King's College London Rugby Football Club Explained

King's College London Rugby Football Club should not be confused with King's College Hospital RFC.

Teamname:King's College London Rugby Football Club
Fullname:King's College London Rugby Football Club
Region:London, England
Ground:New Malden Sports Ground (Berrylands)
President: Felix Petersen
Captain: George Peprah
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Pattern Name1:1st XV
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The King's College London Rugby Football Club (also referred to as KCLRFC and King's Rugby) is an English rugby union club based in London.

The club represents King's College London in competitions organised by the British Universities and Colleges Sport. The team plays its home games at the New Malden Sports Ground in Berrylands.

Background

KCLRFC runs two competitive sides each entered into the BUCS leagues. The 1st XV compete in the second tier of the South East Region. The 2nd XV upholds a competitive nature in the fourth tier of the South East region.

Both teams used to enter the University of London Union (ULU) cup competitions before the ULU was dissolved: the 1st XV competed for the Gutteridge Cup which was open to all University of London 1st XVs (including Imperial College who affiliated to ULU despite the college leaving the federal university in 2007); the 2nd XV competed in the Reserves Plate – open to all 2nd and lower XVs.

The London Varsity is an annual match against their closest rivals UCL played in March, and has recently been played at the Barnet Copthall stadium, the home of Premiership Rugby side Saracens F.C.. It is considered one of the highlights of the University of London's sporting calendar and takes place in front of a crowd of several thousand supporters from both colleges. The winner takes home the George-Bentham Cup, named after King George IV and Jeremy Bentham, associated with the founding of King's College and University College respectively.

The club caters for all standards of players, with players new to the game especially welcome.

At the end of each season an annual general meeting is held where club members vote for a new committee who will be responsible for the club the following season.

Former head coach John Graves (previously Backs coach for Esher RFC) started coaching at the club from midseason 2007/08. He coached the 1st XV team to progress up two leagues, won the Gutteridge Cup and won the varsity match three times.

Club colours

The 1st XV play in red and navy shirts, navy shorts and red and blue socks. The emblem on the shirts is the university crest and features Reggie the Lion. Below the crest is the club motto which reads 'Sancte et Sapienter' (With Holiness and Wisdom).

Representative honors

PositionNameCurrent ClubFormer club(s)InternationalCaps
Centre retired 2 (2009)

Statistics

YearBUCS LeagueGutteridge CupVarsity
2006/07 6th 2B Runner-up Lost
2007/08 6th 2B Q/Final Lost
2008/09 Winner 3B Winner Won
2009/10 6th 2B Runner-up Lost
2010/11 Winner 2B S/Final Won
2011/12 8th 1A S/Final Lost
2012/13 3rd 2B Won
2013/14 4th 2B Lost
2014/15 Winner 1A Won
2015/16 4th Prem BWon
2016/17 8th South AWon
2017/18 6th South BLost
2018/19 6th 1A Lost
2019/20 3rd 2B Won
2020/21 - Lost
2021/22 2nd 2B Lost
2022/232nd 2BLost

President/Captain/Treasurer

YearPresidentCaptainTreasurer
2006/07 Dane Alexander Tim Hutt Ali Macgregor
2007/08 Ali Macgregor Will Northover Ben Evans
2008/09 Mark Hodson Nicholas Horsthuis Tom Wein
2009/10 Ian AdamsJake Janes Ali Goodbrand
2010/11 Tom Wall James Duffus Dave Lyons
2011/12 Duncan Castle Simon Edwards Joe Calnan
2012/13 Jake Seeds Stefan Cook Joe Calnan
2013/14 Robin Cumming Tim Fawcett Alex Currie
2014/15 Dave Green Barney Lynock Graham Harding
2015/16 William Brown George Taylor Kieran Brocken
2016/17 Blaise Salle Matthew Radley Finbar Tilford
2017/18 Josh Jones Sam Ridgway Luqman Swift
2018/19Aidan Freedman Harry Robb Yazad Sethna
2019/20Henry Thomas Sam Grasby Jih Shenn Foo
2020/21Tom Smaldon Jono Slee James Houghton
2021/22Yazan Issa Joshua Hall Henry Woodfine
2022/23Raphael Azria Jack Costello Alexander Jonsson
2023/24Felix PetersenGeorge PeprahTom Simms

See also