Club History
In 1823 William Webb Ellis, a pupil at Rugby School, collected a ball in his hands and with "a fine disregard for the rules" ran forward with it. Thus Rugby Union as we know it was born and within a few years had spread from the public schools to the universities. The earliest game in Cambridge took place in 1839, organised by Albert Pell and Edgar Montague (Rugby and Shrewsbury respectively).
Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club (CURUFC) was officially founded in 1872, some three years later than Oxford University RFC. The first Varsity Match was played in that year and the Rugby School influence was still apparent with eight out of the twenty players being Rugbeians, four Marlburians and the balance from other schools.
CURUFC officials helped to draw up the laws of the game as adopted by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) when it was established in 1871. It became a Constituent Body of the Union in 1872, a status which it still enjoys. This status essentially means that CURUFC has a representative on the RFU and is responsible for the activities of all clubs affiliated to CURUFC (i.e. the twenty-two college rugby clubs within the University).
In 1896 CURUFC, together with the Cambridge University Association Football Club, jointly purchased land at Grange Road for the development of a playing pitch, changing and spectator facilities. A handsome Pavilion and Members' stand (still in existence) were erected, but it was not until nearly forty years later that further development took place with the building of the Comber Stand, with a capacity for 800 seats, in 1935.
Forty years later, in the mid-seventies, the Pavilion was extended to include a bar and a members' clubroom (the Windsor Room, named after Windsor Lewis, who was Captain in 1927 and a Welsh International 1926-28, Cambridge G.P. and President of CURUFC for many years). Subsequent development of the Grange Road site has followed rapidly - a groundsman's house, club dining room, medical rooms, offices, and a multi-gym. In 1995 a new meeting room was opened by and named after Micky Steele-Bodger, who was Captain in 1946, an English International 1947-48 and selector. Mickey continues to support the club by organising the annual Steele-Bodger's XV to play CURUFC ten days or so before the Varsity Match. The 2007 game will be a notable occasion, being the 60th match and a great day is promised. In playing terms a training pitch, adjacent to the ground, has been acquired on short-term lease.
In addition to the first XV (the Blues) CURUFC runs a second XV (the LX Club) and an Under 21 side. It is, as a Constituent Body of the RFU, also responsible for the administration of some 400 matches at season involving inter-collegiate leagues and cup matches. The Club is financially and managerially independent of the University and is run by a small committee. Given that the playing membership of CURUFC turns over with great frequency (depending on the length of a student's course) the Committee is primarily concerned with continuity in terms of tradition, facilities, finance and development.
Playing matters are the responsibility of the Playing Committee, which is composed of the Captain, who is elected annually by the previous year's Blues, the Director of Rugby and the coaches who are appointed each year by the Captain. The Committee determine the training routine, selection, tactics and player development.
CURUFC has a policy of encouraging Club tours to both established and developing rugby-playing countries and in recent years has toured Japan and South Africa, interspersed with short tours to the Home Countries and to Europe.
Despite the advent and rapid development of leagues and professionalism in the UK, CURUFC has been able to maintain a strong fixture list against clubs such as Wasps, Leicester and Harlequins. In addition, links have been developed with UK, European and Japanese University Clubs and with the Army, RAF and Royal Navy.
However, the highlight of the season for any player at Cambridge will undoubtedly remain that day in December when he turns out at Twickenham in front of about 40,000 people to challenge the old enemy. The couple of weeks beforehand start with the Steele-Bodger match and dinner, daily intensive training, hospitality from the Club and its officials, press launch in London, being measured for blues blazers, team photographs, and finally that extraordinary atmosphere which is Twickenham on Varsity Match day.
In addition it would be remiss not to point out that during recent years and despite the advent of professionalism, a spell at CURUFC has refreshed and even enhanced the subsequent careers of some players following their departure from Cambridge. Nick Walne ('94 '95 & 97) played for Cardiff and represented Wales. Mark Denney ('97 & '98) played with Wasps and played for the England A XV. Tom Murphy ('96 & '97), joined Harlequins after leaving Cambridge, had Super 12 experience with both the ACT Brumbies and Queensland Reds. Mark Robinson ('97 & '98) played with Canterbury Crusaders , represented New Zealand and is now a high ranking rugby administrator in his homeland. David Quinlan Of the 2000 & 2001 Blues has been forced to retire from the professional game through injury having played for Leinster, Northampton and Ireland.
Marco Rivaro represented Italy in the Six Nations Championship and Martin Purdy played for England U21s. Stuart Moffat represented Scotland , Simon Amor plays for and captains England in the World Series Sevens Tournaments. Winning Varsity Match 2002 captain, Duncan Blaikie, played Super 12 Rugby for both the Otago Highlanders and Waikato Chiefs prior to his arrival at Cambridge. Duncan’s brother John captained the 2006 winning Blues and had previous experience as a professional in France with Grenoble. Ben Woods and Ed Kalman also gained professional contracts upon leaving Cambridge and finally Joe Ansbro from the 2005 and 2006 Blues secured a two year contract with Northampton Saints following his graduation this year.
