Oxford

Founded in 1869, some fifteen months before the foundation of the Rugby Football Union, the story of rugby in Oxford is nearly as old as that of rugby itself.

During this time, more than 300 Oxford players have gained representative International honours. These include Phil de Glanville, Joe Roff, Tyrone Howe, Anton Oliver, Simon Halliday, David Kirk and Rob Egerton.

The women’s team is an integral part of the club and has nurtured the talent of a number of top class players. The likes of Heather Lockhart, Diane Nixon, Victoria Blakebrough, Karen Jones, Ulrikka Andersson-Hall have all represented their countries, whilst Sue Day is still England’s record try scorer.

Oxford remains a breeding ground for rugby internationals, our two most recent being Tom Mitchell (England 7’s Captain) and Will Rowlands (Wales) who received his first cap in the 2020 Six Nations.

Since its formation, OURFC has played a significant role in the development of rugby and the various major changes the game has undertaken since its formation 125 years ago.

William Webb Ellis, the alleged inventor of the game, was in fact a student at Brasenose College in 1825.

In more recent times, OURFC has not been shy to lead the way on matters both on and off the field, shown by the initiative taken in being the first Western rugby team to tour Japan after the Second World War in 1951 under the leadership of Peter Fitzgerald.

Oxford continues to be recognised as a breeding ground for academically gifted players, and as a club that embraces and preserves the traditional core values of the sport.

Thus Oxford holds an almost unique combination of great academic achievement and British sporting tradition.

A household name in OURFC circles is that of Major R V Stanley, who was fondly known as “Uncle” amongst the players.

He was a local man who took a great deal of interest in Oxford rugby, and through this became an England selector.

He was a committed servant to the club, organising the 1894 Varsity match and fulfilling every possible role on the committee over a lengthy period spanning most of his life.

As a tribute to his services, the Blues still play a Major Stanley Select XV every year in the lead up to the Varsity Match.

In May 2015 the Oxford University Women’s Rugby Football Club – OUWRFC – officially became part of OURFC to form one ‘University Rugby Club’ with both men’s and women’s teams. In December of that same year, the first Women’s Varsity Match to take place at Twickenham was won by Cambridge.

OURFC currently has three men’s teams – the Blues, Greyhounds (2nd XV) and Whippets (3rd XV), whilst the women have two – the Blues and the Panthers (2nd XV). All five teams are ‘Open Age’, and play a Varsity Match against their respective Cambridge opposition. In addition, there is a Men’s U20’s Varsity Match which forms part of a Double Header with the Women’s 2nd XV Varsity Match.

In season 2019/20 the club celebrated its 150th season with a number of events, including an anniversary dinner at the Hurlingham Club, London, where in excess of 450 past players and guests celebrated the club’s illustrious history. Here’s to the next 150 years!