Old Northamptonians RFC
Encyclopedia
The Old Northamptonians RFC was founded in 1923 by W.C.C.Cooke who at that time was Headmaster of Northampton Grammar School, England
. The aim was to give former pupils of the School the opportunity to play rugby union
when they left school. The Colours of The kit is Red, Yellow and Blue. All players were either pupils or ex pupils or masters at the School until the club went open in the 1970s. The club still has very close links with the School which is now Northampton School for Boys
and many of the current players were educated there.
Over the years since 1923 the Club has been very successful and produced players who have gone on to play for the Northampton Saints
and also for England
at both Senior and Schoolboy level and at least two British Lions
. In the 1990s the ON’s won promotion four times and the Alliance Cup on three successive occasions. In the 2003-4 season promotion was gained to Midlands East 2-the highest league that the Club had played in and the Alliance Cup was again won and retained in 2004-5,2005-6,2006-7,2007-8,2008-9.
The Mini/Junior Section was established in 1990 and, from the 20 or so young lads who started, this part of the Club has grown to over 300 registered players. As the players moved through the age groups to 17 and 18 a Colts side was formed and over the past five or six years this team has been extremely successful in East Midlands Colts rugby. The 2005-6 season was probably their most successful when they won the Northampton Alliance Oceanic Cup, the East Midlands Referees’ Cup, the East Midlands Colts’ League, the East Midlands Colts’ 7s and were losing finalists in the English Colts Club Knockout Cup
.
The ONRFC Academy was formed at the beginning of the 2009-10 Season in order to help the Player Pathway from Junior to Senior rugby and facilitate Under 17 to 19s in one group, running an U19s Colts side as well as an Under 17s. They immediately reaped the reards as both the colts and the under 17s reached the plate finals of their respective competitions, both however fell short of victory losing to Richmond and Sevenoaks respectively. The 2009-10 season was also extremely successful for the 1st XV. After being promoted to Midlands 1 East under infuential new coach Mark Kefford their main aim was to consolidate their place in this league. However they even surprised themselves by coming second in the league and, after some complications, were promoted to National 3 Midlands their highest ever position in the league structure. Despite this the club will continue their policy of not paying players and attempting to produce home grown talent.
The Rugby Section is part of the Old Northamptonians Association which also includes a football
, Cricket
and Tennis
section. Each section is responsible for their own management but all pay a contribution to the Association which along with bar profits goes towards the upkeep of the Clubhouse and playing surfaces. After receiving funding from Cripps’ Foundation the new Sir Humphrey Cripps’ Pavilion was opened in September 2005.
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 aim was to give former pupils of the School the opportunity to play 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...
when they left school. The Colours of The kit is Red, Yellow and Blue. All players were either pupils or ex pupils or masters at the School until the club went open in the 1970s. The club still has very close links with the School which is now Northampton School for Boys
Northampton School For Boys
Northampton School for Boys is a secondary school in Northampton, England.- Foundation and History :The school was originally founded in 1541 by mayor Thomas Chipsey, as the town's free boys grammar school. In 1557, the school moved to St. Gregory's church, which was adapted for its use...
and many of the current players were educated there.
Over the years since 1923 the Club has been very successful and produced players who have gone on to play for the Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
and also for 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...
at both Senior and Schoolboy level and at least two British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. In the 1990s the ON’s won promotion four times and the Alliance Cup on three successive occasions. In the 2003-4 season promotion was gained to Midlands East 2-the highest league that the Club had played in and the Alliance Cup was again won and retained in 2004-5,2005-6,2006-7,2007-8,2008-9.
The Mini/Junior Section was established in 1990 and, from the 20 or so young lads who started, this part of the Club has grown to over 300 registered players. As the players moved through the age groups to 17 and 18 a Colts side was formed and over the past five or six years this team has been extremely successful in East Midlands Colts rugby. The 2005-6 season was probably their most successful when they won the Northampton Alliance Oceanic Cup, the East Midlands Referees’ Cup, the East Midlands Colts’ League, the East Midlands Colts’ 7s and were losing finalists in the English Colts Club Knockout Cup
English Colts Club Knockout Cup
The English Clubs Knockout Cup or The National Colts Cup is a Nationwide competition for English Rugby union Clubs Colts teams. The competition is a straight knock-out competition that is organised by the East Midlands Rugby Union...
.
The ONRFC Academy was formed at the beginning of the 2009-10 Season in order to help the Player Pathway from Junior to Senior rugby and facilitate Under 17 to 19s in one group, running an U19s Colts side as well as an Under 17s. They immediately reaped the reards as both the colts and the under 17s reached the plate finals of their respective competitions, both however fell short of victory losing to Richmond and Sevenoaks respectively. The 2009-10 season was also extremely successful for the 1st XV. After being promoted to Midlands 1 East under infuential new coach Mark Kefford their main aim was to consolidate their place in this league. However they even surprised themselves by coming second in the league and, after some complications, were promoted to National 3 Midlands their highest ever position in the league structure. Despite this the club will continue their policy of not paying players and attempting to produce home grown talent.
The Rugby Section is part of the Old Northamptonians Association which also includes a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and Tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
section. Each section is responsible for their own management but all pay a contribution to the Association which along with bar profits goes towards the upkeep of the Clubhouse and playing surfaces. After receiving funding from Cripps’ Foundation the new Sir Humphrey Cripps’ Pavilion was opened in September 2005.