| Full name | King's College School Old Boys Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Surrey RFU |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Location | Motspur Park, Kingston, London, England |
| Ground(s) | Dornan Fields, Motspur Park |
| League(s) | Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex |
| Official website | |
| www | |
King's College School Old Boys RFC is a rugby union club founded in 1907 for the alumni of King's College School, Wimbledon. [1] In recent years the club has used the name King's Rugby which reflects the open nature of the club. The 1XV currently compete in Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex at level 7 of the RFU pyramid whilst the 2XV, U22s and veterans play in the Surrey Rugby reserve leagues.
The club's constituent bodies are L&SE RFU and Surrey RFU [2] to which the club has provided numerous administrators including two Presidents - John Hamilton (1999–2001) and Darryl Druckman (2018–19).
For a long time the club operated out of a modest wooden clubhouse situated close to Robin Hood Way on the A3, but that burnt down in the late 1980s and after a brief homeless period King's arrived at their current location in Motspur Park, the new clubhouse opening on 11 September 1993. [3] The building was unusual in that it was constructed in such a way that two identical halves were built - King's occupying one and Old Blues RFC (Christ's Hospital old boys) the other. [4] That arrangement remains to this day.
In 2020 efforts began to raise the means to add a balcony to the clubhouse [5] the fundraising for which was a great success with the club going on to win the Canterbury Club of the Month for June 2021 [6] in recognition of the achievement and profiling the club and its history more generally. The building work was substantially completed in 2021 and the balcony officially opened by club president Tony Allen on 16 February 2022.
Until the advent of the RFU league system the club's fixture calendar was made up of a series of friendly games against other local old boys' sides including Old Paulines, Old Cranleighan, Old Whitgiftian and many others. When the leagues started in the 1990s King's were placed in Surrey 1 where they remained until 2003 when the 1XV were promoted to London 4 South West and three seasons later promoted again to London 3 South West. In the years that followed he club remained predominantly in that league (which from 2009 to 2022 was known as London 2 South West).
Finally, in 2018-19 King's won London 2SW in a record breaking season which saw the 1XV record an unprecedented 22 wins from 22 games with 22 try bonus points and achieve a maximum tally of 110 points - a first for London 2SW (previously London Cornish had gone undefeated in 2016-17 but drew two games including one versus King's). [7] The achievement earned the club recognition in the national rugby press with coverage in Rugby World Magazine, Rugby Club Magazine, [8] The Rugby Paper and on the 5 live Sport Rugby Union Weekly podcast. King's 1XV were the first team in the country to be promoted in 2018–19 as confirmed league winners, doing so in mid-February. [9]
The club's player base was originally drawn predominantly from alumni of KCS but with the passing of the years has become increasingly diverse with representation from throughout the UK and a notable contingent from South Africa and Zimbabwe in the 1990s and 2000s. The club has seen a number of players achieve international honours for minor rugby nations including Zimbabwe, Hungary, Slovenia, Gibraltar and Jamaica 7s. [10]
The club regularly competes in the Surrey Cup - and were winners in 1983 beating Guildford & Godalming then runners-up in 1984 to Sutton & Epsom RFC. Indeed, the late 1970s and early 1980s was a stellar period for the club and even saw them compete in the national RFU Knockout Cup.
More recently, in 2015, the 1XV finished finished runner-up in the Surrey Cup narrowly defeated by Guildford (the successor club to Guildford & Godalming) in the first Surrey Cup final to be settled by a 'golden score' in extra-time. [11]
In 2023-24 King's won the L&SE RFU section of the RFU Papa John's Community Counties 1 Championship Cup defeating Dartfordians, Old Tiffinians and Teddington to progress to a national semi-final away against Longlevens, winners of the RFU SW Division section. In a high-scoring match the home side won 56-40 [12] to progress to a final at Twickenham stadium against Widnes who were also defeated as the Gloucestershire club were crowned champions. [13]
The club has had periodic success in 7s competitions over the years including a 1963 appearance at Twickenham when the club reached the finals of the Middlesex Sevens. More recently in 2017 a club side, the 'King Prawns', won the 2017 Surrey Sevens.
Since 1993 King's has also been home to thriving Mini and Junior sections comprising children of all ages who train each Sunday and play in festivals all over SE England and beyond. [14] Amongst the thousands of boys and girls to have passed through the section many have gone on to gain higher honours including from the Juniors, former and current professionals Mark Tampin and Hayden Hyde; and, most famously, from the Minis, Alex Corbisiero [15] the prop forward who won 31 caps for England and 2 for the British & Irish Lions [16] on the victorious 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia which the Lions won 2–1 with Corbisiero scoring a try in the third Test. [17]
The Old Alleynian Football Club is an open rugby union club founded as a team for the old boys of Dulwich College, themselves known as Old Alleynians. Founded in 1898, it is one of the oldest clubs in London and was the last of London's old boys clubs to become a fully open club. It is notable not only for its longevity, but also for the prominence it once attained on the club circuit and for the number of eminent players that have been members of the club, some of whom gained their international caps whilst at the club.
