Douglas R.U.F.C.
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.
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| 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 | Peter Horsthuis | ||
| President | Gareth Hooson Owen | ||
| Captain(s) | Glyn Hooson Owen | ||
| League(s) | North 1 West | ||
| 2019–20 | 8th | ||
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| Official website | |||
| www | |||
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]
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
References
- Griffiths, John (1990). British Lions. Swindon: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-85223-541-1