Cambridge R.U.F.C.

Not to be confused with Cambridge University R.U.F.C..

Cambridge RUFC

Full name	Cambridge Rugby Union Football Club
Founded	1923
Location	Cambridge, England
Ground(s)	Volac Park (Capacity: 1,250)
Coach(es)	Bob Crooks
League(s)	National League 1
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
www.crufc.co.uk

Cambridge Rugby Union Football Club or CRUFC is a rugby union club representing the city of Cambridge, England. Formed in 1923 the club currently competes in National League 1. The club plays its home matches at the 1,250 capacity Grantchester Road ground, (which for sponsorship purposes is also known as Volac Park) in the affluent suburb of Newnham, approximately 2 kilometres south-west of the city centre.

The Club runs 3 Senior Squads: the National League Squad, a development squad, and a social squad. At junior level the club runs one of the oldest mini and youth rugby sections in the country, starting back in the early 1970s, with a Colts team for under-19s.

History

Cambridge RUFC was formed in 1923 and was settled in its current ground by the 1950s. In 1993 the Club was offered the opportunity to buy the lease on its existing three pitches and to buy adjoining land for a further three pitches from King's College. Floodlights were added to one of these pitches in 2003 so that evening games might be played and the light available for training was improved.

Cambridge RUFC joined the newly formed league structure in 1988 and by 1991 was playing in London 3 North East Division. After five years in this division, the Club was promoted to London 2 North and after 4 years in this division, was promoted at the end of the 1998–99 season to London 1, which feeds into the National Leagues. In the Club's first season in London 1, they achieved 4th place, plus a run to the semi-final of the NPI Cup, falling just one match from Twickenham, after defeat away at Hull by 21-17. London 1 status was secured again for the 2001/2 Season, but player attrition and an aging squad led to relegation at the end of that season. However, the club's appetite for higher level rugby had been whetted and by the end of the 2003/4 season, a rebuilt side was second to an all-conquering London Scottish team in London 2 North and won an exciting play-off against Barnes 21-19 to regain promotion to London 1. Cambridge also won the Eastern Counties Cup for the first time and regained the Cambridgeshire Cup from perennial rivals Shelford. This time, the stay in London 1 was to be even shorter; At the end of an exciting season the League championship lay between Worthing and Cambridge at the start of the final round of matches: Worthing at home to Canterbury and Cambridge at home to Basingstoke. The championship would go to the team achieving the greatest points difference. In the event, Cambridge won by 96 - 15 and Worthing were condemned to the play-offs. Cambridge went on to beat Norwich in the Eastern Counties Cup Final and Shelford in the Cambridgeshire Cup Final - the second successive Treble and promotion to National League rugby for the first time.

In the 2005/2006 season Cambridge once again secured promotion after a two horse race. This time with Norfolk & East Anglian Giants North Walsham who had been present in this league for well over a decade. Cambridge squeezed past them with a last day win at Reading while North Walsham failed by 21-20 at Southend. This was all the more lucky as North Walsham had secured the bonus point for 4 tries but failed with all 4 conversions.

In the 2006/2007 season Cambridge's home form was the saving grace, they managed to consolidate their position in National Division Two with a Ninth Place finish.

In the 2008/9 season Cambridge finished second in the league and would have been promoted had it not been for the re-organisation of the leagues in mid season.

Three promotions secured in consecutive seasons. A triple treble success for CRUFC marked by a Civic Reception on May 23rd, hosted by the City Mayor, John Hipkin. The Eastern Counties RFU representative, Brian Williams, presented the NCA, Eastern Counties and County Cups.

League history

Overall

Year	League	Position	Notes
1987–88	No League	N/A	-
1988–89	Eastern Counties Division One	N/A	-
1989–90	London Division Four North-East	N/A	-
1990–91	London Division Three North-East	N/A	-
1991–92	London Division Three North-East	N/A	-
1992–93	London Division Three North-East	N/A	-
1993–94	London Division Three North-East	N/A	-
1994–95	London Division Three North-East	N/A	-
1995–96	London Division Two North	N/A	-
1996–97	London Division Two North	4th	-
1997–98	London Division Two North	3rd	-
1998–99	London Division Two North	1st	Promoted to London Division One
1999–2000	London Division One	4th	NPI Cup Semi-Finalists
2000–01	London Division One	8th	-
2001–02	London Division One	12th	Relegated
2002–03	London Division Two North	4th	-
2003–04	London Division Two North	2nd	Promoted in play-offs, Eastern Counties & Cambridgeshire Cup Champions
2004–05	London Division One	1st	Promoted, Eastern Counties & Cambridgeshire Cup Champions
2005–06	National Division Three South	1st	Promoted, Eastern Counties & Cambridgeshire Cup Champions
2006–07	National Division Two	9th	5th round in Powergen National Trophy
2007–08	National Division Two	5th	-
2008–09	National Division Two	2nd	Would have been promoted but for the RFU league structure changes

Players

A number of players have gone on to gain International Rugby honours, including Dickie Jeeps (England and British Lions), Andy Hancock (England), Bob Steven (Scotland), Trevor Evans (Wales) and most recently Simon Culhane who represented New Zealand, including appearances in the 1995 World Cup Finals.

Honours

National Division Three South

• Champions: 2005–06

London Division One

• Champions: 2004–05

London Division Two North

• Champions: 1998–99
• Runners-up: 2003–04

Eastern Counties

• Champions: 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06

Cambridgeshire Cup

• Winners: 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06

National U-19 Plate

• Winners: 2002

Eastern Counties U-19s Cup

• Winners: 1994, 2003, 2004

Eastern Counties U-17s Cup:

• Winners: 1992, 2002, 2006

See also

• Current English league tables.