Old Northamptonians RFC
| Full name | Old Northamptonians Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | RFU |
| Nickname(s) | ON's |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Region | Midlands |
| Ground(s) | Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Billing road |
| League(s) | National League 3 Midlands |
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| Official website | |
|
www | |
The Old Northamptonians RFC was founded in 1923 by W C C Cooke who at that time was Headmaster of Northampton Grammar School, England. The aim was to give former pupils of the School the opportunity to play rugby union when they left school. The colours of the kit are red, yellow and blue. The players were either pupils or ex pupils or masters at the School until the club went open in the 1970s. The club still has very close links with the School which is now Northampton School for Boys and many of the current players were educated there.
Over the years since 1923 the club has been successful and produced players who have gone on to play for the Northampton Saints and also for England at both Senior and Schoolboy level and at least two British Lions. In the 1990s the ON’s won promotion four times and the Alliance Cup on three successive occasions. In the 2003–4 season promotion was gained to Midlands 2 East – the highest league that the Club had played in and the Alliance Cup was again won and retained in 2004–5, 2005–6, 2006-7, 2007–8 and 2008–9.
The Mini/Junior Section was established in 1990 and, from the 20 or so young lads who started, this part of the Club has grown to over 300 registered players. As the players moved through the age groups to 17 and 18 a Colts side was formed and over the past five or six years this team has been extremely successful in East Midlands Colts rugby. The 2005-6 season was probably their most successful when they won the Northampton Alliance Oceanic Cup, the East Midlands Referees' Cup, the East Midlands Colts' League, the East Midlands Colts' 7s and were losing finalists in the English Colts Club Knockout Cup.
The ONRFC Academy was formed at the beginning of the 2009–10 Season in order to help the Player Pathway from Junior to Senior rugby and facilitate Under 17 to 19s in one group, running an U19s Colts side as well as an Under 17s. They immediately reaped the reards as both the colts and the under 17s reached the plate finals of their respective competitions, both however fell short of victory losing to Richmond and Sevenoaks respectively. The 2009–10 season was also extremely successful for the 1st XV. After being promoted to Midlands 1 East under influential new coach Mark Kefford their main aim was to consolidate their place in this league. However they even surprised themselves by coming second in the league and, after some complications, were promoted to National 3 Midlands their highest ever position in the league structure. Despite this the club will continue their policy of not paying players and attempting to produce home grown talent.
The Rugby Section is part of the Old Northamptonians Association which also includes a football, cricket and tennis section. Each section is responsible for their own management but all pay a contribution to the Association which along with bar profits goes towards the upkeep of the Clubhouse and playing surfaces. After receiving funding from Cripps' Foundation the new Sir Humphrey Cripps’ Pavilion was opened in September 2005.
Club Honours
- Midlands 3 East (South) champions (2): 2003-04, 2008-09