Darlington Mowden Park is a professional rugby union club, based in Darlington, County Durham, England. They currently compete in National League 1, the third division of the Rugby Football Union domestic league competition pyramid, having achieved promotion on 3 May 2014, after defeating Ampthill in the 2013–14 play-off. The club's former name, Darlington Grammar School Old Boys, was changed when they moved to Yiewsley Drive, which was located in Mowden. They relocated to The Darlington Arena, a 25,000 all-seater stadium in Darlington, purchasing the previously-vacated ground for £2 million; Yiewsley Drive had previously been sold to a housing estate company, and the Arena was previously owned by Darlington Football Club. They played their first game at the arena on 2 February 2013, in front of a crowd of over 1,000, comprehensively defeating Bromsgrove 62–7 in a National League 2 North league game.
Guildford Rugby Club is a rugby union team that was formed in 2003 following the merger of the adult sections of Old Guildfordians RFC and Guildford & Godalming RFC. The club is based at Broadwater, which is in Farncombe, Surrey. They are currently competing in Regional 2 South East – the sixth tier of the English rugby union system.
The Surrey Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organized by the Surrey Rugby Football Union. The original cup competition was first played for back in 1890, the inaugural winners being Lennox, but was discontinued in 1909, having been held intermittently over 20 seasons, due to cup competitions being considerable 'undesirable'. The cup was reintroduced around 50 years later for the 1970–71 season, with the first winners of the modern competition being Guildford & Godalming. It is the most important rugby union cup competition in Surrey, ahead of the Surrey Trophy, Surrey Shield and Surrey Bowl.
Cobham Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club, located in the village of Cobham, Surrey, who play in the London Division of the RFU. Cobham RFC is based at the Old Surbitonians Memorial Ground in Cobham and is affiliated to the English RFU via the Surrey RFU. The club was founded in 1930 by the first leavers of the Surbiton County Grammar. They currently play at level 7 in Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex.
Alexander R. Corbisiero is an English retired rugby union player who played as a loosehead prop.
Tunbridge Wells RFC is an English Rugby union club that plays in Regional 1 South Central from Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
London 2 South West is an English level 7 Rugby Union League. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 South West, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season. The division is made up of teams predominantly from south-west London, Surrey, and Hampshire. The 12 teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Each year all clubs in the division are also invited to take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup - a level 7 national competition.
Regional 2 South East, previously known as London 1 South, is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from East Sussex, south Essex, south Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 2 South, changing to London 1 South ahead of the 2009–10 season. It used to be the feeder league for London & South East Premier into which the champion team each season was promoted whilst the second-placed team entered a play-off against the runner-up of London 1 North. Three teams were relegated into either London 2 South East and London 2 South West depending on their location. The league was renamed as Regional 2 South East for the 2022-23 season and moved from a 14 team, to a 12 team competition. The champion would be promoted to either Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East depending on geographical location, whilst relegated sides would go to either Counties 1 Kent or Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex.
The Surrey County Rugby Football Union is the union responsible for rugby union in the county of Surrey, England, and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1879.
The Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union is the union responsible for rugby union in the county of Gloucestershire, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union. Formed in 1878, it has won the county championship on numerous occasions.
Middlesex Rugby is the governing body for rugby union in Middlesex, England; Middlesex is a historic county of England that covers areas in the ceremonial counties of Greater London, Surrey and Hertfordshire. The historic county is still in use when referring to sport, and some businesses in the area. Middlesex RFU was originally created as the Middlesex County Rugby Club but within six years was being referred to as the Middlesex County Rugby Football Union and is now known simply as Middlesex Rugby.
London 3 South West is an English rugby union league at the eighth level of club rugby union in England involving sides based in Hampshire, Surrey and south-west London. Promoted clubs move into London 2 South West. Relegated clubs move into either Surrey 1 or Hampshire Premier depending on their location, with sides coming up from these divisions, although only 1st XV clubs are allowed in London 3 South West. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.
Surrey 1 is a level 9 English Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams predominantly from Surrey and south-west London. Teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to London 3 South West with the league winners going straight up and the runners up playing against the runners up from Hampshire Premier. Relegated teams drop to Surrey 2.
Gloucester Premier is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of Gloucestershire and Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.
The Surrey Shield is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the Surrey Rugby Football Union. It was introduced in 1998 and the inaugural winners were Cobham. It is the third most important rugby union cup competition in Surrey, behind the Surrey Cup and Surrey Trophy but ahead of the Surrey Bowl.
The Surrey Trophy is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organized by the Surrey Rugby Football Union. It was introduced in 2009 and the inaugural winners were London Irish Wild Geese. It is the second most important rugby union cup competition in Surrey, behind the Surrey Cup but ahead of the Surrey Shield and Surrey Bowl.
Leanne Nicole Infante is an English former rugby union player. She made her debut for England in 2013 and was a finalist in the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. At club level, she ended her career playing for Saracens.
The RFU Intermediate Cup is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union. It is contested by teams at level 7 of the English rugby union system. While the competition is a national one, it is however split into regions until the semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London. It was first contested in 1997. Presently, the RFU Intermediate Cup is the third most important club cup competition in England, behind the Premiership Rugby Cup and RFU Championship Cup.
The RFU Junior Vase is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union, which has been competed for since 1990. It is mostly contested by 1st XV teams at level 9 of the English rugby union system, although sides as low as level 12 or even outside the league system can sometimes enter. The competition is a national one, but split into regions until the national semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London. Presently, the RFU Junior Vase is the fifth most important club cup competition in England, behind the Premiership Rugby Cup, RFU Championship Cup, RFU Intermediate Cup and RFU Senior Vase.
