Old Albanian Rugby Football Club
Encyclopedia
Old Albanian Rugby Football Club (OAs) is a rugby
club based in St Albans
, Hertfordshire
, England
.
The club runs up to six senior teams each week and has one of the largest Mini and Junior sections in the country. There is a thriving social membership and members enjoy some of the finest facilities in the country. The club's mission is 'To promote the game of rugby at all levels of ability, across all age groups and for both sexes.'
with a mutual love of the game (and doubtless an ale
or two as well!). They acquired their first pavilion which was a timber World War I Barrack Hut. Organised rugby was thus established in St Albans
, providing rugby union
for all.
clubs, to form part of London League Division 2
1996 - Won London NW Division 3 gaining promotion to London League Division 2 North
1998 - Won the Herts. President's Cup
2001 - Won the County Sevens
and were runners up in the Herts. President's Cup
2003 - Promotion to London League Division One
2005 - Reached their highest-ever league position (5th place in Powergen London One)
2009 - Won the Herts County 7s, runners up in the Herts County Cup Final. OA Colts reach both National Cup & Herts County Cup Finals and finish as Runners Up.
2010 - OAs gain promotion to National League 2 South
from National League 3 South East with a playoff win vs Old Patesians R.F.C.
. Old Albanian Saints gain promotion to RFUW
Premiership.
1st XV - National League 2 South
2nd XV - Canterbury Shield, Division 2
3rd XV - Greene King Super Premier Division
4th XV - Herts Middlesex Merit Tables, Division 3
5th XV - Herts Middlesex Merit Tables, Division 5
, the club moved to their current playing fields following the development of Cheapside Farm into The Woollam Playing Fields, generally referred to as "Woollam's". The playing facilities opened in 2002 with a club-selected XV match against a star-studded international XV led by Peter Winterbottom
which formed the centre-piece of the opening ceremony.
The state-of-the-art sporting complex on the northern outskirts of St Albans
was acknowledged as the largest sporting development in Europe
during its construction. It is regarded by many as the finest amateur sporting venue in the land. The Woollam Playing Fields is the choice of Saracens
for their 'A' team's home fixtures and has hosted both England Under 16 and England RFUW International matches.
Men's rugby
England
: Jeff Probyn
Wales
: Paul Turner
Ireland
: Darragh O'Mahony
Barbarians
: Steve Pope, Greg Botterman
Serbia
: Danilo Bulatovic
Sweden
: Charlie Openshaw
Women's rugby
England
: Cath Botterman
Hong Kong
: Tamsin Reed
Italy
: Nadia Brannon
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
club based in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The club runs up to six senior teams each week and has one of the largest Mini and Junior sections in the country. There is a thriving social membership and members enjoy some of the finest facilities in the country. The club's mission is 'To promote the game of rugby at all levels of ability, across all age groups and for both sexes.'
Formation
The club was formed in 1924 by a group of far-sighted Old Boys of St Albans SchoolSt Albans School (Hertfordshire)
St Albans School is an independent school in the city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, in the East of England. Entry before Sixth Form is for boys only, and co-educational thereafter. Founded in 948 by Wulsin , St Albans School is not only the oldest school in Hertfordshire but also one of the oldest...
with a mutual love of the game (and doubtless an ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
or two as well!). They acquired their first pavilion which was a timber World War I Barrack Hut. Organised rugby was thus established in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, providing 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...
for all.
OA RFC's recent achievements
1987 - Selected, with two other HertfordshireHertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
clubs, to form part of London League Division 2
1996 - Won London NW Division 3 gaining promotion to London League Division 2 North
1998 - Won the Herts. President's Cup
2001 - Won the County Sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
and were runners up in the Herts. President's Cup
2003 - Promotion to London League Division One
2005 - Reached their highest-ever league position (5th place in Powergen London One)
2009 - Won the Herts County 7s, runners up in the Herts County Cup Final. OA Colts reach both National Cup & Herts County Cup Finals and finish as Runners Up.
