Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Counting his blessings
NEW CANTERBURY SIGNING ALFIE A KENT HERO AT TWICKENHAM
It has already proven to be a fruitful summer for Alfie Orris.
The winger, who has joined Canterbury from Medway for next season, played a key part in Kent’s historic 39-37 weekend rugby County Championship triumph over Lancashire at Twickenham.
They were last champions in 1927.
“It feels like a dream, really,” said Orris. “It has not sunk in. “We’re just over the moon. It’s pretty amazing. It’s been 96 years since they won it. “County rugby is always difficult. We don’t get many training sessions, but there were some good rugby players and also good lads in the squad. “The fact we managed to win it all makes it 10 times better.” Canterbury were well represented in the Bill Beaumont Division 1 Final. Club skipper Jamie Stephens captained the side while his club team-mates Tom Williams, Harvey Furneaux and Dave Irvine joined him in the starting line-up. Danny Herriott and Lewis Hollidge joined the action as replacements and the number of Canterbury players selected for Kent’s successful campaign was the highest of any club in the county.
Orris scored Kent’s first try as they won in nail-biting fashion Lancashire missing a last-gasp conversion to tie the score. On the experience of running out at the home of English rugby in front of their travelling support, he said: “I thought I was going to be quite nervous, I feel like I’m a bit of a nervy player, anyway.
“But it was more a case of enjoying the moment. Once you sprinted out, you got that feeling in your heart. But once the action started, it was ‘Game on’ and we had a job to do.” The experience of playing for his county this summer has helped him get used to doing battle alongside some of his new team-mates after he completed his move to the city club from Medway, who suffered Regional 1 South East relegation in 2022/23.
There, he will once again work with Canterbury’s director of rugby Taff Gwilliam - who had been Medway’s long-serving head coach before his departure earlier this year. Gwilliam also is director of rugby of the Kent County representative teams.
“Taff has been my coach for the last six or seven years,” said Orris, who will be 25 in July. “He has always been good to me. “He got me trials at county under-18s and under-20s, and that helped me get picked for London & the South-east under-20s. He’s a good coach. “With Medway not doing well this year and getting relegated, and with Canterbury having been after me for a few years, it felt like the right time for the move.
“Obviously, it’s sad to be leaving because Medway is the only club I’ve ever played for. “But it’s time to see what Canterbury brings.
“It will be a little bit more travelling with Canterbury. That’s just part of it, isn’t it?
“If you want to play higher, you need to travel a little bit further.”
It easily could have turned out differently, though, with Orris still recovering from injury when Kent edged a thrilling contest against Hampshire 4443 at Havant RFC in their opening County Championship clash.
Orris, who began playing rugby union aged 15 after a spell in rugby league, said: “I was a
little bit disappointed to miss the first game. I was still recovering from a broken jaw. “I watched the game against Hampshire and spoke to Taff, and the timings worked out well.
“Then, he had me in for the Somerset game (which they won 43-7 at Medway). Getting a
try and being man-of-the-match made me feel more settled. “If I had gone to Canterbury before playing for Kent, I probably wouldn’t have known anyone.
“But because there were quite a few Canterbury players in the team, they seemed pretty happy with my performances.
“Some of the lads said they are looking forward to having me playing with them, which is nice.
“As a winger, you need good players inside you. So that (playing with better players) is going to be ideal for me. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”