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	11	11	0	0	505	162	+343	10	0	54	Play-off semi-finals
2	Bedford Blues	11	8	1	2	357	275	+82	10	1	45
3	Worcester Warriors	11	8	0	3	385	257	+128	9	2	43	Play-off quarter-finals
4	Hartpury	11	7	1	3	307	278	+29	5	1	36
5	Chinnor	11	7	0	4	292	239	+53	4	3	35
6	Coventry	11	6	0	5	423	340	+83	9	2	35
7	Nottingham	11	5	1	5	280	257	+23	8	4	34
8	Cornish Pirates	11	5	1	5	305	261	+44	7	3	32
9	Ampthill	11	5	0	6	269	436	−167	6	1	27
10	Doncaster Knights	11	4	2	5	291	280	+11	5	2	27
11	Caldy	11	4	0	7	247	295	−48	6	2	24
12	Richmond	11	3	0	8	231	296	−65	1	3	16	Relegation play-off
13	London Scottish	11	1	0	10	191	375	−184	3	2	9
14	Cambridge	11	0	0	11	189	521	−332	4	2	6	Relegated

Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 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 2025–26 Champ Rugby transfers § Ampthill.

The Ampthill squad for the 2025–26 season is: ^{[9] [a]}

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

Player Position Union Harrison Dakin Hooker England James Isaacs [a] Hooker England Seb Smith Hooker England Richard Barrington Prop England Harrison Courtney Prop New Zealand Dom Hardman Prop England James Johnston Prop Samoa Callum Norrie Prop Scotland Jevaughn Warren Prop England Totoa Auva'a [a] Prop Samoa Aaron Gear Lock England Aidan King Lock Australia Justin Mataele Lock Tonga Jake Parkinson Lock England Valentino Mapapalangi Back row Tonga Barney Merritt [a] Back row England Olly Mullarkey Back row England Matthew Parry Back row England Lekima Ravuvu Back row Fiji Charles Rylands Back row England

Player Position Union Alex Davies Scrum-half England Efan Jones Scrum-half Wales Rory Morgan Scrum-half Ireland Josh Barton Fly-half England Louis Grimoldby Fly-half England Louie Johnson [a] Fly-half England Olly Hartley [a] Centre England Matt Salisbury Centre England Fraser Stratchan Centre Scotland Sione Vaenuku Centre Tonga Oscar Wilson [a] Centre England Mason Cullen Wing Scotland Seva Kava Wing Fiji Sam Kildunne Wing England Rhys Thomas Wing Wales Joe Heslop Fullback England Albie Matthews Fullback England

1. Saracens players are dual-registered for the 2025-26 season. ^{[10] [11]}

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. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
10. "Ampthill & Saracens Partnership". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
11. "1st XV Squad - Ampthill Rugby". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC . Retrieved 26 September 2025.

External links

• Official website