Nottingham R.F.C. - Misplaced Pages

(Redirected from Nottingham Rugby Football Club) English rugby union football team

Rugby team

Nottingham R.F.C.

Full name

Nottingham Rugby Club

Union

Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire RFU

Founded

1877; 147 years ago (1877)

Ground(s)

Lady Bay Sports Ground (Capacity: 3,700)

Chairman

Alistair Bow

President

Nigel Bettinson-Eatch

Director of Rugby

Craig Hammond

League(s)

RFU Championship

2023–24

8th

Home kit

Official website

www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk

Nottingham Rugby Club is a rugby union club based in Nottingham, England. The club's first team currently plays in the RFU Championship, the second tier of English Rugby.

The first XV are nicknamed The Archers, in reference to the famous Robin Hood. Now situated in the Lady Bay area of Nottingham, the club was formerly based at Meadow Lane, the home ground of Notts County F.C. They previously played at Ireland Avenue in Beeston until the end of the 2005–06 season.

History

The club was established circa 1877 by Alexander Birkin after returning from Rugby School, where he was introduced to the sport. The Birkin family later purchased the land at Ireland Avenue that would be the home of the club until 2006.

The club's heyday was in the late 1980s with a number of top international players representing the first XV. These included Simon Hodgkinson, Rob Andrew, Gary Rees, Dusty Hare and Brian Moore (also a Lion) representing England and Chris Gray representing Scotland.

The advent of professionalism saw the Green & Whites fall on hard times and the first XV narrowly avoided relegation to the regional divisions in 2002–03. The club has bounced back since then and was promoted into National League One in 2003–04. The club finished a creditable 7th in 2005–06 before leaving Ireland Avenue after 102 years. Alistair Bow was appointed chairman in 2010 after having been a director since 2008.

On 30 July 2010 the club signed an agreement to become part of Notts County PLC.

In early July 2012 it was announced that Martin Haag had become the new director of rugby at the club. Martin Haag appointed Dan Montagu captain on 21 July 2015. He replaced Brent Wilson who retired at the end of 2014–15 season. Since then Ian Costello has been appointed as Head Coach, with Neil Fowkes and Alex O'Dowd rounding out the coaching team.

A change in funding by the RFU ahead of the 2020–21 season forced the club into become only a part-time professional club.

Ground

Founded in 1877, the club originally played in a field behind the White Hart Inn in Lenton. In 1904 the club purchased land in the village of Beeston and were able to have their first permanent ground, initially known as Rylands Road but becoming Ireland Avenue by 1947. By the advent of league rugby in the late 1980's the capacity of Ireland Avenue was around 4,950 which included a covered grandstand with seating. The club would play at Ireland Avenue for over a century, eventually selling the ground for housing development in 2004.

The club spent a couple of seasons ground sharing at Notts County's home, Meadow Lane between 2004–2006. Since 2006 the club have been based at Lady Bay Sports Ground at Lady Bay. Ground capacity at Lady Bay was originally 3,500 but this has risen to 3,700 for the 2024–25 season, when a Lady Bay ground record of 3,690 watched the club's Premiership Rugby Cup game against Leicester Tigers on 22 November 2024.

Honours

Midland Counties Senior Cup winners: 1905–06
Midland Counties Junior Cup winners: 1907–08
Noel Syson Cup (Notts, Lincs & Derby Sevens) winners: 1935, 1936, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1959, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1983
Middlesex Sevens winners: 1944–45
Midland Merit Table champions: 1984–85
Selkirk Sevens winners: 1990–91

Current standings

2024–25 RFU Championship table
Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Ealing Trailfinders	8	7	1	430	154	+276	7	1	36	Promotion place
2	Coventry	8	7	1	226	154	+72	5	0	33
3	Bedford Blues	8	6	2	205	193	+12	4	0	28
4	Nottingham	8	5	3	227	143	+84	4	2	26
5	Hartpury University	7	4	3	217	190	+27	5	2	23
6	Cornish Pirates	8	4	4	192	160	+32	3	3	22
7	Doncaster Knights	8	4	4	200	177	+23	3	1	20
8	Chinnor	8	3	5	195	181	+14	3	3	18
9	Ampthill	7	3	4	145	264	−119	3	1	16
10	London Scottish	8	2	6	166	242	−76	3	3	14
11	Cambridge	8	2	6	142	369	−227	2	0	10
12	Caldy	8	0	8	118	236	−118	1	2	3	Relegation place

Updated to match(es) played on 15 December 2024. Source: Source: RFU Championship
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

Number of matches won
Difference between points for and against
Total number of points for
Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

Current squad

For player movements before or during the 2023-24 season, see List of 2023–24 RFU Championship transfers § Nottingham.

