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Ampthill RUFC

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

England Ampthill
Full nameAmpthill RUFC
UnionEast Midlands RFU
Founded1881; 145 years ago (1881)[1]
GroundDillingham Park (Capacity: 3,000)
Director of RugbyMark Lavery
CoachPaul Turner
CaptainJosh Barton
LeagueChamp Rugby
2024–258th
Team kit
Official website
ampthillrufc.com

Ampthill RUFC is an English rugby union club based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. The club runs six senior teams and a full range of junior sides.[2] The first XV play in Champ Rugby, the second tier of the English rugby union system. Ampthill women's team, the Lionesses, currently compete in the NC3 competition.

History

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In 2013–14, the team finished second but lost the promotion play-off to Darlington Mowden Park of the National League 2 North.[3] In 2014–15, they again finished second having been transferred to National League 2 North. They beat Bishop's Stortford, the National League 2 South runner-up in the promotion play-off at Dillingham Park, 19–10.[4]

For the 2015–16 season Ampthill have agreed a player development programme with Saracens, allowing young players contracted to Saracens to play for Ampthill.[5]

Honours

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Ampthill were initially National League 3 Midlands champions in 2009–10 but were stripped of the title due to breaches of league rules.[8]

Current standings

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2025–26 Champ Rugby table
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Ealing Trailfinders 19 19 0 0 827 303 +524 17 0 93 Play-off
semi-finals
2 Bedford Blues 19 13 1 5 582 469 +113 15 2 71
3 Worcester Warriors 19 12 0 7 661 448 +213 15 5 68 Play-off
quarter-finals
4 Coventry 19 11 0 8 695 554 +141 16 5 65
5 Hartpury 19 11 2 6 509 484 +25 9 1 58
6 Cornish Pirates 19 10 1 8 552 477 +75 12 3 57
7 Nottingham 19 9 1 9 461 408 +53 11 7 56
8 Chinnor 19 11 0 8 471 445 +26 6 5 55
9 Doncaster Knights 19 7 3 9 497 451 +46 9 4 47
10 Caldy 19 8 0 11 441 539 −98 10 3 45
11 Ampthill 19 6 0 13 462 738 −276 11 4 39
12 Richmond 19 6 1 12 388 525 −137 4 4 34 Relegation play-off
13 London Scottish 19 5 0 14 360 632 −272 7 2 29
14 Cambridge 19 0 1 18 336 769 −433 6 4 12 Relegated
Updated to match(es) played on 28 February 2026. Source: England Rugby
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of matches drawn
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

Current squad

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For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2025–26 Champ Rugby transfers § Ampthill.

The Ampthill squad for the 2025–26 season is:[9][a]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Harrison Dakin Hooker England England
James Isaacs [a] Hooker England England
Seb Smith Hooker England England
Richard Barrington Prop England England
Harrison Courtney Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Dom Hardman Prop England England
James Johnston Prop Samoa Samoa
Callum Norrie Prop Scotland Scotland
Jevaughn Warren Prop England England
Totoa Auva'a [a] Prop Samoa Samoa
Aaron Gear Lock England England
Aidan King Lock Australia Australia
Justin Mataele Lock Tonga Tonga
Jake Parkinson Lock England England
Valentino Mapapalangi Back row Tonga Tonga
Barney Merritt [a] Back row England England
Olly Mullarkey Back row England England
Matthew Parry Back row England England
Lekima Ravuvu Back row Fiji Fiji
Charles Rylands Back row England England
Player Position Union
Alex Davies Scrum-half England England
Efan Jones Scrum-half Wales Wales
Rory Morgan Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Josh Barton Fly-half England England
Louis Grimoldby Fly-half England England
Louie Johnson [a] Fly-half England England
Olly Hartley [a] Centre England England
Matt Salisbury Centre England England
Fraser Stratchan Centre Scotland Scotland
Sione Vaenuku Centre Tonga Tonga
Oscar Wilson [a] Centre England England
Mason Cullen Wing Scotland Scotland
Seva Kava Wing Fiji Fiji
Sam Kildunne Wing England England
Rhys Thomas Wing Wales Wales
Joe Heslop Fullback England England
Albie Matthews Fullback England England
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Saracens players who are dual-registered with the club for the 2025-26 season.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ "...reformed after WWII in 1950 the current club...""A brief History of Ampthill & District Community RUFC". Ampthill & District RUFC. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. ^ Club website home page - headlines section Archived 11 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "National League 2 South". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  4. ^ "National 2 Promotion Playoff". Archived from the original on 29 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Ampthill & Saracens Player Development Programme". Ampthill RUFC. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015.
  6. ^ "RFU".
  7. ^ http://www.emru.co.uk/clubimages/10/documents/Previous%20winners%20of%20the%20WB%20EM%20Snr%20Cup.doc [permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "National League Rugby Discussion Forum".
  9. ^ "1st XV Squad". Ampthill RUFC. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Ampthill & Saracens Partnership". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  11. ^ "1st XV Squad - Ampthill Rugby". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
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