Cambridge R.U.F.C.

Not to be confused with Cambridge University R.U.F.C..

Cambridge

Full name	Cambridge Rugby Union Football Club
Union	Eastern Counties RFU
Founded	1923 (1923)
Location	Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Ground	Grantchester Road (Capacity: 2,200 (200 seats))
League	Champ Rugby
2025–26	14th (relegation to National League 1)
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
cambridgerugby.co.uk

Cambridge Rugby Union Football Club or CRUFC ('The Blood & Sand') is an English rugby union club representing the city of Cambridge. Formed in 1923, the club competes in the third tier of the English rugby union system, National League 1, following relegation from Champ Rugby in 2025–26. The club plays its home matches at the 2.200 capacity Grantchester Road ground, in the suburb of Newnham, approximately two kilometres south-west of the city centre. The club runs three senior squads: the national league squad, a development squad, and a social squad. At junior level the club runs one of the oldest mini and youth rugby sections in the country, starting back in the early 1970s, with a colts team for under-18s.

History

Cambridge RUFC was formed in 1923 and was settled in its current ground by the 1950s. In 1993 the club was offered the opportunity to buy the lease on its existing three pitches and to buy adjoining land for a further three pitches from King's College. Floodlights were added to one of these pitches in 2003 so that evening games might be played and the light available for training was improved.

Cambridge RUFC joined the newly formed league structure in 1988 and by 1991 was playing in London 3 North East. After five years in this division, the club was promoted to London 2 North and after four years in this division, was promoted at the end of the 1998–99 season to London 1, which feeds into the National Leagues. In the club's first season in London 1, they achieved 4th place, plus a run to the semi-final of the NPI Cup, falling just one match from Twickenham, after defeat away at Hull by 21–17. London 1 status was secured again for the 2001–02 Season, but the squad led to relegation at the end of that season. However, by the end of the 2003–04 season, a rebuilt side regained promotion to London 1. Cambridge also won the Eastern Counties Cup for the first time and regained the Cambridgeshire Cup from perennial rivals Shelford. This time, the stay in London 1 was to be even shorter; At the end of an exciting season the League championship lay between Worthing and Cambridge at the start of the final round of matches: Worthing at home to Canterbury and Cambridge at home to Basingstoke. The championship would go to the team achieving the greatest points difference. In the event, Cambridge won by 96–15 and Worthing were condemned to the play-offs. Cambridge went on to beat Norwich in the Eastern Counties Cup Final and Shelford in the Cambridgeshire Cup Final — the second successive treble, and promotion to National League rugby for the first time.

In the 2005–06 season Cambridge once again secured promotion after a two horse race. This time with Norfolk & East Anglian Giants North Walsham who had been present in this league for well over a decade. Cambridge squeezed past them with a last day win at Reading while North Walsham failed by 21–20 at Southend. This was all the more lucky as North Walsham had secured the bonus point for four tries but failed with all four conversions. In the 2006–07 season Cambridge managed to consolidate their position in National Division Two with a 9th-place finish. In the 2008–09 season Cambridge finished second in the league and would have been promoted had it not been for the re-organisation of the leagues in mid season.

League history

Overall

Year	League	Position	Notes
1987–88	No league
1988–89	Eastern Counties Division 1
1989–90	London Division 4 North-East
1990–91	London Division 3 North-East
1991–92	London Division 3 North-East	1st
1992–93	London Division 3 North-East
1993–94	London Division 3 North-East
1994–95	London Division 3 North-East
1995–96	London Division 2 North
1996–97	London Division 2 North	4th
1997–98	London Division 2 North	3rd
1998–99	London Division 2 North	1st	Promoted to London Division One
1999–2000	London Division 1	4th	NPI Cup semi-final
2000–01	London Division 1	8th
2001–02	London Division 1	12th	relegated
2002–03	London Division 2 North	4th
2003–04	London Division 2 North	2nd	Promoted via play-off; Eastern Counties & Cambridgeshire Cup champions
2004–05	London Division 1	1st	Promoted; Eastern Counties & Cambridgeshire Cup champions
2005–06	National Division 3 South	1st	Promoted; Eastern Counties & Cambridgeshire Cup champions
2006–07	National Division 2	9th	5th round in Powergen National Trophy
2007–08	National Division 2	5th
2008–09	National Division 2	2nd	Would have been promoted but for the RFU league structure changes
2009–10	National League 1	4th	League renamed
2010–11	National League 1	3rd
2011–12	National League 1	12th
2012–13	National League 1	16th	Relegated
2013–14	National League 2 South	7th
2014–15	National League 2 South	6th
2015–16	National League 2 South	1st	Promoted to National League 1
2016–17	National League 1	14th
2017–18	National League 1	10th
2018–19	National League 1	13th
2020–21	National League 1	9th
2021–21	National League 1	N/A	League games cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021–22	National League 1	4th
2022–23	National League 1	1st	Promoted
2023–24	RFU Championship	11th	No relegation
2024–25	RFU Championship	12th	No relegation
2025–26	Champ Rugby	14th	Relegated

