The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, sometimes abbreviated "CURUFC", is the

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

club of the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

. The team plays

Oxford University RFC The Oxford University Rugby Football Club (Oxford University RFC or OURFC) is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham. History Men's team ...

in the annual

Varsity Match A varsity match is a fixture (especially of a sporting event or team) between two university teams, particularly Oxford and Cambridge. The Scottish Varsity rugby match between the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh at Murray ...

Twickenham Stadium Twickenham Stadium () in Twickenham, south-west London, England, is a rugby union stadium owned by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), English rugby union governing body, which has its headquarters there. The England national rugby union team play ...

every December. Cambridge players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest. Many have gone on to represent their country and the

British and Irish Lions The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Lions are a test side and most often select players who have already played for their national ...

; a few, most notably

Dan Vickerman Daniel Joseph Vickerman (4 June 1979 – 18 February 2017) was a professional rugby union player. The 204 cm, 119 kg lock played 63 Tests with the Wallabies, the national team of his adopted country of Australia. After seven seasons wi ...

James Horwill James Horwill (born 29 May 1985) is an Australian former rugby union player, who has played for the Australian national side, with 61 caps to his name. He captained the Wallabies a number of times, including during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Hor ...

Flip van der Merwe Phillip Rudolph van der Merwe (born 3 June 1985 in Potchefstroom) is a South African rugby union rugby player who plays in the lock position for French Top 14 side . Career Free State Cheetahs / Cheetahs Van der Merwe attended Grey Colle ...

, have represented Cambridge after successful international careers. While at Cambridge University

James Bevan James Alfred Bevan (15 April 1858 – 3 February 1938) was a Wales international rugby union three-quarter who played club rugby for Clifton RFC and Newport. He is best known for being the first Welsh international captain, whilst at Cambridg ...

became the first captain of the

Wales national rugby union team The Wales national rugby union team ( cy, Tîm rygbi'r undeb cenedlaethol Cymru) represents Wales in men's international rugby union. Its governing body, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), was established in 1881, the same year that Wales played thei ...

. The CURUFC stadium is located in West Cambridge, beside Grange Road.

History

Football is believed to have been introduced to Cambridge University in 1839 by

Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...

fresher

Albert Pell Albert Pell (12 March 1820 – 7 April 1907) was an English solicitor and Conservative Party politician. Early life Pell was born in 1820, the eldest son of Sir Albert Pell, a judge of the Bankruptcy Courts and Margaret Letitia Matilda St John, d ...

.Marshall (1951), pg 13. Pell had matriculated at Cambridge after going up from

Rugby School Rugby School is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. Founded in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys, it is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain. Up ...

, where the game of rugby is believed to have originated. Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club was officially established in 1872, around three years after the Oxford rugby club was founded. The first Varsity match was contested between the two teams on 10 February 1872.Marshall (1951), pg 17. The Cambridge team was led out by captain

Isaac Cowley Lambert Isaac Cowley Lambert (1850 – 16 October 1918) was a British solicitor and Conservative Member of Parliament. Lambert was also a sportsman of note, and captained the Cambridge University rugby team in the very first Varsity Match. Early life La ...

, wearing pink jerseys with a monogram on the left breast. Played away at the Park in Oxford, Cambridge lost by a single goal to nil. CURUFC officials helped to draw up the laws of the game that were adopted by the

Rugby Football Union The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the Sports governing body, national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby ...

(RFU) when it was established in 1871. Cambridge became a Constituent Body of the Union in 1872, a status which the club still holds today. In

1874 Events January–March * January 1 – New York City annexes The Bronx. * January 2 – Ignacio María González becomes head of state of the Dominican Republic for the first time. * January 3 – Third Carlist War &ndas ...

, Cambridge provided their first international player directly from the club, when John Batten represented

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

in the third encounter against

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

Facilities

Ground

The CURUFC Stadium and Training Grounds are located in West Cambridge, close to Selwyn College's Cripps Court and St Catharine's College's St Chad building. The historic stadium features a number of buildings dating to the early 19th and 20th centuries. A large red lion, a symbol of the

and the crest of the rugby club, stands guard beside the stadium. The lion statue was removed in 1999 from the

Lion Yard The Lion Yard shopping centre is a covered shopping centre in the city centre of Cambridge, England. Construction work on the centre, which is bounded by St Andrew's Street, Corn Exchange Street, and Petty Cury, commenced in 1970 and the dev ...

shopping arcade. The facilities are partially maintained by Cantab Asset Management. The stadium, built in the 19th century, is undersized and is often over capacity during matches, leading to calls for an expansion and redevelopment project. In addition to the Grange Road Site, the club practises on various college and university fields around Cambridge and Grantchester.

Redevelopment Project

In 2015, plans were drafted for a large redevelopment of the Grange Road Site which would ensure the team remains competitive over the next 50 years. The plans included expanded seating, high-tech training facilities, and a new walled admission entrance on Grange Road. An architect for the project has yet to be chosen. In Michaelmas 2017, the CURUFC launched its first fundraising campaign for the Grange Road Redevelopment Project.

