Dunstablians RUFC explained

Teamname:Dunstablians
Nickname:The Dees
Fullname:Dunstablians Rugby Union Football Club
Ground:Bidwell Park
Countryflag:England
President:Damian Daize
Captain:Kevin Boland
Club Chairman:Jon Gilbert
Head Coach:Martin Morris & Mick Coogan
Director Of Rugby:Richard Anderson
Season:2019–20
Position:5th
Url:https://dunstablians.rfu.club

Dunstablians Rugby Union Football Club are an amateur rugby union club based in Bedfordshire, who play their rugby in Midlands 3 East (South), an eight tier league in the English rugby union system. Their ground is located just outside nearby Houghton Regis and is commonly known as Bidwell Park.[1] The club run two Senior teams and a full Mini & Junior section (catering for 5-15 year old players) and Academy teams (catering for 16-18 year old players). Numerous local rivalries are shared, most notably with Stockwood Park and Luton Rugby Club.

History

In 1927, members of Dunstable Grammar School formed a rugby section, based at Fensomes Field in Leagrave, Luton. Unfortunately, the number of regular players dwindled, forcing the closure of the club after only three seasons.[2]

In 1948, another group of former pupils made a new start, securing a ground at French's Avenue in Dunstable and later moving to Skimpot Lane in Luton. In 1954 ground in Bullpond Lane, Dunstable was leased. The event was marked with a match against an East Midlands Invitation XV. It was eventually decided that a new ground was needed and the site at Bidwell Hill in Houghton Regis should be purchased, with the bulk of the financing raised through the sale of the Bullpond Lane site for housing development.

In September 1985, the club opened the current clubhouse by hosting an International XV that included six past England Captains.

The club has seen several promotions in the past. Highlights include the near perfect 1999/2000 season which delivered victory in all RFU competitions entered, along with League, County and East Midlands Cup success. This culminated in Dunstablians becoming National Intermediate Cup Champions at Twickenham.

A successful period followed; Dunstablians retained the County Cup in 2000/01 and added the Colts Cup to the collection. They lifted the County Cup again in 2005.[3] During 2006/07 Dunstablians also secured the Bedfordshire County Cup, defeating Bedford Athletic in the process.[4] They then returned to Twickenham for their second Intermediate Cup Final[5] losing 36–46 to Cornish side Mounts Bay and finished 3rd in Midlands League 1 (RFU Level 5), their highest ever league placing.

After a five-year wait, Dunstablians won the Beds County Cup again by defeating Stockwood Park in 2012, but since then have finished runners up in no less than three successive County Cup Finals.[6]

Club Honours

1st XV:

Youth

International honours

NationalityPlayerHonours
align=centreMarcus VassDenmark
Neil Davis England U9 Tiddlywinks Record Holder
align=centreMax ThorneEngland Deaf & England Deaf Sevens
Morne LoxtonSouth Africa U21s
Harry RobertsSouth Africa
Anthony NivenNew Zealand U19s
Reece MarshallEngland U18s[7]
Josh SkelceyEngland U18s[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RFU Handbook – Dunstablians . 5 October 2009 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927214542/http://www.rfu.com/microsites/handbooks/index.cfm?fuseaction=handbook.Clubs&grou_id=21 . 27 September 2007 .
  2. Web site: Dunstablians – Club History. 5 October 2009 . DRUFC.
  3. Web site: Dunstablians Win County Cup . 5 October 2009 . Luton Today .
  4. Web site: Cup Win . 5 October 2009 . Bedford Today .
  5. Web site: Community Details – Cup Win . 5 October 2009 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070901184026/http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.Community_Detail/StoryID/16502 . 1 September 2007 . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: County Cup Final . 29 April 2012 . Pitchero . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121023163909/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dunstablians/s/match-report-34267.html?official=0&fixture_id=1102187 . 23 October 2012 . dmy-all .
  7. Web site: Justin Bridou European Championship . 29 April 2012 . FIRA-AER.
  8. Web site: Young Gun: Josh Skelcey . 15 August 2014 . 27 August 2014 . The Rugby Paper.