The Nottingham squad for the 2023–24 season is:

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player	Position	Union
Harry Clayton	Hooker	England
Jack Dickinson	Hooker	England
Antonio Harris	Hooker	England
Jake Bridges	Prop	England
Tom Manz	Prop	England
Kai Owen	Prop	England
Aniseko Sio	Prop	Samoa
Archie van der Flier	Prop	England
Xavier Valentine	Prop	England
George Cox	Lock	England
Sebastian Ferreira	Lock	Germany
Sam Green	Lock	England
Iosefa Maloney-Fiaola	Lock	New Zealand
Come Joussain	Lock	France
Jack Shine	Lock	England
James Cherry	Back row	England
Richard Clift	Back row	Australia
Jay Ecclesfield	Back row	England
Scott Hall	Back row	England
Josh Poullet	Back row	England
Nathan Tweedy	Back row	New Zealand
Jacob Wright	Back row	England

Player	Position	Union
Josh Goodwin	Scrum-half	England
Michael Stronge	Scrum-half	England
Will Yarnell	Scrum-half	England
Jamie Annand	Fly-half	Scotland
Morgan Bunting	Fly-half	England
Sam Hollingsworth	Fly-half	England
Ronnie Du Randt	Centre	South Africa
Michael Green	Centre	New Zealand
Marcus Ramage	Centre	England
Javiah Pohe	Centre	New Zealand
Dafydd Rhys Tiueti	Centre	Wales
Harry Graham	Wing	England
Henry Joule	Wing	England
Ellis Mee	Wing	England
Taiye Olowofela	Wing	England
Jack Stapley	Wing	England
George Daniels	Fullback	England
David Williams	Fullback	England

Notable former players

British & Irish Lions

The following Nottingham players have been selected for the Lions tours while at the club:

Brian Moore (1989)

Rugby World Cup

The following are players which have represented their countries at the Rugby World Cup while playing for Nottingham:

Tournament	Players selected	England players	Other national team players
1987	2	Brian Moore, Gary Rees
1991	3	Gary Rees, Simon Hodgkinson	Chris Gray
2011	4		James Arlidge , Sione Kalamafoni , Tim Usasz , Filipo Levi
2019	1		Shane O'Leary

Other notable former players

The following players have played for Nottingham and have been capped by their national side.

Rob Andrew, England and British & Irish Lions
Vincent Cartwright, England captain
Dusty Hare, England and British & Irish Lions
Chris Wyles, United States
Ali Williams, All Black #1022
Chris Oti, England
Tom Youngs, England and British & Irish Lions
Alex Corbisiero, England and British & Irish Lions
Nick Preston, England
Neil Back, England and British & Irish Lions

Notes

Lady Bay capacity increased from 3,500 to 3,700 for the 2024–25 season.

References

"Ray Trew takes over Nottingham Rugby Club". BBC News. 30 July 2010.
"PLANNING FOR NEXT SEASON". Nottingham Rugby. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
"Ireland Avenue, Nottingham R.F.C, 1904-2004". The Rugby Journal. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
"A last farewell to Ireland Avenue". BBC Sport. 27 April 2006.
"Ten-try Tigers take charge to brush past Nottingham". The RugbyPaper. No. 845. 24 November 2024. p. 19.
"RFU Championship". England Rugby.
"Senior Squad – Nottingham Rugby". Nottingham Rugby. Retrieved 3 April 2024.

External links

Official website

v t e Nottingham – current squad
Forwards	Callum Allen Ben Betts Liam Bishop Lewis Chessum George Cox Jake Farnworth Scott Hall Storm Hanekom Tim Hoyt Carl Kirwan Josh McNulty Suvwe Obano Josh Poullet Jack Ramshaw Jack Shine Aniseko Sio Ben Sugars Archie Vanes Toby Williams Jacob Wright
Backs	Elliot Bale Morgan Bunting Joe Browning Elliot Creed Jacob Cusick Ronnie du-Randt Sam Edwards Harry Graham Luke Hibberd Sam Hollingsworth Theo Manihera Matt Marsh Jordan Olowofela Michael Stronge Jack Stapley Charlie Thacker David Williams
Director of Rugby	Craig Hammond

RFU Championship

2024–25 teams

Former clubs

Seasons

National Division Two	1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
Premiership Two	1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
National Division One	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
Championship	2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
RFU Championship Cup	2018–19 2019–20 ~~2020–21~~ 2021–22 2022–23
Premiership Rugby Cup	2023–24 2024–25

Representative team

RFU Championship XV

British and Irish Cup

2017–18 Teams

English	Bedford Blues Bristol Bears Cornish Pirates Doncaster Knights Ealing Trailfinders Hartpury College Jersey Reds London Scottish Nottingham Rotherham Titans Richmond Yorkshire Carnegie
Irish	Connacht Eagles Leinster A Munster A Ulster A
Welsh	Cardiff Blues PS Dragons PS Ospreys PS Scarlets PS

Former clubs

English	Birmingham & Solihull 2009–10, 2010–11 Coventry 2009–10 Esher 2010–11, 2011–12 Exeter Chiefs 2009–10 Newcastle Falcons 2012–13 Plymouth Albion 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 Worcester Warriors 2010–11, 2014–15
Scottish	Ayr 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14 Currie 2010–11, 2011–12 Dundee HSFP 2012–13 Edinburgh Academicals 2013–14 Gael Force 2009–10 Gala 2012–13, 2013–14 Heriot's FP 2009–10 Melrose 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13 Stirling County 2012–13, 2013–14
Welsh	Aberavon 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 Bedwas 2012–13 Bridgend Ravens 2012–13 Cardiff 2009–10, 2012–13 Carmarthen Quins 2012–13, 2014–15 Cross Keys 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 Llandovery 2010–11, 2012–13 Llanelli 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14 Neath 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13 Newport 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13 Pontypridd 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 Swansea 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13

Seasons

Winners

Premiership Rugby

2024–25 teams

Former clubs

Seasons

National Division One	1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
Premiership Rugby	1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

Other

v t e Original Courage Division 1 clubs, 1987–88
Bath Bristol Coventry Gloucester Harlequins Leicester Moseley Nottingham Orrell Sale Wasps Waterloo

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