Oxford University RFC explained

Teamname:	Oxford University RFC
Fullname:	Oxford University Rugby Football Club
Nickname:	Blues
Countryflag:	England
Capacity:	5,500^[1]
Captain:	Louis Jackson & Jessica Abele
Url:	https://ourfc.org/
Pattern B1:	_collarwhite
Leftarm1:	002147
Body1:	002147
Rightarm1:	002147
Shorts1:	002147
Socks1:	002147

The Oxford University Rugby Football Club (Oxford University RFC or OURFC) is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford.^[2] ^[3] The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.

History

Men's team

The University of Oxford RFC was founded in 1869, fifteen months before the creation of the Rugby Football Union. The first Varsity Match was played in February 1872 in Oxford at 'The Parks', the following year the return game was played in Cambridge on Parker's Piece. In 1874 it was decided that the game be played on a neutral ground. Oxford, like rivals Cambridge, have supplied hundreds of players to national teams, and was key in spreading the sport of rugby throughout Britain as past students brought the game back to their home counties. The very first international player to be capped whilst at Oxford was Cecil Boyle, who represented England in 1873, one season before Cambridge University. In 1951 OURFC became the first Western rugby team to tour Japan after World War II.^[4]

OURFC currently has 3 Men's teams: 1st XV Blues, 2nd XV Greyhounds and 3rd XV Whippets. All three teams play Varsity matches against their respective Cambridge opponents. Additionally, there is also a Men's U20s squad which contest their own Varsity Match alongside the Women's 2nd XV.

Major Stanley's Match^[5]

Major R. V. Stanley was an Oxford local who took a hearty interest in the development of OURFC, becoming its first representative on the RFU Committee 1903–27. The first recorded Stanley's Match took place in 1919, after the 1914 match was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War I. An invitational squad, similar to the Barbarians, the Major Stanley's XV historically drew in big name players such as Thomas Voyce and William Wavell Wakefield. Major Stanley's Match is an annual fixture played in preparation of the Varsity Match and recent Stanley's XVs have included Cardiff RFC.^[6] In 2019, the centenary year of the first Major Stanley's fixture, the Women's Blues faced the first ever Major Stanley's Women's XV.^[7]

Women's team

Oxford University WRFC was founded in 1988 and has been playing Cambridge University WRUFC annually since. The first women's Varsity was won by Cambridge; Oxford currently have 20 Varsity victories to Cambridge's 13. Notable players include Sue Day (St John's), who has won 59 England caps.^[8]

As of May 2015, Oxford University RFC and Oxford University WRFC have officially merged into one University RFC.^[4] 2015 also marked the first year that the women's Varsity Match was held at Twickenham on the same day as the men's game. OURFC Women's 1st XV compete in BUCS Premiership South.^[9]

Honours

Hawick Sevens
- Champions (1): 1925

Oxford University Greyhounds:

Oxfordshire RFU County Cup winners: 1976

Oxford University Women's Blues:

BUCS Vase Champions 2017
BUCS Vase Runners Up 2019^[10]

Notable former players

Oxford University RFC has fielded over 300 international rugby players, many of whom were first Capped during their time playing for the club.^[11]

Internationals

The following former Oxford University players have been capped at full international level.^[12]

Blues are listed in brackets:

British & Irish Lions

- – John Brett – Walter Carey (1894, 95, 96, 97)
– Percy Diggle (1908, 09)
– Thomas Gubb (1926, 27, 28, 29)
– Gerald Kyrke (1902, 03)
– Cuth Mullins (1894)
– Donald Troup (1928)

Australia

– Thomas Baxter (1958, 59)
– Bill Calcraft (1986, 87)
– Bill Campbell (1987)
– Troy Coker (1988, 89)
– Philip Crowe (1981, 82, 83)
– Roger Davis (1974,75)
– Bob Egerton (1987, 88)
– Tom Lawton (1921, 22, 23)
– Brendan Nasser (1992)
– Roland Raymond (1924)
– Brett Robinson (2000, 01)
– Joe Roff (2006, 07)
– Bill Ross (1980)
– Ainslie Sheil (1958)
– Ian Williams (1988)

Canada

– Andrew Bibby (1980, 81)
– Rob Brewer (1965)
– Alan Douglas (1970, 71)
– Sean Fauth (2005)
– Dan Moor (2017)
– Stan McKeen (2008, 09, 10)
– David Penney (1995, 96)
– Gareth Rees (1993, 94)
– Karl Svoboda (1995)
– Kevin Tkachuk (2001, 02, 03)

