Douglas R.U.F.C.
 | |||
| Full name | Douglas Rugby Union Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Cheshire RFU | ||
| Nickname(s) | Proud Lions | ||
| Founded | 1873 | ||
| Location | Douglas, Isle of Man | ||
| Ground(s) | Port-E-Chee | ||
| Chairman | Noel Capewell | ||
| President | Paul Snellgrove | ||
| League(s) | North 1 West | ||
| 2019–20 | 8th | ||
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| Official website | |||
| www | |||
Douglas Rugby Club (also referred to as DRUFC) are a rugby union club based in Douglas on the Isle of Man. The club has two senior sides and age-range teams encompassing both mini and junior rugby. The men's 1st XV currently play in North 1 West, at the sixth tier of the English rugby union system, following their promotion from South Lancs/Cheshire 1 via the playoffs at the end of the 2016–17 season.
History[]
Douglas Rugby Club have traditionally been the leading Isle of Man rugby union team and again confirmed this status in 2015-16 when, for the fifth successive year, the 1st XV retained the Manx Cup and were the highest placed Isle of Man side in the RFU national leagues. They are affiliated to the English Rugby Football Union. The current coaches of DRUFC are Tom Waterworth and Carl Murray.
Apart from being the oldest and highest ranked club in the IoM the club it was the first Manx side to join the national leagues, the first club in the Isle of Man to start mini rugby, and was the first to build its own club house. This has been extended and refurbished in recent years with four changing rooms each with showers, a physio's room, gym, referees' facilities and equipped kitchen.
The most notable player was A.P. Penketh, who took part in the first 1888 British Isles tour to New Zealand and Australia.[1]
Douglas most recently entered the history books in 2018/2019 when following discussions their first team were no longer allowed to compete in the Manx Cup to increase competition as they were deemed too strong. During 2017/18 season a two manx cup record scores were set with 118 - 3 Victory over Vagabonds in the semi final and a 110 - 0 Victory in the final vs Southern Nomads) Following this it was decided that their place would be taken by the 2nd team known as the Douglas Celts. The Celts were ably equipped with a mixture of youth and experience and under the watchful eye of former first team coach Tom Waterworth they won the cup in a tense finale vs Ramsey 15 - 12 which was held at Ballafletcher in monsoon conditions and in doing so became the first second string team to win the competition.
2015/16 Playing Record[]
Fourteen victories from 26 matches played should saw the 1st XV finish in 5th place in South Lancs/Cheshire Division 1 but a disputed points deduction saw them drop to 8th. In the Manx Cup they were drawn to play the other two Manx league sides and a 40–0 victory over Vagabonds RUFC in the semi final, followed by an 57–6 victory over Ramsey RUFC in the final saw Douglas RUFC retain the Cup.
The Second XV made the final of the Manx Trophy, where they lost out to Southern Nomads 1st XV.
Club Honours[]
- South Lancs/Cheshire 3 champions: 2007–08
- North Lancashire/Cumbria v South Lancs/Cheshire 1 promotion playoff winners: 2016–17
Club colours[]
The club play in maroon shorts and maroon with gold hooped socks. The shirt emblem is a Viking.
See also[]
- Rugby union in the Isle of Man
- Sport in the Isle of Man
- Castletown R.U.F.C.
- Ramsey R.U.F.C.
- Southern Nomads R.U.F.C.
- Vagabonds R.U.F.C.
- Western Vikings Rugby Club
References[]
- ^ Griffiths, John (1990). British Lions. Swindon: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-85223-541-1
External links[]
- Rugby union in the Isle of Man
- Manx rugby union teams