Smash Padel has continued its strong association with rugby union in opening its fourth UK venue in Cuckfield in West Sussex.
The new site, which features three premium canopy-covered courts, is in collaboration with Haywards Heath Rugby Club. It’s the company’s second partnership with a rugby club following the opening of Smash Whitstable earlier this year with Whitstable RFC.
Smash Padel CCO Carson Russell, himself a former high-level rugby coach and CEO at London Scottish, explained why rugby clubs are such a strong fit with padel.
He said: “When a rugby club has a clear five-to-10-year vision, many of their goals align with ours: inclusivity, coaching excellence, continued professional development, holistic youth programmes, and a strong sense of belonging and community.
“These are the qualities that make a great rugby club, and also what make them ideal partners for Smash. Much like schools with aligned values, they create the right environment for long-term collaboration.”
Smash Padel has also attracted notable support from the rugby world, with investment from eight Scottish players including Adam Hastings (pictured below), as well as British & Irish Lions stars Hugh Jones and Blair Kinghorn.
Hastings shared why the sport resonates with players: “As rugby players the game of padel makes sense to us. Rugby gets a little trickier as you progress but it is easy to pick up and it doesn’t take much to get you hooked. So we can see parallels with padel and we identify with any social game that has its foundation in friendships for life.”
With further partnerships currently in discussion, Smash is actively expanding its footprint through collaborations with like-minded rugby clubs and schools across the UK, as well as individual sites. New locations are set to be announced soon.