England

– Harry Alexander (1897, 98)
– Edward Baker (1893, 94, 95)
– Doug Baker (1952)
– Stuart Barnes (1981, 82, 83)
- – Lancelot Barrington-Ward – Tremlett Batchelor (1906)
– Harold Bateson (1874, 75, 77)
– Thomas Batson
– Brian Black (1929)
– Charles Bolton
– Edgar Bonham-Carter (1890, 91)
– Brian Boobbyer (1949, 50, 51)
– Ian Botting (1949, 50)
– Cecil Boyle
– William Bromet (1889)
– Marshall Brooks (1873)
– Henry Brougham
– Bruno Brown (1910, 11, 12)
– Tony Bucknall (1965, 66)
– Richard Budworth (1887, 88, 89)
– Lewis Cannell (1948, 49, 50)
– Godfrey Carey (1891, 92, 93, 94)
– Vincent Cartwright (1901, 02, 03, 04)
– Richard Cattell (1893)
– William Cheesman (1910, 11)
– Ernest Cheston
– Percy Christopherson (1886, 87, 88)
– Charles Cleveland (1885, 86)
– William Collins
– Paul Cooke (1936, 37)
– Edward Court (1882, 83)
– Peter Cranmer (1933, 34)
– Gordon Cridlan (1928, 29, 30)
– Charles Crosse (1874)
– John Currie (1954, 55, 56, 57)
– Alfred Davenport
– Phil de Glanville (1990)
– Robert Dengland Winton (1888, 89, 90)
– Ted Dillon
– Arthur Dingle (1911)
– Peter Dixon (1967, 68, 69, 70)
– Denys Dobson (1899, 1900, 01)
– Martin Donnelly (1946)
– Aubrey Dowson (1896)
– John Dugdale
– Arthur Evanson (1880, 81)
– Frank Evershed
– William Fletcher (1972, 73, 74)
– Howard Fowler (1877, 78)
– Edward Fraser (1873, 74, 75)
– Hubert Freakes (1936, 37, 38)
– Harold Freeman
– Nigel Gibbs
– Charles Gibson
– Arthur Gibson
– Simon Halliday (1979, 80, 81)
– Curly Hammond (1899, 1900)
– Reginald Hands (1908, 09)
– Charles Harper (1897, 98)
– Danny Hearn (1964)
– Arthur Heath (1875, 77, 78, 79)
– Anthony Henniker-Gotley (1909)
– Ronald Hillard (1923, 24)
– Bob Hiller (1965)
– Harold Hodges (1905, 06, 07, 08)
– Murray Hofmeyr (1948, 49, 50)
– Peter Hordern (1928)
– Peter Howard (1929, 30)
– Rupert Inglis (1883, 84)
– Francis Isherwood (1872)
– Jake Jacob (1923, 24, 25)
– John Kendall-Carpenter (1948, 49)
– Charles Kent (1972, 73, 74, 75)
– Richard Kindersley (1882, 83)
– Harold Kittermaster (1922, 24)
– Ronald Lagden (1909, 10, 11)
– Archibald Law (1875)
– Frederic Lee (1874, 75, 76, 77)
– Frederick Leslie-Jones (1894, 95, 96)
– Mike Marshall (1936, 37, 38)
– John Maxwell-Hyslop (1920, 21, 22)
– Laurence Merriam (1913)
– Arthur Michell (1872, 73, 74)
– William Moberly (1872, 73)
– Edward Moore (1882, 83)
– Philip Moore (1945, 46)
– Maurice McCanlis (1926, 27)
– Edward Nash (1874, 75)
– Syd Newman (1946, 47)
– Philip Newton (1879, 80)
– Ossie Newton-Thompson (1945, 46)
– Philip Nicholas (1897, 98, 99)
– Ernie Nicholson (1931, 32, 33, 34)
– Eustace North (1888, 89, 90)
– Tony Novis (1927)
– Alexander Obolensky (1935, 37)
– Sidney Osborne (1900, 01, 02)
– Tuppy Owen-Smith (1932, 33)
– Colin Payne (1960)
– Launcelot Percival (1889, 91)
– Malcolm Phillips (1956, 57, 58, 59)
– Charles Phillips (1876, 77, 78, 79)
– James Pitman (1921)
– Francis Poole (1891, 92, 93, 94)
– Garnet Portus
– Ronald Poulton (1909, 10, 11)
– Robin Prescott (1932)
– Leo Price (1920, 21)
– John Raphael (1901, 02, 03, 04)
– John Ravenscroft (1877, 78)
– Bill Redwood
– Steve Richards (1962)
– James Richardson (1925)
– Ryder Richardson (1881)
– Laurie Rimmer (1958)
– Chris Rittson-Thomas (1949, 50)
– Peter Robbins (1954, 55, 56, 57)
– Geoffrey Roberts (1908, 09)
– Matthew Robson (1929)
– Walter Rogers (1898, 1900)
– Alan Rotherham (1882, 83, 84)
– Ted Rudd (1963, 64)
– Joseph Sandford (1902, 03))
– John Scott (1957, 58)
– Edward Scott
– Richard Sharp (1959, 60, 61)
– Nick Silk (1961, 62, 63)
– Harry Small (1949, 50)
– Mike Smith (1954, 55)
– Nigel Starmer-Smith (1965, 66)
– Eric Steinthal (1906)
– Ernest Still (1872, 73)
– Adrian Stoop (1902, 03, 04)
– Edmund Strong (1881, 83)
– David Swarbrick (1946, 47, 48)
– Deneys Swayne (1930, 31)
– Frank Tarr (1907, 08, 09)
– William Tatham (1881, 82, 83)
– Basil Travers (1946, 47)
– Henry Tristram (1882, 83, 84)
– Victor Ubogu (1987)
– Clive van Ryneveld (1947, 48, 49)
– Harry Vassall (1879, 80, 81, 82)
– Henry Vassall (1906, 07, 08)
– Charles Wade (1882, 83, 84)
– Ernest Walton (1900, 01)
– Antony Warr (1933, 34)
– John Willcox (1959, 60, 61, 62)
– Rupert Williamson (1906, 07, 08)
– Chris Winn (1950)
– Alan Wood (1904)
– Charles Wooldridge (1882)
– Derek Wyatt (1981)
– John Young (1957, 58)

