College rugby at Cambridge University
Cambridge University Rugby Football Union (CURFU) is a constituent body (CB) of the RFU that helps organise and manage rugby (non-professional and community-based clubs/schools/universities).
The 35 Constituent Bodies (CBs) of the RFU comprise counties - some individual some combined - the three Armed Forces, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, the England Schools Rugby Football Union and England Students. Depending on its number of member clubs, each CB annually elects members to the RFU Council which is the body overseeing the RFU.
Our current CB Council representative is Dick Tyler (Fitzwilliam), a Blue from 1979-81.
Cambridge University Rugby Football Union has a long and illustrious history, with inter-college rugby being played for nearly a century with the first recorded victors of Cuppers being Gonville and Caius College in 1926.
Today, college’s play in a structured, flexible and friendly league programme whilst the much-celebrated Cuppers competition remains a key part of the rugby calendar at Cambridge University each season.
Why play college rugby?
College Rugby at Cambridge exists to offer all students challenge, opportunity, friendship and fun.
College Rugby Programmes at Cambridge is very much built around the RFU’s Core Values of;
- Teamwork
- Respect
- Enjoyment
- Discipline
- Sportsmanship
College rugby at Cambridge is flexible and safe and caters for players of all abilities so whether you want to play regularly, a few matches a year or support your college team off the field, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
After two disrupted seasons’ due to the pandemic, college rugby returned to the manicured rugby pitches across Cambridge colleges in October 2021. Having not played competitive rugby since March 2020, the colleges required a couple of weeks to get back into the rhythm of playing and working through the numerous challenges that the pandemic presented to all community and grassroots sport. Once up and running, the colleges collectively took part in over 75 league and Cuppers matches. CURFU also ran a series of Scrum development and player development evenings and in partnership with the RFU, ran a England Rugby Referee Award Course for Students
Queens/Jesus (amalgamated for the 21/22 season only) won the College League in March.
St John’s Redboys were victorious in Cupper in May.
Cuppers Results 2022;
- Cuppers - St Johns 45 - 5 Fitzwilliam/Sidney
- Plate - Jesus 26 - 5 Gonville and Caius
- Shield - Downing 32 - 10 Pirton
- Bowl - Magdalene/Homerton 41 - 17 Robinson
Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary, it bears the distinction of being the only College in Oxford or Cambridge founded by their citizens.
In terms of rugby, Clare College is joined with Corpus Christi College and Kings College forming ‘CCK RFC’
Whilst not the most renowned rugby college, CCK have enjoyed some recent success, having reached the semi-finals of Cuppers in recent years
2022/23 Corpus Rugby Co-Captains are Henry Rynehart hr458@cam.ac.uk and Josh Shaer JS2667@cam.ac.uk
@CCKRFC
http://www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/
Downing College
Founded in 1800, Downing's neo-classical architecture offers something unique in Cambridge.
Boasting the longest sustained period in the top division of any college, Downing is a hotbed of sporting talent and regularly produces blues, LXs and U20 players. Notable alumni include John Cleese, Michael Winner and Quentin Blake. Downing College Rugby Club won the annual Cuppers competition in March of 2019.
The rise of Downing has included a win in the Plate competition during the 2017/18 season and 3 league victories in the top division of college rugby over its quarterly cycle this season.
2022/23 Downing Rugby Captain is Joe Sullivan JS2589@cam.ac.uk
@downingrugby
http://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/
Fitzwilliam College
Fitzwilliam College, founded in 1869, has established itself as Cambridge’s top sporting college, dominating Football, Cricket, and Hockey over the past decade. This is now true for Rugby, as the FSCRUFC secured a historic double in 2020 – winning both Division 1 and Cuppers – validating Fitz as Cambridge’s top rugby college. Modern-day successes echo historic ones and FCRUFC alumni includes Alistair Hignell (England), and Eddie Butler (Wales and British Lions) who spoke at the club’s annual ‘Old-Boys’ fixture and AGM.
