin, and a plethora of famous names.
Other chefs also rallied rugby clubs across the country to get involved including England Rugby head chef Tom Kirby and rugby-loving, Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw, while both England Rugby and Welsh Rugby Union promoted the competition via their channels.
Winner gains national attention
Hundreds of rugby clubs across the UK competed, and from a shortlist of 20, Caernarfon Rugby Football Club – run by 84-year-old Keith Parry – was chosen as the winner. On the day of the announcement, Keith appeared on BBC radio talking about his win, followed by a special three-minute segment on BBC television – both English and Welsh language versions – the next evening.
Such was the response to the competition’s winner, the local MP even put forward an Early Day Motion for Keith’s achievement to be mentioned in the Houses of Parliament. It currently has the backing of five MPs
Sporting Eric is now organising the next edition of Rugby Kitchen of the Year, if you’d like to get involved, email jane@sportingeric.com