Ampthill RUFC

England Ampthill
Full nameAmpthill RUFC
UnionEast Midlands RFU
Founded1881; 145 years ago (1881)
GroundDillingham Park (Capacity: 3,000)
Director of RugbyMark Lavery
CoachPaul Turner
CaptainJosh Barton
LeagueChamp Rugby
2025–2610th of 14
Team kit
Official website
ampthillrufc.com

Ampthill RUFC is an English rugby union club based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. The club runs six senior teams and a full range of junior sides. The first XV play in Champ Rugby, the second tier of the English rugby union system. Ampthill women's team, the Lionesses, currently compete in the NC3 competition.

History

In 2013–14, the team finished second but lost the promotion play-off to Darlington Mowden Park of the National League 2 North. In 2014–15, they again finished second having been transferred to National League 2 North. They beat Bishop's Stortford, the National League 2 South runner-up in the promotion play-off at Dillingham Park, 19–10.

For the 2015–16 season Ampthill have agreed a player development programme with Saracens, allowing young players contracted to Saracens to play for Ampthill.

Honours

Ampthill were initially National League 3 Midlands champions in 2009–10 but were stripped of the title due to breaches of league rules.

Current standings

2026–27 Champ Rugby table
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Ealing Trailfinders 7 6 0 1 337 154 +183 53 23 6 1 31 Play-off
semi-finals
2 Worcester Warriors 7 6 0 1 304 150 +154 47 22 4 0 28
3 Coventry 7 6 0 1 321 203 +118 48 31 3 1 28 Play-off
quarter-finals
4 Chinnor 7 5 0 2 237 212 +25 37 33 2 0 22
5 Rotherham Titans 7 5 0 2 209 255 −46 32 38 1 0 21
6 Bedford Blues 7 4 0 3 228 206 +22 35 30 4 1 21
7 Cornish Pirates 7 4 0 3 241 241 0 36 36 3 0 19
8 Ampthill 7 4 0 3 229 278 −49 35 42 0 0 16
9 Doncaster Knights 7 3 0 4 223 224 −1 33 33 1 2 15
10 Richmond 7 2 0 5 191 240 −49 29 38 0 1 9
11 Caldy 7 1 0 6 218 282 −64 33 43 0 3 7
12 Blackheath 7 1 0 6 192 260 −68 25 39 0 3 7 Relegation play-off
13 Nottingham 7 1 0 6 169 255 −86 25 39 0 3 7
14 Hartpury 7 1 0 6 149 288 −139 21 44 0 1 5 Relegated
Updated to match(es) played on 8 November 2026. Source:
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

The Ampthill squad for the 2025–26 season is:

Ampthill 2025–26 Cham Rugby squad

Props

Hookers

  • England Harrison Dakin
  • England James Isaacs
  • England Seb Smith

Locks

  • England Aaron Gear
  • Australia Aidan King
  • Tonga Justin Mataele
  • England Jake Parkinson

Back row

Scrum-halves

  • England Alex Davies
  • Wales Efan Jones
  • Ireland Rory Morgan

Fly-halves

Centres

  • England Olly Hartley
  • England Matt Salisbury
  • Scotland Fraser Stratchan
  • Tonga Sione Venuku
  • England Oscar Wilson

Wings

Fullbacks

  • England Joe Heslop
  • England Albie Matthews
(c) denotes the team captain.
(vc) denotes vice-captain.
Bold denotes internationally capped players.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
  1. ↑ Saracens players who are dual-registered with the club for the 2025-26 season.
  2. ↑ Saracens players who are dual-registered with the club for the 2025-26 season.
  3. ↑ Saracens players who are dual-registered with the club for the 2025-26 season.
  4. ↑ Saracens players who are dual-registered with the club for the 2025-26 season.
  5. ↑ Saracens players who are dual-registered with the club for the 2025-26 season.
  6. ↑ Saracens players who are dual-registered with the club for the 2025-26 season.
Source:

References

  1. ↑ "...reformed after WWII in 1950 the current club...""A brief History of Ampthill & District Community RUFC". Ampthill & District RUFC. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Club website home page - headlines section Archived 11 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "National League 2 South". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "National 2 Promotion Playoff". Archived from the original on 29 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ampthill & Saracens Player Development Programme". Ampthill RUFC. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "RFU". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  7. ↑ http://www.emru.co.uk/clubimages/10/documents/Previous%20winners%20of%20the%20WB%20EM%20Snr%20Cup.doc [permanent dead link]
  8. ↑ "National League Rugby Discussion Forum". Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Champ Rugby Table". Elior Champ Rugby. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  10. 1 2 "1st XV Squad". Ampthill RUFC. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  11. ↑ "1st XV Squad - Ampthill Rugby". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ampthill & Saracens Partnership". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2023.