The club is proudly partnered with Sidney Sussex College, with whom many players have established firm friendships. Closer to home, social events are staged in Fitz’s rugby bar – the only designated College rugby bar in the University – built by members of the college in 1970 to remember alumni who lost their lives in WWI. These include post-game socials, international screenings, and termly Beers. The bar sits with the team’s clubhouse on Oxford Road pitches
In 2021/22 FitzSidney RFC had an outstanding year, led by captain Billy Thomas-Connolly, they narrowly missed out on winning the League and Cuppers titles.
2022/23 Fitzwilliam Rugby Captain is Tom Ryan tr452@cam.ac.uk
@fitzsportsandsocs
http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/
Girton College
'The college was established on 16th October 1869 as the pioneering and therefore first residential College for women in England. The college became mixed in 1977 with the arrival of the first male Fellows, and male undergraduates have been admitted since 1979. The equal balance between the numbers of men and women, amongst both the Fellowship and the students, is matched by no other College. Girton occupies spacious grounds to the northwest of the centre of Cambridge.
Boasting its own pitches and gym on site, the college thrives on the sports field. The rugby club, normally featuring in one of the top two divisions, aims to encourage new players to join but equally often fields strong sides with several university players
In recent year Girton has almalgmated with Pembroke College to form ‘Pirton RFC’
2022/23 Girton Rugby Captain is Evan Hall eh693@cam.ac.uk
@pirtonrfc
http://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/
Homerton College
The newest Cambridge college having gained our Royal Charter in 2010 but have participated in College and University rugby for many years. With around 580 undergraduates and a postgraduate community of c. 350 doing Masters, PHDs and PGCE, Homerton has more students than any other Cambridge college. The College was founded in Homerton High Street, London, in 1768, and moved to Cambridge in 1894.
Until 2001 it only admitted Education Studies students whereas now it offers all subjects. Homerton has a wide range of thriving student clubs and societies, including a Boat club, Music Society, and a resident drama society, HATS. It is the only College with a paid sabbatical JCR President.
Last year, Homerton College, in partnership with St Mary’s School, opened up a brand new state of the art sports facility – including a full size, floodlit 3G rugby pitch
Homerton College Rugby Captain is Tomas Miller tm742@cam.ac.uk
@homertoncollegerfc
http://www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/
Hughes Hall
Hughes Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. It is one of four Cambridge colleges which admit only mature students. The majority of Hughes Hall students are postgraduate, although nearly one-fifth of the student population comprises individuals aged 21 and above who are studying undergraduate degree courses at the University. Hughes Hall is the oldest of the Cambridge colleges which admit only mature students.
Hughes Hall, along with, Darwin, Wolfson College, St Edmunds and Clare Hall have amalgamated to form the All Greys RFC – in reference to their ‘seniority’ and possible grey hairs!?
If you attend Hughes and want to play College Rugby for the All Greys, please contact Min Kyoo- Kim - mkk44@cam.ac.uk or Stefan Nixon ssn34@cam.ac.uk
http://www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/
Jesus College
Founded in 1496, Jesus College is situated in the heart of Cambridge. Well known for its sporting prowess, Jesus has also boasted such notable alumni as poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, writer Nick Hornby, playwright David Hare, and royal Prince Edward. It is unknown how many of these graced the hallowed turf of Jesus' playing fields with distinction.
Jesus regularly provides representatives to Cambridge's Blues, as well as being perennial title contenders in both the Cuppers competition and Division I of the League. In recent years, backrower Richard Bartholomew gained the record for the most ever caps for the Blues and in 2022 Jesus was victorious winning the Cuppers Plate competition as well as winning the league (as part of an amalgamated team with Queens College)
2022/23 Jesus Rugby Captain is James Bacon Jb2372@cam.ac.uk
http://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/
Magdalene College
Founded in 1428 as a hostel for Benedictine monks and then re-founded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene. The college has a number of famous alumni, including Samuel Pepys, John Simpson, C.S. Lewis and Gavin Hastings.
Magdalene College RUFC has had a varied history in the last few years, last season Magdalene amalgamated with Homerton a won the Cuppers Bowl competition
Magdalene Rugby Captain is Jamie Lamb jbcl2@cam.ac.uk
http://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/
Peterhouse
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely. Peterhouse has 284 undergraduates, 130 graduate students and 45 fellows, making it the smallest of the university's traditional colleges.
