Weston-super-Mare Rugby Club’s preparations for their return to Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West rugby for the 2026/27 season are continuing apace, with the league programme starting on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Tom Sugg, who can play across the back five of the scrum, has been appointed Club Captain, taking over from prop Charlie Braham, who will continue playing while working alongside Darren Crompton, who will coach the forwards.
This will be the second spell as Club Captain for 28-year-old Sugg, having previously held the reins for five seasons from 2019. He has made 145 appearances for the Weston 1stXV, scoring 28 tries.
Weston-super-Mare’s director of rugby, Mark Matthews, said, “Tom has a wealth of experience to bring to the role, and it is worth remembering he has already led the club for five consecutive seasons from a very young age.
“Tom, who has spent a year working overseas before returning to the club last season, quickly fitted back into the squad and became a huge part in the success enjoyed by the club.
“Tom comes from a rugby and scouting background, is an engineer professionally, and all of this combines in a natural leader, problem solver, motivator and someone who is in tune with the team and what needs to be said and done.
“I also offer my thanks and congratulations to last season’s captain, Charlie Brabham, who led the club to a historic unbeaten season in what was the club’s 150th anniversary season. He will continue to play a big part at the club.”
Sugg progressed through Weston's Minis and Juniors section and made his debut, aged 17, off the bench, scoring a try in the 60-36 Somerset Cup quarter-final victory against the University of Bath in October 2015.
Weston’s return to the Regional 1 South West league will see them face Sidmouth and Topsham for the first time. Trowbridge have been promoted as Regional 2 Severn champions, while Newent have been transferred from Regional 1 Midlands.
“It’s a massive honour to be asked to be club captain again after what was a fantastic season, not just for the first team, but also for the whole club in what was our 150th anniversary season,” said Sugg.
“We know that there will be some big challenges ahead of us returning to the Regional 1 South West, and it is not something that we are taking lightly. There will be some new teams for us to face, but one that we are looking forward to.”
Sugg says that the players, although last season’s unbeaten champions, cannot afford to rest on their laurels, so there will be some voluntary training sessions this month to dust off any cobwebs before full training starts at the beginning of July.
He added: “It is important that we have a strong squad of senior players at the club, so that we can hit the ground running when the season gets underway in September.
“It is essential that we have players pushing for places in the starting line-up every week. Some new faces will be joining the club because they want to be part of a great environment with some excellent experienced coaches.”
