Middlesbrough RUFC
| Full name | Middlesbrough Rugby Union Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Yorkshire RFU |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Location | Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England |
| Ground(s) | Acklam Park[1] (Capacity: 5,000) |
| Chairman | Colin McNeil |
| League(s) | Yorkshire 1 |
| 2016–17 | 5th[2] (Durham/Northumberland 1) |
| Official website | |
| www | |
Middlesbrough Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Middlesbrough, Teesside (North Yorkshire). The club runs five senior sides and ten junior teams.[3] with the first XV currently playing in Yorkshire 1 having been level transferred from Durham/Northumberland 1 at the beginning of the 2017-18 season.
History
The first recorded club match took place on 16 November 1872 against Northumberland, playing at Newcastle. The final results score was Northumberland 28–0 Middlesbrough. The earliest Derby game known was Middlesbrough 2–0 Darlington, which took place at Breckon Hill road on Grove Hill on 15 February 1873. Between 1873–79 is unknown with the debut Middlesbrough team defunct. Later, a Middlesbrough Rovers team was formed.
Teesside Wanderers was founded in 1881. Until 1892, Middlesbrough continued to support their 2 clubs until that year came when the Rovers lost their ground. Middlesbrough Rugby Club was then officially formed.
In 1930, the name of the Middlesbrough ground was decided as Acklam Park. In 1932, Middlesbrough Rugby Club became joint ground owners alongside Middlesbrough Cricket Club. The new official title of the club grounds became "Middlesbrough Rugby and Cricket Club". Play was then halted during World War II. The club returned on 7 September 1945.
For the 2012–13 season in the North 1 East, the club finished in 11th place, one place above the relegation zone, with 45 points. They were later relegated to Durham/Northumberland 1 the following season, in 12th place, with just 50 points being achieved.
In the 2016–17 season, the club finished 5th in the league.
Teams
| Senior teams | Junior teams | Mini teams |
|---|---|---|
| 1st XV | Senior Colts | U12s |
| Wasps | Junior Colts U17s | U11s |
| "A" Team | U16s | U10s |
| Lions | U15s | U9s |
| U14s | U8s | |
| U13s | U7s |
Sponsorship
| Club sponsorship | ||
|---|---|---|
| Start | Finish | Sponsor |
| 2015 | 2016 | |
| 2015 | Barker and Stonehouse | |
| 2015 | 2016 | Charles Clinkard |
| 2015 | 2016 | Hertel |
| 2015 | 2016 | Carlsberg UK |
In May 2015, it was announced that Twitter, Barker and Stonehouse, Charles Clinkard, Hertel and Carlsberg UK had agreed for an initial one-year joint-sponsorship for the 2015–16 season. The following year, Barker and Stonehouse decided to continue their sponsorship with the club, becoming sole sponsor, after the previous season's co-sponsors decided not to renew their sponsorship for another season.
Club honours
- Yorkshire Cup winners: 1976
- North 2 (east v west) promotion playoff winners: 2003–04
- North Division 2 East champions: 2006–2007
References
- ^ http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/ground/57173.html
- ^ "Durham/Northumberland 1 - League Table (2016–17)". Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Teams - Middlesbrough RUFC". MRUFC website. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
External links
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