The Surrey County Rugby Football Union is the union responsible for rugby union in the county of Surrey, England, and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1879.
 | ||
| Full name | Surrey Rugby Football Union | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | RFU | |
| Founded | 1879 | |
| Region | Surrey, parts of London | |
| President | John Pownall | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
History
editEarly years of County representative team
editThe earliest recorded game played by a team purporting to represent Surrey under rugby union auspices was played before the Surrey County Club has been formed. This was played on 21 February 1878 against Middlesex and won by Surrey with a try scored by AS Trevor.[1]
Formation of the County Club
editOn 22 December 1879, a meeting was held at the York Hotel, on Waterloo Road, South London (then in Surrey), at which the County Club was formed. Two fixtures were played that season. The first was against Middlesex which turned out to be an easy win for Surrey. However, their confidence was put into check when they were soundly beaten by Yorkshire.[1] Another match with Middlesex was played at Old Deer Park on 6 December 1880 with the result of each fifteen scoring one goal, in what was described as a ″splendidly-contested game″.[2]
County side
editHonours
editCounty Championship finals (2 wins);
| Year | Winners | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Yorkshire | Surrey | 4 – 16 | Yorkshire | Richmond | |
| 1938 | Lancashire | Lancashire | 24 – 12 | Surrey | Blundellsands | |
| 1960 | Warwickshire | Warwickshire | 9 – 6 | Surrey | Coundon Road, Coventry | |
| 1967 | (replay) | Surrey | 14 – 14 | Durham County | Twickenham | |
| Durham County | 0 – 0 | Surrey | Hartlepool | title shared after a drawn replay | ||
| 1971 | Surrey | Gloucestershire | 3 – 14 | Surrey | Kingsholm |
County Championship Shield finals (4 wins);
| Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Surrey | 29 - 18 | Somerset | [3] |
| 2011 | Dorset & Wilts | 43 – 22 | Surrey | [4][5] |
| 2012 | Surrey | 43 – 12 | Leicestershire | [6] |
| 2013 | Surrey | 21 – 16 | Cumbria | [7] |
| 2014 | Surrey | 39 – 12 | Leicestershire | [8] |
County Championship Plate finals (1 win);
| Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Surrey | 17 – 3 | Eastern Counties | [9] |
Notable players for the County side
editMany notable players have represented Surrey. The most appearances in County Championship games for the Surrey side have been by:[1]
- Bob Hiller (Harlequins) – 68
- Bob Lloyd (Harlequins) – 46
- Stanley Couchman (Old Cranleighans) – 45
- Ted Priest (Old Alleynians) – 39
Other famous players include:
- George Doherty (former captain of Ireland)
- Jonny Wilkinson
- Fraser Gore
Presidents
edit- 2024-2025 J Pownall (Farnham)
- 2023-2024 D Doonan (Barnes)
- 2022-2023 G Ashburn (Mitcham & Carshalton)
- 2020-2021 T Long (London Irish Amateur)
- 2019-2020 N Heslop (Chobham)
- 2018-2019 D Druckman (KCS Old Boys)
- 2017-2018 Mrs J Anastasi (Richmond)
- 2016-2017 J Collins (Warlingham)
- 2015-2016 T Sokell (Effingham & Leatherhead)
- 2014-2015 J Raywood (Sutton & Epsom)
- 2013-2014 K Heal (Egham Hollowegians)
- 2012-2013 I Thirlwall (Chipstead)
- 2011-2012 P A Agate (Warlingham)
- 2009-2011 F U Batchelor (Old Freemens)
- 2008-2009 J N Vale (Sutton & Epsom)
- 2007-2008 G Hunt (Chobham)
- 2006-2007 E C S Ivens (Dorking)
- 2005-2006 E J StJ Thomas (Sutton & Epsom)
- 2003-2005 J E Douglas (Dorking)
- 2001-2003 Dr J D Carroll (Guildford)
- 1999-2001 J D E Hamilton (KCS Old Boys)
- 1997-1999 R N Chamberlain (Camberley)
- 1995-1997 J G Kemp (Wasps)
- 1993-1995 B P Miles (University Vandals)
- 1991-1993 C M Herridge (Cobham and Harlequins)
- 1989-1991 J P Collis (Old Whitfitians)
- 1987-1989 E G Lovering (Bec Old Boys)
- 1985-1987 D S Straw (Old Whitgiftians)
- 1983-1985 D E Wood (Streatham-Croydon)
- 1981-1983 R M Bartlett (Harlequins)
- 1979-1981 B Utting (Streatham-Croydon)
- 1978-1979 M F Turner (Old Whitgiftians)
- 1977-1978 R C Finch (Old Rustlishians)
- 1975-1977 A T T Street (Guildford & Godalming)
- 1973-1975 M F Turner (Old Whitgiftians)
- 1971-1973 D K Brooks (Harlequins)
- 1968-1971 D H Frankford (Old Alleynians)
- 1967-1968 F J Monkhouse (University Vandals)
- 1964-1967 J H S Howard (Streatham-Croydon)
- 1962-1964 B E Nicholson (Old Whitgiftians)
- 1961-1962 T E Priest (Old Alleynians)
- 1958-1961 S R Couchman (Old Cranleighans)
- 1957-1958 H A Brashier (Blackheath and Esher)
- 1955-1957 E C P Whitely (Old Alleynians)
- 1950-1955 H R Frisby (Streatham)
- 1948-1950 A J Trollope (Croydon)
- 1920-1948 A D Stoop (Harlequins)
- 1913-1920 R A Sawyer (Lennox)
- 1911-1913 C T Mabey (Streatham)
- 1909-1911 H J Barclay (Sutton)
- 1907-1909 M F Waters (Old Merchant Taylors)
- 1905-1907 H E Steed (Lennox)
- 1903-1905 T S T Tregallas (Lennox)
- 1901-1903 L Mortimer (Richmond)
Affiliated clubs
editThere are currently 70 full member mens adult clubs affiliated with the Surrey RFU, most of which have teams at both senior and junior level and are based in Surrey and parts of London. Many of the London-based sides are also members of the Middlesex RFU.