Ireland

– Rowland Byers (1926)
– William Cullen
– Arthur Curtis (1949)
– David Curtis (1989)
– Niall Hogan (1996, 97)
– Tyrone Howe (1994, 95)
– David Humphreys (1995)
– Hugo MacNeill (1982, 83, 84)
– Niall Malone (1992)
– Brendan Mullin (1986, 87)
– Noel McGrath (1934, 35, 36)
– John Reid
– Brian Smith (1988, 89)
– Shaun Waide (1932)
– Ollie Waldron (1965, 67)

Japan

– Toshiyuki Hayashi (1990)
– Takuro Miuchi (1998)

New Zealand

– George Aitken (1921, 22)
– David Kirk (1987, 88)
– Chris Laidlaw (1968, 69)
– Anton Oliver (2008)

Scotland

– David Bain (1910, 11, 12, 13)
– John Bannerman (1928)
– David Bell (1970)
– William Berkley (1924, 25, 26)
– Charles Berry (1883, 84)
– William Bolton (1873, 74, 75)
– John Boswell (1885, 86, 87)
– Fletcher Buchanan (1909, 10)
– Pat Burnet (1960)
– Alexander Cairns (1899, 1900, 01)
– George Cawkwell (1946, 47)
– Paul Clauss (1889, 90, 91)
– Mac Cooper (1935, 36, 37)
– Ian Coutts (1951)
– John Crabbie (1898, 99, 1900, 01)
– Gerard Crole (1913, 19)
– George Cunningham (1907, 08, 09)
– Simon Danielli (1999, 2000)
– Hamish Dawson
– Maurice Dickson (1903)
– Grahame Donald (1911, 12, 13)
– Bill Donaldson (1892, 93, 94)
– Harvey Druitt (1929, 30, 31)
– Dan Drysdale (1925)
– Denoon Duncan (1919, 20)
– Ewen Fergusson (1952, 53)
– Charles Fleming (1887, 88, 89, 90)
– Hector Forsayth (1920, 21)
– Henry Gedge (1893)
– Colin Gilray (1908, 09)
– Augustus Grant-Asher (1881, 82, 83)
– Charles Grieve (1934, 35, 36)
– Thomas Hart
– Nelson Henderson (1886)
– John Henderson (1952)
– Gurth Hoyer-Millar (1952)
– Jo Hume (1927, 28)
– Ken Jackson (1932, 33)
– Norman Kennedy (1901)
– Peter Kininmonth (1947, 48)
– George Lindsay (1882, 83, 84)
– Bertie Lorraine (1932, 33, 34)
– Eric Loudoun-Shand (1913, 19)
– Donald MacDonald (1974, 75, 76)
– Chris Mackintosh (1925)
– Pat MacLachlan (1953)
– Phil Macpherson (1922, 23, 24)
– John Marshall
– Hugh Martin (1907, 08, 09)
– Patrick Munro (1903, 04, 05)
– Joe McPartlin (1960, 61, 62)
– Tommy Nelson (1897, 98)
– William Renwick (1936, 37)
– William Roughead (1924, 25, 26)
– Douglas Schulze
– Tennant Sloan (1908)
– Allan Smith (1894, 95, 96, 97)
– Ian Smith (1926)
– Ken Spence (1951, 52)
– Peter Stagg (1961, 62)
– Stephen Steyn (1911, 12)
– Malcolm Swan (1957)
– Edward Taylor (1926, 27, 28)
– Frans ten Bos (1958, 59, 60)
– William Thomson (1895, 96)
– Bruce Thomson (1951, 52)
– Frederick Turner (1908, 09, 10)
– James Walker (1879, 80, 81)
– Mike Walker (1950, 51)
– Archibald Walker (1880)
– Johnnie Wallace (1922, 23, 24, 25)
- – Donald White – David Whyte (1963)
– Stewart Wilson (1963, 64)
– Gully Wilson (1946, 48)
– Eric Young

