Aylesford Bulls up for Twickenham trip

Aylesford celebrate reaching the final by beating Berry Hill

Aylesford Rugby Club are preparing for the biggest day in their history on Saturday when they play at Twickenham in the Intermediate Cup final.

Aylesford, whose name has only been on the rugby map since the renaming of Linton Rugby Club in 1994, face Stoke.

Captain Sam Carroll told BBC Radio Kent it was a dream for the club to play at the home of rugby.

He said: "I'll be very proud. The group of players we have, it's a big occasion for us. We're looking to enjoy it."

Carroll added: "A few of them watched Crusaders v Sharks about two months ago and at the back of their minds they thought maybe we'll be back there.

"Now we're at the final we are there to win it. We've got to Twickenham, which is fantastic. Big occasions like this, it's exactly where we want to be."

Aylesford have played five games in the competition so far and only won their semi-final against Berry Hill two weeks ago.

Paul Carroll, from the playing committee, said the day would be a special one not just for the players, but the club itself.

"It is a bit of a shock, but we're delighted," he said. "It's an occasion we are going to savour.

"In the first round you believe it's just a game. Thereafter, as rounds go by, once we got to the regional semi-final we were thinking perhaps we could [get to Twickenham].

"The plans for the players are to be as normal as possible. We leave Aylesford on a coach, have the same routines that have been successful for us, and on the day, hopefully, they will not be overawed by the occasion and have a successful afternoon.

"The England dressing room is off-limits. We are in the away dressing room, but that is not a problem because we are not at our own club. It's still about as big as our clubhouse bar though."

The club are hoping for a double celebration as seven days after the Twickenham final they face Trojans in a play-off for promotion to London League One, and skipper Sam Carroll is split as to which game is the more important.

"The question's been asked a lot. But Twickenham is the next game, so at the moment that is the most important. After that, the other one becomes the most important game," he added.