Ampthill RUFC

Ampthill

Full name	Ampthill RUFC
Union	East Midlands RFU
Founded	1881;144 years ago (1881) [1]
Ground	Dillingham Park (Capacity: 3,000)
Director of Rugby	Mark Lavery
Coach	Paul Turner
Captain	Josh Barton
League	Champ Rugby
2024–25	8th
Team kit
Official website
www.ampthillrufc.com

Ampthill RUFC is an English rugby union club based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. The club runs six senior teams and a full range of junior sides. ^[2] The first XV play in Champ Rugby, the second tier of the English rugby union system. Ampthill women's team, the Lionesses, currently compete in the NC3 competition.

History

In 2013–14, the team finished second but lost the promotion play-off to Darlington Mowden Park of the National League 2 North. ^[3] In 2014–15, they again finished second having been transferred to National League 2 North. They beat Bishop's Stortford, the National League 2 South runner-up in the promotion play-off at Dillingham Park, 19–10. ^[4]

For the 2015–16 season Ampthill have agreed a player development programme with Saracens, allowing young players contracted to Saracens to play for Ampthill. ^[5]

Honours

• East Midlands 1 champions: 1989–90
• Midlands 3 East (South) champions: 2006–07
• Midlands Division 2 East champions: 2008–09
• National League 3 Midlands champions: 2012–13 ^[6]
• East Midlands Wells Bombardier Cup winners (6): 1996, 1997, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2013 ^[7]
• National League 2 (north v south) promotion play-off winners: 2014–15
• National League 1 champions: 2018–19

Ampthill were initially National League 3 Midlands champions in 2009–10 but were stripped of the title due to breaches of league rules. ^[8]

Current standings

2025–26 Champ Rugby table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Ealing Trailfinders	3	3	0	0	148	41	+107	3	0	15	Play-off semi-finals
2	Caldy	3	3	0	0	84	55	+29	3	0	15
3	Worcester Warriors	3	2	0	1	110	75	+35	3	1	12	Play-off quarter-finals
4	Nottingham	3	2	0	1	76	46	+30	3	1	12
5	Ampthill	3	2	0	1	99	101	−2	3	0	11
6	Hartpury	3	2	0	1	80	84	−4	0	0	8
7	Bedford Blues	3	1	0	2	90	115	−25	3	1	8
8	Doncaster Knights	3	1	1	1	65	56	+9	1	0	7
9	Coventry	3	1	0	2	80	106	−26	2	0	6
10	Chinnor	3	1	0	2	67	99	−32	1	1	6
11	London Scottish	3	1	0	2	55	67	−12	1	0	5
12	Richmond	3	1	0	2	51	83	−32	0	1	5	Relegation play-off
13	Cornish Pirates	3	0	1	2	57	63	−6	0	2	4
14	Cambridge	3	0	0	3	54	125	−71	1	0	1	Relegated

Updated to match(es) played on 18 October 2025. Source: England Rugby
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. Number of matches won
2. Number of matches drawn
3. Difference between points for and against
4. Total number of points for
5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

Current squad

For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2024–25 RFU Championship transfers § Ampthill.

The Ampthill squad for the 2024–25 season is: ^[9]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Syd Blackmore Hooker Wales Jordon Liney Hooker Wales Rhys Marshall Hooker New Zealand Richard Barrington Prop England Harrison Courtney Prop New Zealand James Flynn Prop England Dom Hardman Prop England James Johnston Prop Samoa Oskar Hicks Lock Australia Aidan King Lock Australia Jake Parkinson Lock Scotland Arthur Thomas Lock Wales Max Clementson Back row England Karl Main Back row Scotland Valentino Mapapalangi Back row Tonga Cameron Rafferty Back row England Lekima Ravuvu Back row England Charles Rylands Back row England

Player Position Union Roan Frostwick Scrum-half Scotland Rory Morgan Scrum-half Ireland Gavin Williams Scrum-half Wales Joe Adams Fly-half England Joe Barton Fly-half England Evan Mitchell Fly-half England Tom Barton Centre England Byron Sharwood Centre South Africa Fraser Stratchan Centre Scotland Sione Va'enuku Centre Tonga Mason Cullen Wing Scotland Wilson Ijeh Wing England Finl Parker Wing England Vereimi Qorowale Wing Fiji Archie English Fullback England Benjy Joseland Fullback England Oran McNulty Fullback Ireland

References

1. "...reformed after WWII in 1950 the current club..." "A brief History of Ampthill & District Community RUFC". Ampthill & District RUFC. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
2. Club website home page - headlines section Archived 11 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine
3. "National League 2 South". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
4. "National 2 Promotion Playoff". Archived from the original on 29 April 2015.
5. "Ampthill & Saracens Player Development Programme". Ampthill RUFC. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015.
6. "RFU".
7. http://www.emru.co.uk/clubimages/10/documents/Previous%20winners%20of%20the%20WB%20EM%20Snr%20Cup.doc ^{[ permanent dead link ]}
8. "National League Rugby Discussion Forum".
9. "1st XV Squad". Ampthill RUFC. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.

External links

• Official website