South Africa

– Andrew Aitken (1993)
– Tommy Bedford (1965, 66, 67)
– Herbert Castens (1886, 87)
– Noel Howe-Browne (1905, 06)
– Paul Johnstone (1952, 53, 54)
– Dugald MacDonald (1974, 75)
– Nick Mallett (1979)
– Stanley Osler (1931)
– Willie Rousseau (1929)

United States

– Derek Asbun (2011)
– Nick Civetta (2022)
– Andrew Durutalo (2021)
– Eric Fry (2022)
– Gary Hein (1989, 90)
– Don James (1989)
– Will Johnson (2009)
– Ray Lehner (1997, 99, 2000, 01)
– Adam Russell (1999, 2000, 02)
– Kurt Shuman (1998, 99)
– Alan Valentine (1923, 24, 25)

Wales

– Charles Allen (1881, 82, 83)
– Onllwyn Brace (1955, 56)
– Trevor Brewer (1951)
– Ian Buckett (1992)
– Mickey Davies
– Gareth Davies (1977)
– Robin Davies (1955, 56, 57)
– Alban Davies
– Bailey Davies (1905, 06, 07)
– Bill Evans
– Denis Evans (1959)
– David Evans (1887, 88)
– Gwyn Francis (1919)
- – Richard Garnons Williams – Billy Geen (1910, 11, 12)
– William Havard (1919)
– Hugh Ingledew
– Vivian Jenkins (1930, 31, 32)
– Ken Jones (1963)
– Ian Jones (1963, 64)
– Kenyon Jones (1931, 32)
– Charles Lewis
– Andrew Moore (1990)
– Tony O'Connor (1958)
– Edward Peake
– Aneurin Rees
– Conway Rees (1891, 92, 93)
– Geoffrey Rees-Jones (1933, 34, 35)
– Walter Rice Evans (1890)
– Bill Roberts (1928, 29, 30, 31)
– Mike Roberts (1968)
– David Roberts
– John Strand-Jones (1899, 1900, 01)
– William Thomas (1893, 94)
– Leonard Watkins (1879)
– David Wyn Evans (1988)
– Derek Williams (1945)
– Richard Wintle (1993)

External links

- The Varsity Match

Notes and References

News: Hats off to the Wallabies. BBC Sport. 5 November 2001 .
Web site: Men's Rugby Union. Oxford University Sport. en-US. 2019-03-28.
Web site: Women's Rugby Union. Oxford University Sport. en-US. 2019-03-28.
Web site: Oxford University RFC About. Oxford University RFC. 28 March 2019.
Web site: Oxford University RFC Stanleys Match. Oxford University RFC. 28 March 2019.
Web site: Men's Blues Squad Announced to Face Cardiff in the Major Stanley's Match. Oxford University RFC. 13 November 2018. 28 March 2019.
Web site: Oxford University RFC Stanleys Match. www.ourfc.org. 2020-02-27.
Web site: International Women's Day 2019. 2019-03-08. Oxford University Sport. en-US. 2019-03-28.
Web site: BUCScore - Oxford University Womens 1st Rugby Union Team. BUCS. 2019-03-28.
Web site: Oxford University RFC News. Oxford University RFC. 27 March 2019. 28 March 2019.
Web site: Oxford University RFC Internationals. Oxford University RFC. 28 March 2019.
Web site: Ex-Blues . OURFC . en.