Loughborough Rugby Football Club
Encyclopedia
Loughborough Rugby Football Club is a rugby union
club in Loughborough
, United Kingdom
that has been in existence since 1891, when it was known as the Loughborough Corinthians Football Club and later Loughborough Football Club. Their nickname remains 'The Corinthians' although this is rarely, if at all, heard today.
In 1929 a handful of players, including some of the original membership from before the Great War, met and decided to refound the club. The club was refounded solely as a Rugby Union
club, the game having grown to be very distinct from what we now know as association football (soccer).
Loughborough regularly fields four men's sides on a Saturday, as well as having one of the best attended Mini and Junior sections in the county. Loughborough RFC is affiliated to the Leicestershire Rugby Union (LRU), the Rugby Football Union
and the Rugby Football Union for Women. The club now plays its matches on Derby Road Playing Fields and has its own purpose built clubhouse, six changing rooms and four pitches.
The 1st XV play league fixtures in Midlands 1 East for the first time this season. Last season(2010–11)they finished second in Midlands 2 East (North)
, winning a promotion play-off against Peterborough Lions to gain promotion. The club hopes to build on last season to consolidate their place in the league structure this year. Andrew York stays on for a second term as 1st XV Captain, while Chris Campbell is continuing as head coach and Jason Button has been signed as Director of Rugby.
The club has reached the final of the Leicestershire County Bowl, beating Vipers RFC two years in succession to lift the trophy. (Oddly enough, the 'Bowl' is actually a cup. This should not be seen as being too odd though as when Loughborough won the Leicestershire County Plate, the plate was in fact a shield.) This season Loughborough's attempt to lift the trophy for a third successive year was thwarted by Leicester Forest, a close and hard-fought game ending with a 12-10 victory for the Leicester outfit.
Loughborough's 3rd XV did taste success this year, winning Leicestershire Merit Table Division Two under the expert guidance of skipper Joe McDonnell. Joe received his trophy from RFU President Bob Taylor at the LRU presentation evening in May.
Last season the Loughborough 1st XV won the Midlands One league title from Olney in a 'winner takes all' finale match at Derby Road, and from there progressed to a Northern Play-Off against Altrincham Kersal. Loughborough played their opponents off the park in a 29-7 win, and secured prompotion to Level 2 of the women's game, Championship North 1. This promotion was the first time Loughborough had achieved a League title since they won four consecutive League Championships from 2001-2004. The Women's XV have also previously reached the final of the RFUW North Cup and the RFUW National Shield, and this year they have provided six members of the East Midlands Women's side as well as receiving recognition in the RFUW Super 4 competition.
This season the 2nd XV will be playing in a very competitive National Challenge Yorkshire/North Midlands division.
Loughborough also has a hugely successful youth set-up, including Mini-Midi rugby for those children (boys and girls) aged 7 to 12. Junior rugby is for boys aged between 13 and 17. Colts rugby is for those aged 18 and 19. It is hoped that the women's section will be able to add a Junior Girls section in the near future (age groups under 14 and under 17). Junior Girls training started this season on Wednesday evenings, before the Senior Women's training.
Loughborough is always open to new members, both players and social members, and encourages boys, girls, men and women to join the club, either as players or Social Members.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club in Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that has been in existence since 1891, when it was known as the Loughborough Corinthians Football Club and later Loughborough Football Club. Their nickname remains 'The Corinthians' although this is rarely, if at all, heard today.
History
At the time of founding both codes of football (association and rugby) were played by the same clubs, this being the case with Loughborough. The club fell by the wayside after many men enlisted for the First World War and the membership was reduced.In 1929 a handful of players, including some of the original membership from before the Great War, met and decided to refound the club. The club was refounded solely as a Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club, the game having grown to be very distinct from what we now know as association football (soccer).
Loughborough regularly fields four men's sides on a Saturday, as well as having one of the best attended Mini and Junior sections in the county. Loughborough RFC is affiliated to the Leicestershire Rugby Union (LRU), the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
and the Rugby Football Union for Women. The club now plays its matches on Derby Road Playing Fields and has its own purpose built clubhouse, six changing rooms and four pitches.
The 1st XV play league fixtures in Midlands 1 East for the first time this season. Last season(2010–11)they finished second in Midlands 2 East (North)
Midlands 2 East (North)
Midlands 2 East is part of the English Rugby Union Midland Division. Midlands 2 East is a level 7 English Rugby Union League.-Structure:...
, winning a promotion play-off against Peterborough Lions to gain promotion. The club hopes to build on last season to consolidate their place in the league structure this year. Andrew York stays on for a second term as 1st XV Captain, while Chris Campbell is continuing as head coach and Jason Button has been signed as Director of Rugby.
The club has reached the final of the Leicestershire County Bowl, beating Vipers RFC two years in succession to lift the trophy. (Oddly enough, the 'Bowl' is actually a cup. This should not be seen as being too odd though as when Loughborough won the Leicestershire County Plate, the plate was in fact a shield.) This season Loughborough's attempt to lift the trophy for a third successive year was thwarted by Leicester Forest, a close and hard-fought game ending with a 12-10 victory for the Leicester outfit.
Loughborough's 3rd XV did taste success this year, winning Leicestershire Merit Table Division Two under the expert guidance of skipper Joe McDonnell. Joe received his trophy from RFU President Bob Taylor at the LRU presentation evening in May.
Women's and youth teams
Loughborough, as many clubs have done, has responded to the calling and popularity of Women's Rugby and the Women's XV is about to embark on its tenth season. Last year saw the club merge with the University League club and so now two sides take the field in Loughborough colors every week. The club uses the excellent Training facilities on offer at the University in the week and plays its matches at Derby Road on Sunday afternoons.Last season the Loughborough 1st XV won the Midlands One league title from Olney in a 'winner takes all' finale match at Derby Road, and from there progressed to a Northern Play-Off against Altrincham Kersal. Loughborough played their opponents off the park in a 29-7 win, and secured prompotion to Level 2 of the women's game, Championship North 1. This promotion was the first time Loughborough had achieved a League title since they won four consecutive League Championships from 2001-2004. The Women's XV have also previously reached the final of the RFUW North Cup and the RFUW National Shield, and this year they have provided six members of the East Midlands Women's side as well as receiving recognition in the RFUW Super 4 competition.
This season the 2nd XV will be playing in a very competitive National Challenge Yorkshire/North Midlands division.
Loughborough also has a hugely successful youth set-up, including Mini-Midi rugby for those children (boys and girls) aged 7 to 12. Junior rugby is for boys aged between 13 and 17. Colts rugby is for those aged 18 and 19. It is hoped that the women's section will be able to add a Junior Girls section in the near future (age groups under 14 and under 17). Junior Girls training started this season on Wednesday evenings, before the Senior Women's training.
Loughborough is always open to new members, both players and social members, and encourages boys, girls, men and women to join the club, either as players or Social Members.