2010 - OAs gain promotion to National League 2 South
National League 2 South
National League 2 South, known before September 2009 as National Division Three South, is a league at level 4 in the English rugby union system. The league is one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart covering the north of England...
from National League 3 South East with a playoff win vs Old Patesians R.F.C.
Old Patesians R.F.C.
Old Patesians Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The club is currently in National Three South West.-History:...
. Old Albanian Saints gain promotion to RFUW
Rugby Football Union for Women
The Rugby Football Union for Women is the governing body for women's rugby union in England. Its headquarters are at Twickenham Stadium, London.-History:Women's rugby union was first played seriously in Great Britain in the late 1970’s...
Premiership.
Men's rugby
Running five men's sides each week the club has grown to become one of the biggest in the country, featuring a full schedule of league and friendly fixtures.1st XV - National League 2 South
2nd XV - Canterbury Shield, Division 2
3rd XV - Greene King Super Premier Division
4th XV - Herts Middlesex Merit Tables, Division 3
5th XV - Herts Middlesex Merit Tables, Division 5
Mini and junior rugby
OAs has recruited over 750 mini and junior rugby players. The minis enjoy good success in the Hertfordshire leagues, whilst the juniors are well represented in the Saracens Herts and Middlesex Junior leagues. Most age groups are able to provide two squads to the leagues and provide very good competition.Women's rugby
In 2005 the first women's XV ('The Saints'), unbeaten since November 2003, secured the South East One league title without losing a game. They won promotion to National League 2 in the subsequent play-off competition, securing victory over each of their regional rivals. In 2010 the OA Saints 1st XV gained promotion to the RFUW Premiership.Facilities
After 78 years based at Beech BottomBeech Bottom Dyke
Beech Bottom Dyke, is a large ditch running for half a mile at the northern edge of St Albans, Hertfordshire flanked by banks on both sides. It is up to wide, and deep, and it can be followed for half a mile between the "Ancient Briton Crossroads" on the St Albans to Harpenden road until it is...
, the club moved to their current playing fields following the development of Cheapside Farm into The Woollam Playing Fields, generally referred to as "Woollam's". The playing facilities opened in 2002 with a club-selected XV match against a star-studded international XV led by Peter Winterbottom
Peter Winterbottom
Peter James Winterbottom , is a former England rugby union footballer who played as an openside flanker. He was England's most-capped openside until being overtaken by Neil Back in 2003...
which formed the centre-piece of the opening ceremony.
The state-of-the-art sporting complex on the northern outskirts of St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
was acknowledged as the largest sporting development in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during its construction. It is regarded by many as the finest amateur sporting venue in the land. The Woollam Playing Fields is the choice of Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
for their 'A' team's home fixtures and has hosted both England Under 16 and England RFUW International matches.
Representative honours
OAs have had players recognized at county level and national level.Men's rugby
England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
: Jeff Probyn
Jeff Probyn
Jeff Probyn is an English former Rugby Union player.The Askeans, Streatham and Wasps prop was selected in England's squad for the 1987 Rugby World Cup, but Probyn did not make his international debut until 1988, at the age of 31, against France...
Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
: Paul Turner
Paul Turner
Paul Turner may refer to:* Paul Turner , Welsh rugby union footballer* Paul Turner , Welsh film director* Paul Turner , American football coach...
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
: Darragh O'Mahony
Darragh O'Mahony
Darragh O'Mahony is a rugby union player who played on the Wing for Moseley, Saracens and Ireland. O'Mahony joined Saracens from Bedford Blues in 1999 and was released by mutual consent in August 2004.-Notes:...
Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
: Steve Pope, Greg Botterman
Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
: Danilo Bulatovic
Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
: Charlie Openshaw
Women's rugby
England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
: Cath Botterman
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
: Tamsin Reed
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
: Nadia Brannon