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| Full name | Oxford Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Oxfordshire RFU | |
| Founded | 1909 | |
| Location | Oxford, Oxfordshire, England | |
| Ground(s) | North Hinksey Park, North Hinksey Village | |
| Chairman | John Brodley | |
| President | Martin Walsh | |
| Coach(es) | Dominic Matthews and Tom Wells | |
| Captain(s) | Ben Reed 1st XV | |
| League(s) | Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North | |
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| Official website | ||
| oxfordrfc | ||
Oxford Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Oxford. The club was founded in 1909 as "Oxfordshire Nomads RUFC". [1]
The club was established in 1909 as "Oxfordshire Nomads RUFC". [1] The club wound up in 1919 after 18 members were killed in the World War I, but Oxfordshire recovered and were back to field two years later. [2] The club changed to "Oxford RFC" after a merger in 1948, [2] and moved to Southern Bypass, in 1951. [3]
During the seventies the club were known as Oxford City RFC and competed in the 1971–72 John Player Cup which today is known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup. [4] Their most famous player was arguably Michael James Parsons known as Jim Parsons who was capped by England four times in the 1968 Five Nations Championship, after joining Northampton Saints. [5] In the 1988–89 Pilkington Cup they did well to progress to the third round but were then drawn away to four time winners and England's leading club at the time Bath, which resulted in an 82-9 hammering.[ citation needed ]
The club runs 2 Senior teams, and a Colts. The 1st XV currently play in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon 2 North which is towards the bottom (level 8 out of a possible 11) of the RFU League Pyramid. This is following demotion from BBO Premiership in the 2019/2020 season, and then unfortunately losing out on promotion to Oxford Quins 2nd XV in the 22/23 Season, and High Wycombe in the 23/24 Season.
Oxford RFC 1st XV regularly play against many other local 2nd and 3rd XV's as part of their league season (23/24 Season including: Banbury RFC 2nd XV, Tring RFC 2nd XV, Oxford Quins 3rd XV, Witney 2nd XV). Despite this, and rightfully so, Oxford RFC still approach each week with great enthusiasm and a positive rugby ethos. They play their home games at North Hinksey Park in North Hinksey Village. The club colours are Green, Black & Silver Hoops. [6]
Reading R.F.C. is an English rugby union club, which runs a total of 21 sides across men's, women's, girls' and junior rugby and is based in the village of Sonning, on the outskirts of Reading. The 1st XV play in Regional 2 South Central. They additionally play Walking Rugby which is a more accessible version of the game
Rams Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based near the village of Sonning on the outskirts of Reading in the county of Berkshire. The first XV play in the third-level league of the English rugby union system, National League 1, following their promotion from National League 2 South as champions at the end of the 2018–19 season. Until 2018, the club had been known as Redingensians and then Redingensians Rams before being renamed simply as Rams for the 2018–19 season onwards.
Reading Abbey R.F.C is an English rugby union club. Although the club is named after, and historically connected with, the Berkshire town of Reading, it is now located between Reading and Peppard and just over the boundary into the county of Oxfordshire.
Henley Hawks is a rugby union club based in Henley-on-Thames and is one of the leading rugby clubs in the Thames Valley. The first team play in the fourth tier of the English league system; National League 2 East.
Chinnor Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Thame, Oxfordshire. They currently play in the second tier of the English league system, RFU Championship following their promotion from National League 1 having won promotion in the 2023-24 season.The club regularly runs five senior teams as well as a full youth setup from age 5 upwards. Chinnor's youth setup is widely thought of as one of the best in the country having produced top Premiership players such as Tom Varndell, Tom Johnson, Dave Seymour (Saracens), Paul Volley (Wasps), and Sam Jones (Wasps). Chinnor became the first club in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire to establish an under-19 academy.
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier is a division at level 8 of the English rugby union system featuring teams from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Promoted teams usually move up to Southern Counties North while relegated teams used to drop to the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship, although this division has been discontinued as of the end of the 2018–19 season. Each year three teams are picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase.
Bicester Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union club situated in Bicester, 10 miles north of Oxford.
Counties 1 Southern South is a level 7 league in the Rugby Football Union South West Division, the rugby union governing body for South West England, part of the Rugby Football Union. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was a single league known as Southern Counties but in 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues: Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern South currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and primarily features teams based in Dorset and Wiltshire.
Counties 1 Southern North is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern North currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and features teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are automatically promoted to Regional 2 South Central. Relegated teams usually drop to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.
Amersham and Chiltern RFC is an English rugby union team located in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England. Founded as Chiltern Wanderers in 1924, the club changed their name to Amersham and Chiltern RFC in 1992. They are member's of Buckinghamshire Rugby Football Union. They currently play in Regional 1 South East following their promotion from Regional 2 Thames in season 2023–24. The 2nd XV play in Counties 2 Berks, Bucks & Oxon North & the 3rd XV play in Herts Middlesex Merit Table 5. The club colours are claret and white.
Oxford Harlequins Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Oxford, England. The men's 1st XV currently play in National League 2 East, a level 4 league, following their promotion from Regional 1 Midlands at the end of the 2023–24 season.
Berks, Bucks and Oxon Division 1 is an English rugby union league featuring teams from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. As with all of the divisions in this area at this level, the entire league is made up of second and third teams of clubs whose first teams play at a higher level of the rugby union pyramid. As this is the top league in the region for second teams there is no promotion to a higher league. Relegated teams drop to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2.
Berks, Bucks and Oxon Division 2 is an English rugby union league featuring teams from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. As with all of the divisions in this area at this level, the entire league is made up of second and third teams of clubs whose first teams play at a higher level of the rugby union pyramid. Promoted teams move up to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 while relegated teams drop to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 3.
Bletchley Rugby Union Club is an English rugby union club from Milton Keynes who play at Manor Fields. They routinely put out three Senior XVs, a ladies side and a Vets side. The 1st XV play in Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier and the 2nd XVs in the Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 North table. The 3rd XV and Vets side play ad hoc friendly local fixtures. Bletchley Ladies is a developing team which is intending to enter the RFUW leagues in the 2011 season.
The Buckinghamshire Rugby Football Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the county of Buckinghamshire in England. The union is the constituent body of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for Buckinghamshire, and administers and organises rugby union clubs and competitions in the county. It also administers the Buckinghamshire county rugby representative teams. The union was founded at a meeting at High Wycombe on 16 July 1949 during a drinking session at one of the founders house.
The Oxfordshire Rugby Football Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the county of Oxfordshire in England. The union is the constituent body of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for Oxfordshire, and administers and organises rugby union clubs and competitions in the county. It also administers the Oxfordshire county rugby representative teams.
The Oxfordshire RFU County Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the Oxfordshire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1970–71 season, with the inaugural winners being Oxford. It is the most important rugby union cup competition in Oxfordshire, ahead of the Oxfordshire RFU County Shield.
The RFU Senior Vase is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union, which has been competed for since the 2006–07 season. It is contested for by teams at level 8 of the English rugby union system, with only 1st XV sides being allowed to enter. The competition is a national one but is split into regions until the semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London. As of 2018-19 it is the fourth most prestigious national club cup competition in England behind the Premiership Rugby Cup, RFU Championship Cup and RFU Intermediate 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.
The Berkshire Rugby Football Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the county of Berkshire in England. The union is the constituent body of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for Berkshire, and administers and organises rugby union clubs and competitions in the county. It also administers the Berkshire county rugby representative teams.