- Barnes[a]
- Battersea Ironsides[b]
- Bec Old Boys[c]
- Camberley
- Chipstead
- Chobham
- Cobham
- Cranleigh RFC
- Croydon[d]
- Dorking
- Economicals
- Effingham & Leatherhead[e]
- Egham Hollowegians
- Esher
- Farnham
- Guildford
- Guildfordians
- Harlequins Amateurs
- Haslemere
- KCS Old Boys
- Kew Occasionals
- Kingston
- Kingston University
- Law Society
- Lightwater
- London Exiles[f]
- London Irish Wild Geese[g]
- Merton[h]
- Met Police
- Mitcham & Carshalton
- Old Alleynians
- Old Blues
- Old Caterhamians
- Old Cranleighans
- Old Emanuel[i]
- Old Freemen's
- Old Georgians
- Old Haileyburians[j]
- Old Johnian
- Old Oundelians
- Old Pauline[k]
- Old Reigatian
- Old Rutlishians
- Old Suttonians
- Old Tiffinians[l]
- Old Walcountians
- Old Wellingtonians
- Old Whitgiftian[m]
- Old Wimbledonians[n]
- Purley John Fisher
- Raynes Park
- Reeds Weybridge
- Reigate & Horley[o]
- Richmond
- Rosslyn Park[p]
- Royal Holloway University
- South London Stags
- Southwark Tigers
- Streatham-Croydon[q]
- Surbiton Decca[r]
- Sutton & Epsom
- Teddington[s]
- Trailfinders[t]
- Trinity[u]
- Wandsworthians
- Warlingham[v]
- Weybridge Vandals
- Wimbledon[w]
- Woking
- Worth Old Boys
Defunct clubs
County club competitions
editThe Surrey RFU currently runs the following club competitions for club sides based in Surrey and parts of London:
Leagues
editPost the 2022 Adult Competition Review
- Counties 1 Surrey / Sussex – league ranked at tier 7 of the English rugby union system
- Counties 2 Surrey – league ranked at tier 8
- Counties 3 Surrey – league ranked at tier 9
- Counties 4 Surrey – league ranked at tier 10
- Counties 5 Surrey – league ranked at tier 11
Prior to the 2022 Adult Competition Review
- Surrey 1 – league ranked at tier 9 of the English rugby union system
- Surrey 2 – tier 10 league
- Surrey 3 – tier 11 league
- Surrey 4 – tier 12 league
Cups
edit- Surrey Cup – founded in 1890, for local clubs at tier 5 of the English rugby union system
- Surrey Trophy – founded in 2009, for clubs at tiers 6–8
- Surrey Shield – founded in 1998, for clubs at tiers 9–10
- Surrey Bowl – founded in 2006, for clubs at tiers 11–12
Discontinued Competitions
edit- Surrey 5 - tier 13 league that ran between 1989 and 1992
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Barnes are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Ironsides are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Bec Old Boys are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Croydon are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Effingham & Leatherhead are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ London Exiles are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ London Irish Wild Geese are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Merton are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Old Emanuel are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Old Haileyburians are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Old Pauline are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Old Tiffinians are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Old Whitgiftian are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Old Wimbledonians are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ In June 2019 Reigate RFC senior section 'absorbed' Horley RFC seniors and stated an intention to compete as Reigate & Horley in season 2019-20.[10]
- ^ Rosslyn Park are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Streatham-Croydon are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Formerly Racal Decca[11]
- ^ Teddington are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Ealing Trailfinders are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Trinity were until the 2018-19 season known as Old Mid-Whitgiftian.
- ^ Warlingham are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ Wimbledon are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
- ^ In June 2019 Reigate RFC senior section 'absorbed' Horley RFC seniors and stated an intention to compete as Reigate & Horley in season 2019-20.[12]
- ^ Despite being currently based in Berkshire, London Irish are joint members of the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
References
edit- ^ a b c Rugby in Surrey at Old Cranleighan Rugby Club Official site
- ^ "Football". The Cornishman. No. 126. 9 December 1880. p. 7.
- ^ "County Championship Plate Final 2005". englandrugby.com. 29 May 2005.
- ^ "Rugby: Dorset & Wilts enjoy Twickenham triumph".
- ^ "Dorset & Wilts claim Shield win". BBC News. 29 May 2011.
- ^ "Leicester Aim for Shield Success". RFU. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ^ "Surrey retain County Championship Shield". RFU. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ^ "Surrey finish strongly to seal hat-trick". rfu.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Super Surrey call Twickenham their home once again". Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser. 31 May 2015.
- ^ "Reigate Rugby Club senior rugby development" (PDF). Reigate RFC. 1 June 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "A New Era". Surbiton Decca RFC. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ "Reigate Rugby Club senior rugby development" (PDF). Reigate RFC. 1 June 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Senior Clubs Near You". Surrey RFU. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- ^ "Incentive FM KO Competitions". Surrey RFU. Retrieved 15 June 2017.