Notable former players

British and Irish Lions

The following former players were selected for the

touring squads while playing for Cambridge University. *

Carl Aarvold Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...

1930 *

Randolph Aston Randolph Littleton Aston (6 September 1869 – 3 November 1930) was an English rugby union centre who played club rugby for Blackheath and Cambridge University and was a member of the first official British Isles tour in 1891. Personal history ...

1891 *

David Bedell-Sivright David Revell "Darkie" Bedell-Sivright (8 December 1880 – 5 September 1915) was a Scottish international rugby union forward who captained both Scotland and the British Isles. Born in Edinburgh, and educated at Fettes College where he le ...

1903, 1904 *

Sydney Pyman Bell Sydney Pyman Bell (19 December 1875 – 23 December 1944) was an English rugby union halfback and solicitor. Bell played club rugby for Cambridge University and Northern and played international rugby for the British Isles XV in their 1896 tour ...

1896 * J.H. Bordass 1924 *

Harry Bowcott Henry Morgan Bowcott (30 April 1907 – 14 December 2004) was a Welsh international rugby union centre who played club rugby for Cardiff and London Welsh and later became president of the Welsh Rugby Union. Club career Bowcott was a product of t ...

1930 *

Edward Bromet Edward Bromet (26 January 1867 – 6 April 1937) was an English rugby union forward who was a member of the first official British Isles team to tour abroad. On the tour he was joined by his brother, William Bromet, who would also play internatio ...

1891 *

William Cave William Cave (30 December 1637 – 4 August 1713) was an English divine and patristic scholar. Life Cave was born at Pickwell, Leicestershire, of which parish his father, John Cave was vicar. He was educated at Oakham School and St John's Col ...

1903 *

Owen Chadwick William Owen Chadwick (20 May 1916 – 17 July 2015) was a British Anglican priest, academic, rugby international,Granville Coghlan Granville Boyle Coghlan (6 January 1907 – 18 August 1983) was an educationalist and an early twentieth century rugby union international who is known as one of the "lost lions" due to his participation on the 1927 British Lions tour to Argent ...

1927 * Mike Gibson 1966 *

Thomas Alexander Gibson Thomas Alexander Gibson (30 January 1880, Gateshead – ) was a British international rugby player. He was born in Gateshead , Durham . His brothers were international rugby players Charles and George Ralph Gibson. He played rugby as a forward fo ...

1903 * Johnny Hammond 1891 *

Alfred Hind Alfred Ernest Hind (7 April 1878 – 21 March 1947) was an English sportsman who played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and represented England at rugby union. Personal history Hind was born in Preston, Lancashire in 1878. He was ...

1903 * Herbert Laxon 1908 * Alun Lewis 1977 *

Osbert Mackie Osbert Gadesden Mackie (23 August 1869 – 25 January 1927) was an English rugby union centre and Anglican priest. Mackie played club rugby for Wakefield Trinity (were a rugby union club at the time, so no Heritage № is allocated), and Cambri ...

1896 * Edwin Mayfield 1891 *

William Grant Mitchell William Grant Mitchell (23 May 1865 – 14 January 1904) was an English rugby union fullback who was a member of the first official British Isles team. Mitchell represented several club teams and was an original member of touring team, the Barb ...

1891 *

Arthur Rotherham Arthur Rotherham (27 May 1869 – 3 March 1946) was an English rugby union scrum-half who was a member of the first official British Isles tour and was later capped for the England team. Personal history Rotherham was born in Coventry in 1869 t ...

1891 *

Clement Pearson Simpson Clement Pearson Simpson OBE (13 June 1868 – 19 September 1948) was an English rugby union forward who was a member of the British Isles XV that toured South Africa in 1891. Personal history Simpson was born in 1868 to John Simpson of Clav ...

1891 *

Ken Scotland Kenneth James Forbes Scotland (29 August 1936 – 7 January 2023) was a Scotland international rugby union player and a Scotland international cricket player. He played at full-back in rugby union.Bath, p157 Rugby Union career Amateur career ...

1959 * Arthur Smith 1955 * Aubone Surtees 1891 *

Willie Thomas William Henry Thomas (22 March 1866 – 11 October 1921) was a Welsh international rugby union player who played club rugby for Llanelli and London Welsh. He was capped eleven times for Wales and captained the team on two occasions. In 1888, ...

1888 *

Robert Thompson Robert or Bob Thompson may refer to: Entertainment *Bobby Thompson (comedian) (1911–1988), English comedian *Bob Thompson (musician) (1924–2013), American orchestra leader, arranger, composer *Robert E. Thompson (screenwriter) (1924–2004), ...

1891 * William Henry Thorman 1891 * G. H. Waddell 1959 * William Wotherspoon 1891

International players

The following former players represented a national team while playing for Cambridge University: *

Rob Andrew Christopher Robert Andrew (born 18 February 1963) is a former English Rugby Union player and was, until April 2016, Professional Rugby Director at the RFU. He was formerly the Director of Rugby of Newcastle Falcons and has been Chief Executiv ...

