Banbury RUFC

Banbury RUFC
Full nameBanbury Rugby Union Football Club
UnionOxfordshire RFU
NicknameThe Bulls
Founded1925; 101 years ago (1925)
LocationBanbury, England
RegionOxfordshire
GroundThe Graf UK Stadium (Bodicote Park) (Capacity: 2,500 (250 seats))
ChairmanEngland John Colegrave
PresidentEngland Jamie Briggs
CoachTonga Soane Tongaʻuiha
CaptainEngland Jacob Turner
LeagueRegional 1 Midlands
2025–268th
Team kit
Official website
www.banburyrufc.com

Banbury Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union football club based in Bodicote, near Banbury in Oxfordshire. The club currently participate in the fifth tier of English club rugby, Regional 1 Midlands following their sideways transfer from Regional 1 South West. The club run seven senior sides, and a full range of junior sides from aged 5 upwards.

The club has achieved notable success in the Oxfordshire RFU County Cup, winning on seven occasions, including four times in a row in the late 2010s, as well as being runner-up on eleven occasions.

Ground

Banbury play their home games at Bodicote Park (The Graf UK Stadium), in Bodicote which is a village approximately 2 miles (3 km) south of the centre of Banbury. The ground capacity is 2,500, with 250 seats.

Honours

Men's 1st XV

  • Midlands 2 champions: 1996–97
  • Midlands 2 East (South) champions: 2009–10
  • Midlands 2 West (South) champions: 2015–16
  • Oxfordshire RFU County Cup winners (7): 1989–90, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19

Men's 2nd XV

  • Midlands 3 East (South) champions: 2008–09
  • Midlands 2 East (South) champions: 2009–10
  • Midlands 2 West (South) champions: 2015–16
  • Oxfordshire RFU County Shield champions: 2024-25
  • Counties 2 Tribute Ale Berks/Bucks & Oxon West champions: 2025-26

Men's 3rd XV

  • Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 (North) champions: 2006–07
  • Berks/Bucks & Oxon 4 champions: 2011–12
  • Wadworth Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 (North) champions: 2019–20

Men's Vets (Old Nicks)

  • Oxfordshire RFU Vets County Cup champions: 2024-25

Men's 1st XV previous seasons

1999–2000

Season League Position Number of teams Tier
1998–99 Midlands 1 4th 17 5
1999–00 Midlands 1 6th 17 5

2001–2010

Season League Position Number of teams Tier
2000–01 Midlands 1 8th 12 5
2001–02 Midlands 1 12th 12 5
2002–03 Midlands 2 East 7th 12 6
2003–04 Midlands 2 East 11th 12 6
2004–05 Midlands 3 East (South) 6th 12 7
2005–06 Midlands 3 East (South) 2nd 12 7
2006–07 Midlands 3 East (South) 2nd 12 7
2007–08 Midlands 2 East 11th 12 6
2008–09 Midlands 3 East (South) 5th 12 7
2009–10 Midlands 2 East (South) 1st 12 6

2011–2020

Season League Position Number of teams Tier
2010–11 Midlands 1 West 13th 14 6
2011–12 Midlands 2 West (South) 10th 12 7
2012–13 Midlands 2 West (South) 9th 12 7
2013–14 Midlands 2 West (South) 2nd 12 7
2014–15 Midlands 2 West (South) 3rd 12 7
2015–16 Midlands 2 West (South) 1st 12 7
2016–17 South West 1 East 6th 14 6
2017–18 Wadworth 6X South West 1 East 2nd 14 6
2018–19 Wadworth 6X South West 1 East 3rd 14 6
2019–20 Wadworth 6X South West 1 East 3rd 14 6

2021–

Season League Position Number of teams Tier
2020–21 COVID-19
2021–22 Tribute South West 1 East 2nd 14 6
2022–23 Regional 1 South Central 10th 12 5
2023–24 Regional 1 Midlands 8th 12 5
2024–25 Regional 1 Midlands 7th 12 5
2025–26 Regional 1 Midlands 8th 12 5
2026–27 Regional 1 Midlands 5

References

  1. ↑ "Club website". banburyrufc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  2. ↑ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. Headline. pp. 156–159. ISBN 0-7472-7771-0.
  3. ↑ "Banbury capture second county rugby cup". Oxford Mail. 25 March 1998.
  4. ↑ "RUGBY: BULLS WIN COUNTY CUP". Banbury Guardian. 6 April 2000.
  5. ↑ "Bulls thrash Henley to lift County Cup". Banbury RUFC (Pitchero). 23 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Banbury Bulls retain Oxfordshire Cup!". Banbury RUFC (Pitchero). 13 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "RUGBY UNION: Banbury beat Witney to win Oxfordshire Cup". Oxford Mail. 29 March 2018.