The modern name of Peterhouse does not include the word "college". Peterhouse play rugby in conjunction with Selwyn college. Despite their small size Selwyn Peterhouse have a reputation for fielding strong teams, winning the cuppers plate in 2017 and the bowl in 2020. Selwyn Peterhouse offers an opportunity for new players whilst also feeding players into the university teams.
2022/23 Selwyn Peterhouse Rugby Captain is Adrian Biddle ajb366@cam.ac.uk
@selwynpeterhouse
http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/
Queens' College
The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou (the Queen of Henry VI) and re-founded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville (the Queen of Edward IV). This dual foundation is reflected in its orthography: Queens', not Queen's, although the full name is The Queen's College of St Margaret and St Bernard, commonly called Queens' College, in the University of Cambridge.
In 2022 Queens’ was victorious winning the Cuppers Plate competition as well as winning the league (as part of an amalgamated team with Jesus College)
2022/23 Queens’ Rugby Captain is James Onley-Gregson jafo2@cam.ac.uk
@queenscollegerugby
http://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/
Selwyn College
Situated on the Western side of Cambridge, next to the Grange Road pitches, Selwyn College was founded in 1882 in memory of George Augustus Selwyn, the first Archbishop of New Zealand. Selwyn has been home to many notable alumni, including the comedian and actor Hugh Laurie, the author Robert Harris, and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.
Due to the college’s smaller size, rugby is run in conjunction with Peterhouse but despite this, Selwyn Peterhouse have a reputation for fielding strong teams, winning the cuppers plate in 2017 and bowl in 2020. Selwyn Peterhouse offers an opportunity for new players whilst also feeding players into the university teams.
2022/23 Selwyn Peterhouse Rugby Captain is Adrian Biddle ajb366@cam.ac.uk
@selwynpeterhouse
http://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/
Sidney Sussex College
Founded in 1594 by Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex, Sidney Sussex College is the newest of the ‘old colleges’ in Cambridge. Known for having the fortunate positron of being placed across the road from Sainsburys, it seems Lady Sidney must have had some sort of foresight regarding the needs of her future students. Notable alumni include the TV personality Carol Vordeman and the military and political leader Oliver Cromwell.
The club is proudly partnered with Fitzwilliam College, with whom many players have established firm friendships.
In 2021/22 FitzSidney RFC had an outstanding year, led by captain Billy Thomas-Connolly, they narrowly missed out on winning the League and Cuppers titles.
2022/23 Fitzwilliam/Sidney Sussex Rugby Captain is Tom Ryan tr452@cam.ac.uk
http://www.sid.cam.ac.uk/
St Edmund's College
Eddies have been a side predominantly made up of post graduate Blues and post graduate academics with no rugby experience. Always an entertaining side that has won cuppers on occasions the last time being in 2012.
St Edmund's College received its Royal Charter in 1996. St Edmund's is one of four Cambridge colleges oriented to mature students, only accepting those reading for either Masters or Doctorate degrees, or undergraduate degrees if they are aged 21 or older (two other colleges cater to graduate students only). Over three-quarters of St Edmund's students are studying towards higher degrees, usually the PhD, MPhil or LLM degrees.
St Edmunds, along with Darwin, Wolfson College, Hughes Hall have amalgamated to form the All Greys RFC – in reference to their ‘seniority’ and possible grey hairs!?
If you attend St Edmunds and want to play College Rugby for the All Greys, please contact Min Kyoo- Kim - mkk44@cam.ac.uk or Stefan Nixon ssn34@cam.ac.uk
http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/
Trinity College
Trinity College has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows (however, counting only the student body but not Fellows, Trinity has somewhat fewer students than Homerton College). Trinity considers itself to be "a world-leading academic institution with an outstanding record of education, learning and research".
2022/23 Trinity Rugby Captain is Henry King HK507@cam.ac.uk
Christ’s College are amalgamated with Trinity College and play in the college rugby programme as Trinity Christ’s RFC
@trinitychristsrfc
http://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/