* John Batten *

Robert William Bell Robert William Bell (19 December 1875 – 9 June 1950) was an English international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and Northern. Bell played international rugby for England. Personal history Bell was born in ...

* C.E. Chapman *

Ken Dalgleish Ken Dalgleish (7 June 1931 – 7 April 1974) was a Scotland international rugby union footballer, who played as a Wing. Rugby career Amateur career Dalgleish played for Edinburgh Wanderers.The Essential History of Rugby Union: Scotland. Nick ...

* Glyn Davies * Huw Davies * *

Frank Fasson Francis Hamilton (Frank) Fasson was a Scotland international rugby union player. He played at Half back. Life He was the son of Charles Hamilton Fasson MD, Superintendent of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, by his second wife, Margaret Sarah Rober ...

* Edwin Field *

Herbert Fuller Herbert George Fuller (4 October 1856 – 2 January 1896) was an English born rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and won four international caps for the England national rugby union team between 1882 and 1884. E ...

* James Gowans *

Barry Holmes William Barry Holmes (6 January 1928 – 10 November 1949) was a rugby union player who played for the England national rugby union team and the Argentina national rugby union team. As of 2011 he is the only player to have been capped at senior l ...

Phil Horrocks-Taylor John Philip Horrocks-Taylor (27 October 1934 – 11 February 2021) was a rugby union fly half who played for Leicester Tigers between 1958 and 1963; he represented England 9 times between 1958 and 1964 and was selected for the 1959 British Lion ...

* Cliff Jones *

Cyril Lowe Cyril Nelson "Kit" Lowe, (7 October 1891 – 6 February 1983) was an English rugby union footballer who held England's international try scoring record for over sixty years, a First World War flying ace credited with nine victories, and suppose ...

Gregor MacGregor General Gregor MacGregor (24 December 1786 – 4 December 1845) was a Scottish soldier, adventurer, and confidence trickster who attempted from 1821 to 1837 to draw British and French investors and settlers to "Poyais", a fictional Central Am ...

Charles Marriott Charles Stowell "Father" Marriott (14 September 1895 – 13 October 1966) was an English cricketer, who played first-class cricket for Lancashire, Cambridge University and Kent. Marriott played between 1919 and 1938 and was considered one of th ...

Hugh Monteith Hugh G. Monteith (14 August 1874 – 12 July 1954) was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs in the 1890s and 1900s, including Bristol City, West Ham United and Bury, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1903. Playing ca ...

* Matthew Palamountain * R.M. Pattisson * Samuel Victor Perry *

John Robbie John Cameron Robbie (born 17 November 1955) is a former international rugby union player who played scrum half, and a well known radio presenter in South Africa on Talk radio 702. His previous rugby career has also seen him take up the role of ...

* David Robertson *

Marcus Rose William Marcus Henderson Rose (born 12 January 1957) is a former rugby union international full back who gained ten caps for England between 1981 and 1987. Career Rose made his debut in senior rugby while still at Loughborough Grammar School, ...

* C.H. Sample * William Martin Scott *

Kevin Simms Kevin Gerard Simms (born 25 December 1964) is a former English rugby union footballer; he gained 15 caps for England as a centre between 1985 and 1988. He played in the 1987 Rugby World Cup. He played club rugby for Liverpool St Helens and W ...

John Guthrie Tait John "Jack" Guthrie Tait (24 August 1861 – 4 October 1945) V.D. was a Scottish educator who became principal of the Central College of Bangalore prior to the First World War. In his early adulthood, Tait was a notable sportsman playing rugby ...

Peter Warfield Peter John Warfield is a former rugby union international who represented England in both the 1973 Five Nations and 1975 Five Nations tournaments. Personal Warfield attended Haileybury and Imperial Service College and earned a two-year schol ...

Charles Plumpton Wilson Charles Plumpton Wilson (12 May 1859 – 9 March 1938) was an English amateur footballer who played at wing-half. He made two appearances for England in 1884. He was also capped for the England national rugby union team in 1881, and was one ...

The following Cambridge players won international honours before playing for Cambridge: *

* Tom Lovelace *

Mick O'Callaghan Michael William O'Callaghan (born 27 April 1946) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. A wing three-quarter, O'Callaghan represented and at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1968. H ...

Jamie Roberts Jamie Huw Roberts (born 8 November 1986) is a former Welsh rugby union player, who most recently played for the Waratahs. His usual position is centre. Beginning in 2005, Roberts has played for Cardiff RFC, Cardiff Blues, Racing Métro, Cam ...

Louis Stevenson Louis may refer to: * Louis (coin) * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also Derived or associated terms * Lewis (d ...

Honours

Melrose Sevens Melrose Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Melrose Rugby Club, at The Greenyards in Melrose, Scotland. It is the oldest rugby sevens competition in the world, dating back to 1883 when the tournament was suggested by former Melrose ...

** Champions (1): 1960

Bibliography

References

External links

* {{University of Cambridge, state=collapsed Rugby clubs established in 1872 University and college rugby union clubs in England English rugby union teams Rugby union in Cambridgeshire