Douglas R.U.F.C.
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| Full name | Douglas Rugby Union Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Cheshire RFU | ||
| Nickname(s) | Proud Lions | ||
| Location | Douglas, Isle of Man | ||
| Ground(s) | Port-E-Chee | ||
| Chairman |  Peter Horsthuis | ||
| President | Gareth Hooson Owen | ||
| Captain(s) | Glyn Hooson Owen | ||
| League(s) | North 1 West | ||
| 2017-18 | 9th | ||
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| Official website | |||
| www | |||
Douglas Rugby Club (also referred to as DRUFC) are an English rugby union club based in Douglas on the Isle of Man. The club run two senior sides and age range teams encompassing both mini and junior rugby. The men's 1st XV currently play in North 1 West, at the sixth tier of the English rugby union system, following their promotion from South Lancs/Cheshire 1 via the playoffs at the end of the 2016-17 season.
History
Douglas Rugby Club have traditionally been the leading Isle of Man rugby union team and again confirmed this status in 2015-16 when, for the fifth successive year, the 1st XV retained the Manx Cup and were the highest placed Isle of Man side in the RFU national leagues. They are affiliated to the English Rugby Football Union. The current coaches of DRUFC are Tom Waterworth and Carl Murray.
Apart from being the oldest and highest ranked club in the IoM the club has several other firsts for the Isle of Man. It was the first Manx side to join the national leagues, it was the first club in the Isle of Man to start mini rugby, it was the first club to build its own club house. This has been substantially extended and refurbished in recent years and remains one of the best facilities on the Island with a bar serving two functions rooms, four modern changing rooms each with their own dedicated showers, a physio's room, gym, dedicated referees facilities and kitchen equipped to a commercial standard.
Perhaps their most notable player is A.P. Penketh, who took part in the first 1888 British Isles tour to New Zealand and Australia[1]
2015/16 Playing Record
Fourteen victories from 26 matches played should have seen the 1st XV finish in 5th place in South Lancs/Cheshire Division 1 however a disputed points deduction saw them drop to 8th. In the Manx Cup they were drawn to play the other two Manx league sides and a comprehensive 40-0 victory over Vagabonds RUFC in the semi final, followed by an equally emphatic 57-6 victory over Ramsey RUFC in the final saw Douglas RUFC retain the Cup.
The Second XV made the final of the Manx Trophy, where they narrowly lost out to Southern Nomads 1st XV
Club Honours
- Euromanx South Lancs/Cheshire 3 champions: 2007-08
- South Lancs/Cheshire 2 Runners up: 2012-13
- North Lancashire/Cumbria v South Lancs/Cheshire 1 promotion playoff winners: 2016-17
Club Colours
Douglas Rugby Club play in maroon and gold. Maroon shorts and maroon with gold hooped socks. The emblem on the shirts is a Viking.
Club Sponsors
old Mutual International are the current club sponsor and the club is very grateful to them and all sponsors, supporters and volunteers as their assistance is invaluable .
See also
- Rugby union in the Isle of Man
- Sport in the Isle of Man
- Castletown R.U.F.C.
- Ramsey R.U.F.C.
- Southern Nomads R.U.F.C.
- Vagabonds R.U.F.C.
- Western Vikings Rugby Club
References
- ^ Griffiths, John (1990). British Lions. Swindon: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-85223-541-1
External links
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