Rams Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based near the village of Sonning on the outskirts of Reading in the county of Berkshire. The first XV play in the third-level league of the English rugby union system, National League 1, following their promotion from National League 2 South as champions at the end of the 2018–19 season. Until 2018, the club had been known as Redingensians and then Redingensians Rams before being renamed simply as Rams for the 2018–19 season onwards.[1]
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| Full name | Rams Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Berkshire RFU | |
| Nickname(s) | Ensians, Rams | |
| Founded | 1924 | |
| Ground(s) | Old Bath Road (Capacity: 2,000 (300 seats)) | |
| Chairman | Andrew Lynch | |
| CEO | Gary Reynolds | |
| President | Marcus Noye | |
| Coach(es) | Seb Reynolds | |
| League(s) | National League 1 | |
| 2023–24 | Runners up | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
History
editRams consist of five senior teams of differing playing ability and a full complement of mini and junior sides.[2] The first team currently plays in National League 1 (level 3) of the rugby union league structure. The second team play in Canterbury Division 3, the third team play in Berks/Bucks & Oxon Prem A, and the fourths in Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1. The fifth team participates in the Thames Valley Invitational Leagues. Both the under-17s and colts play in division 1 of their respective Berks/Bucks & Oxon leagues. Rams RFC is also renowned for its Rugby 7s capability and participates in several major international tournaments across Europe from March through to August.
Ground
editRams play home fixtures at Old Bath Road in the village of Sonning on the north-east outskirts of Reading.[3] As it is next to the A4 travel links are good, with parking available at the ground and regular bus services to Reading which is accessible by train. The ground consists of a main pitch next to a modern club-house, along with a number of other pitches for second XV and junior rugby.[4]
Originally all standing, in 2021 the 300 seat Pountney Stand was built, named after the club's founding father Leslie Pountney.[5] The ground capacity is around 2,000, with the 300 seater stand and approximately 1,700 (all standing) around the main pitch and on the club-house balcony.[6]
Honours
edit1st team:
- Southern Counties champions: 1987–88
- Southern Counties South champions: 2000–01
- Southern Counties North champions: 2005–06
- South West Division 2 East champions: 2006–07
- National League 3 South West champions: 2014–15
- National League 2 South champions: 2018–19
2nd team:
- Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier A champions: 2007–08
4th team:
- Berks/Bucks & Oxon 4 South champions: 2014–15
- Berks/Bucks & Oxon 3 champions: 2015–16
Current standings
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 383 | 199 | +184 | 7 | 0 | 49 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Rams | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 357 | 187 | +170 | 8 | 1 | 49 | |
| 3 | Rotherham Titans | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 358 | 250 | +108 | 6 | 1 | 43 | |
| 4 | Rosslyn Park | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 374 | 257 | +117 | 7 | 2 | 37 | |
| 5 | Blackheath | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 314 | 252 | +62 | 6 | 1 | 35 | |
| 6 | Birmingham Moseley | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 234 | 237 | −3 | 4 | 0 | 28 | |
| 7 | Bishop's Stortford | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 268 | 268 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 28 | |
| 8 | Plymouth Albion | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 286 | 287 | −1 | 7 | 5 | 28 | |
| 9 | Sale FC | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 240 | 290 | −50 | 4 | 3 | 27 | |
| 10 | Dings Crusaders | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 312 | 363 | −51 | 7 | 0 | 25 | |
| 11 | Esher | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 291 | 450 | −159 | 6 | 0 | 18 | |
| 12 | Sedgley Park | 11 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 278 | 310 | −32 | 4 | 4 | 16 | Relegation place |
| 13 | Leicester Lions | 11 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 227 | 370 | −143 | 5 | 3 | 16 | |
| 14 | Darlington Mowden Park | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 195 | 397 | −202 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
References
edit- ^ "Bedlinog are August visitors". Canterbury RFC. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Teams". Rams RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ "Contact". Rams RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ "Redingensians Rams reveal big ambitions for the future of the club". Get Reading. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ^ "NEW STAND NAMED AFTER CLUB LEGEND". Rams Rugby Football Club. 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Rams would be happy to play in RFU's new Tier 2". The RugbyPaper. No. 802. 28 January 2024. p. 1-2.
- ^ "National League 1". NCA Rugby.
