History is thought to have been made when a walking rugby side from Kent became one of, if not the, first to play an international fixture.

The Whitstable Red Shanks travelled to the Czech Republic and Ricany, a town twinned with Whitstable, with the trip arranged with support from the Whitstable Twinning Association and the Ricany Twinning Association.

They faced a Ricany RFC team - the Czech Republic champions and an outfit which even included an Olympic wrestler - during a five-day tour last month, Whitstable winning eight tries to six.

It’s thought the game was one of the first international encounters, albeit England did play Scotland in Kendal, Cumbria, in 2020.

Simon Haseltine, who played in the match and scored two tries, said: “We started off as an Age UK walking rugby team and have trained at Whitstable Rugby Club.

“So we are affiliated to them but we are called Whitstable Red Shanks because we play in red.

“We started about 12 months ago. If you’re thinking about getting back into sport, it’s just awesome.

“It’s not just for over-60s and over-50s, it’s for all ages and all genders. We went to the Czech Republic on tour and played some walking rugby there and we are going to Spain next year.

“As far as we know, the match we played in the Czech Republic is the first international match [outside of British soil].”

Whitstable’s squad includes men and women aged between 50 to around 70, although only the team’s male players were able to get to the Czech Republic.

Haseltine said: “I think we have four women in our squad of about 15 players. But one was injured and one had children starting school, and the other two had job commitments.

"But there was a good age range.”

In similar style to tag rugby played at schools, there are no conversions or drop goals in walking rugby so games are determined simply by tries scored.

The game is split into four five-minute quarters and against Ricany, Peter Moore (2), John Woods (2), Phil Jones and Glen London also scored tries. Up to seven players are allowed per side, with rolling substitutions.

“It’s actually a fast game,” said Haseltine, who says the team train on Thursdays and Sundays. “It’s faster than normal rugby.”

In a bid to help further raise the profile of the game, with the side presently only able to play in tournaments in the South East with no leagues set up locally, Red Shanks are planning to head to Dover and Ashford while a tour to Spain in November 2023 has been organised.

Red Shanks will play at half-time during a London Irish fixture at some stage, too.

“Our coach, Roger Dengate, has been instrumental in leading us,” said Haseltine, with Tracy Whale their assistant coach.

“He is definitely the driving force.”

As well as picking up walking rugby, Haseltine also plays walking football for Whitstable Town FC.

The 63-year-old said: “I sat watching Whitstable when I was 10 but I never, ever dreamt that I would be wearing their kit!”

After the rugby match in Ricany, the home team hosted a barbeque while they visited the local Kozel Brewery too.