Players

A number of players have gone on to gain International rugby honours, including Dickie Jeeps (England and British Lions), Andy Hancock (England), Bob Steven (Scotland), Trefor Evans (Wales), Simon Culhane New Zealand, including appearances in the 1995 World Cup Finals, and Alex Goode (England). Many more have earned age grade or England Counties caps. In 2014 Martin Wolfenden represented Zimbabwe in the qualifying competition for the Rugby World Cup.

The club's most capped player is the late Shaun Gadsby who made 505 appearances for the club, his last being in the 2003/04 season aged 40.

Honours

Senior team

• London 3 North East: champions: 1991–92
• London Division Two North: 1998–99
• Eastern Counties Cup (3): 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
• Cambridgeshire Cup (3): 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
• London 2 (north v south) promotion play-off winner: 2003–04
• London Division One: 2004–05
• National League 2 South (2): 2005–06, 2015–16
• National League 1: champions 2022–23

Youth teams

• Eastern Counties U-17s Cup (3): 1992, 2002, 2006
• Eastern Counties U-19s Cup (3): 1994, 2003, 2004
• National U-19 Plate (1): 2002

Current standings

2026–27 National League 1 table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Birmingham Moseley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promotion place
2	Bishop's Stortford	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promotion play-off
3	Bury St Edmunds	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Cambridge	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Camborne	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Dings Crusaders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Leeds Tykes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	London Scottish	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Plymouth Albion	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	Rams	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	Rosslyn Park	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegation play-off
12	Sale FC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegation place
13	Sheffield	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	Tonbridge Juddians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Updated to match(es) played on 27 June 2026. Source: National League Rugby
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. Number of matches won
2. Number of matches drawn
3. Difference between points for and against
4. Total number of points for
5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
6. 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 2025–26 season, see List of 2025–26 Champ Rugby transfers § Cambridge.

The Cambridge squad for the 26/27 National 1 Rugby Season is:

Cambridge 2025–26 Champ Rugby squad
Props Jake Barry Jack Boal Harry Bellamy Jake Bridges Sam Buckley Jake Ellwood Tubuna Maka Paul Masoe Zac Nearchou Francois Roussouw Ben Shamley Billy Walker Hookers Jack Doorey-Palmer Dylan Irvine Joe Plunkett John Stewart Locks Gareth Baxter Charlie Friend Rhys Fulford Jack Lawrence Jake McCay Arthur Thomas	Back row Ben Adams Sam Asotasi Dan Eckersley Sam Johnson Monty Loggenberg Chris Mills Ardal Yallop Scrum-halves Ollie Allan Charlie Bemand Ruaridh Dawson Jimmy Thompson Pete White Fly-halves Jamie Annand Tom Threlfall Otumaka Mausia Jake Vernum	Centres Henry Lumley Levi Reweti Epi Rokodrava Jasper Sorrell Wings Eli Caven Will Glister Joe Green Taitusi Qaniuci Ethan Thorne Kesena Izu Vereimi Qorowale Fullbacks Charlie Robson James Pater Ben Currie George Pearson
(c) denotes the team captain. (vc) denotes vice-captain. Bold denotes internationally capped players. ST denotes a short-term signing. Source:

External links

• Official website