Clifton Rugby

England Clifton RFC
Full nameClifton Rugby Football Club
UnionGloucestershire RFU
NicknameLavender And Blacks
Founded1872; 154 years ago (1872)
LocationCribbs Causeway, Bristol, BS10 7TB England
GroundStation Road (Capacity: 2,200 (200 seats))
ChairmanAftab Hamid
PresidentJohn Raine
Director of RugbyMatt Salter
CoachLuke Cozens
CaptainMitchell Spencer
LeagueNational League 1
2025–2612th (relegated to National League 2 West)
Team kit
Official website
cliftonrugby.co.uk

Clifton Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club founded in Clifton, Bristol. Over the years the club's home games have been played in a variety of locations in northern Bristol, though never in Clifton itself; since 1976 they have been based at the southern end of Cribbs Causeway. Clifton RFC currently play in National League 2 West in the fourth tier of the English rugby union system following their relegation from the 2025–26 National League 1.

History

The first ever photograph of a Clifton RFC team (1873)

Clifton RFC is Bristol's oldest club, and one of the oldest in the world. Clifton Rugby Club was formed on 27 September 1872 at the Kings Arms on Blackboy Hill in Clifton, Bristol. The pub still stands, although it was rebuilt in 1902, and refurbished in the late 1990s. Clifton is the 32nd oldest club in the United Kingdom, the 21st oldest in England, the 2nd oldest in the South West (Bath Rugby older by seven years) and the oldest in Bristol. In 1909 a combined Bristol and Clifton RFC team, captained by Percy Down, lost to Australia 11–3.

Clifton's Cribbs Causeway ground also hosted the Bristol Packers American football team in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Honours

League table

2026–27 National League 2 West table
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Redruth 7 7 0 0 304 128 +176 6 0 34 Promotion place
2 Hinckley 7 6 0 1 277 125 +152 6 0 30 Promotion play-off
3 Luctonians 7 6 0 1 271 134 +137 6 0 30
4 Clifton 7 6 0 1 315 201 +114 6 0 30
5 Taunton Titans 7 5 0 2 281 156 +125 5 2 27
6 Old Redcliffians 7 4 0 3 225 212 +13 6 1 23
7 Cinderford 7 4 0 3 262 282 −20 6 0 22
8 Lymm 7 4 0 3 205 241 −36 5 1 22
9 Hornets 7 2 0 5 231 245 −14 5 4 17
10 Loughborough Students 7 2 0 5 242 287 −45 6 2 16
11 Barnstaple 7 2 0 5 163 205 −42 3 2 13
12 Bournville 7 1 0 6 217 421 −204 5 1 10 Relegation play-off
13 Devonport Services 7 0 0 7 157 369 −212 3 1 4 Relegation place
14 Exeter University 7 0 0 7 172 316 −144 3 0 3
Updated to match(es) played on 10 October 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

Notable former players

Internationals

The Clifton RFC team for the 1874–75 season

British & Irish Lions

References

  1. ↑ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Clifton R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 135.
  2. ↑ "Clifton Rugby Club – Information at club website". cliftonrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Clifton Rugby Football Club History". cliftonrfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Bristol Packers". Britball Now. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Clifton RFC History 1970-1980". cliftonrfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  6. ↑ "Clifton RFC History 1980-1990". cliftonrfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Clifton RFC History 1990-2000". cliftonrfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "Clifton RFC History 2000-2010". cliftonrfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Clifton beat Dings to lift Combination Cup | Bristol Post". bristolpost.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "History - Combination Cup - Winners". bristolcombination.pitchero.com. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "National League 2 West". National 2 West Rugby.