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.
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]
^. RFU. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
^. Pitchero. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
^"Justin Bridou European Championship". FIRA-AER. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
^"Young Gun: Josh Skelcey". The Rugby Paper. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
External linksedit
Dunstablians Rugby Football Club
October 27, 2023
dunstablians, rufc, dunstablians, rugby, union, football, club, amateur, rugby, union, club, based, bedfordshire, play, their, rugby, midlands, east, south, eight, tier, league, english, rugby, union, system, their, ground, located, just, outside, nearby, houg. 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 amp 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 DunstabliansFull nameDunstablians Rugby Union Football ClubUnionEast Midlands RFUNickname s The DeesFounded1948 75 years ago 1948 LocationHoughton Regis Bedfordshire EnglandGround s Bidwell ParkLeague s Midlands 3 East South 2019 205thOfficial websitedunstablians wbr rfu wbr club Contents 1 History 2 Club Honours 3 Current squad 4 International honours 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksHistory editIn 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 edit1st XV Midlands East 2 champions 1997 98 Midlands East 1 a champions 1999 00 Bedfordshire County Cup winners 5 2000 2001 2005 2007 2012 East Midlands Cup winners 2000 Midlands 2 East champions 2000 01 Rugby World Magazine Team of the Year 2001 Bedfordshire Shield winners 2019Youth Bedfordshire Colts County Cup winners 2001Current squad editNote Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules Players may hold more than one non World Rugby nationality Player Position UnionGlenn Brinkley Prop nbsp EnglandWill Hewitt Prop nbsp EnglandChris Chandler Prop nbsp EnglandNathan Aris Hooker nbsp EnglandRhys Thomas Flanker nbsp WalesSam Coogan Flanker nbsp EnglandMatthew Knight Lock nbsp EnglandRichard Cope Lock nbsp EnglandHarry Breadsticks Smith Lock nbsp EnglandSimon George Prop nbsp EnglandAshley Jenkinson Flanker nbsp EnglandNathan Dominique Flanker nbsp EnglandTristan T Pain Randolph Flanker nbsp EnglandKevin Arnold Flanker nbsp EnglandSimon Husc Howard Prop nbsp EnglandMarshall Topp Number 8 nbsp Russia Player Position UnionGeorge Aitchison Wing nbsp EnglandMichael Morris Scrum half nbsp EnglandScott Warren Number 8 nbsp EnglandMattie Anderson Wing nbsp EnglandKevin Boland Fly half nbsp EnglandTarkan TK Kranda Centre nbsp TurkeyJack Newton Wing nbsp EnglandZach Bourne Fullback nbsp EnglandSam Wilkins Wing nbsp EnglandJosh Klymyszyn Centre nbsp EnglandInternational honours editNationality Player Honours nbsp Marcus Vass Denmark nbsp Neil Davis England U9 Tiddlywinks Record Holder nbsp Max Thorne England Deaf amp England Deaf Sevens nbsp Morne Loxton South Africa U21s nbsp Harry Roberts South Africa nbsp Anthony Niven New Zealand U19s nbsp Reece Marshall England U18s 7 nbsp Josh Skelcey England U18s 8 Notes edit Not to be confused with Midlands 1 East References edit RFU Handbook Dunstablians RFU Archived from the original on 27 September 2007 Retrieved 5 October 2009 Dunstablians Club History DRUFC Retrieved 5 October 2009 Dunstablians Win County Cup Luton Today Retrieved 5 October 2009 Cup Win Bedford Today Retrieved 5 October 2009 permanent dead link Community Details Cup Win RFU Archived from the original on 1 September 2007 Retrieved 5 October 2009 County Cup Final Pitchero Archived from the original on 23 October 2012 Retrieved 29 April 2012 Justin Bridou European Championship FIRA AER Retrieved 29 April 2012 Young Gun Josh Skelcey The Rugby Paper 15 August 2014 Retrieved 27 August 2014 External links editDunstablians Rugby Football Club Rugby Football Union Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dunstablians RUFC amp oldid 1179236674, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
