Ampthill RUFC
| Full name | Ampthill RUFC | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | East Midlands RFU | |
| Founded | 1881[1] | |
| Ground | Dillingham Park (Capacity: 3,000) | |
| Director of Rugby | Mark Lavery | |
| Coach | Paul Turner | |
| Captain | Josh Barton | |
| League | Champ Rugby | |
| 2024–25 | 8th | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
For the 2015–16 season Ampthill have agreed a player development programme with Saracens, allowing young players contracted to Saracens to play for Ampthill.[5]
Honours
- East Midlands 1 champions: 1989–90
- Midlands 3 East (South) champions: 2006–07
- Midlands Division 2 East champions: 2008–09
- National League 3 Midlands champions: 2012–13[6]
- East Midlands Wells Bombardier Cup winners (6): 1996, 1997, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2013[7]
- National League 2 (north v south) promotion play-off winners: 2014–15
- National League 1 champions: 2018–19
Ampthill were initially National League 3 Midlands champions in 2009–10 but were stripped of the title due to breaches of league rules.[8]
Current standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ealing Trailfinders | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 505 | 162 | +343 | 10 | 0 | 54 | Play-off semi-finals |
| 2 | Bedford Blues | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 357 | 275 | +82 | 10 | 1 | 45 | |
| 3 | Worcester Warriors | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 385 | 257 | +128 | 9 | 2 | 43 | Play-off quarter-finals |
| 4 | Hartpury | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 307 | 278 | +29 | 5 | 1 | 36 | |
| 5 | Chinnor | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 292 | 239 | +53 | 4 | 3 | 35 | |
| 6 | Coventry | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 423 | 340 | +83 | 9 | 2 | 35 | |
| 7 | Nottingham | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 280 | 257 | +23 | 8 | 4 | 34 | |
| 8 | Cornish Pirates | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 305 | 261 | +44 | 7 | 3 | 32 | |
| 9 | Ampthill | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 269 | 436 | −167 | 6 | 1 | 27 | |
| 10 | Doncaster Knights | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 291 | 280 | +11 | 5 | 2 | 27 | |
| 11 | Caldy | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 247 | 295 | −48 | 6 | 2 | 24 | |
| 12 | Richmond | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 231 | 296 | −65 | 1 | 3 | 16 | Relegation play-off |
| 13 | London Scottish | 11 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 191 | 375 | −184 | 3 | 2 | 9 | |
| 14 | Cambridge | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 189 | 521 | −332 | 4 | 2 | 6 | Relegated |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Number of matches drawn
- 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
Current squad
The Ampthill squad for the 2025–26 season is:[9][a]
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
References
- ^ "...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.
- ^ Club website home page - headlines section Archived 11 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "National League 2 South". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "National 2 Promotion Playoff". Archived from the original on 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Ampthill & Saracens Player Development Programme". Ampthill RUFC. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015.
- ^ "RFU".
- ^ http://www.emru.co.uk/clubimages/10/documents/Previous%20winners%20of%20the%20WB%20EM%20Snr%20Cup.doc
- ^ "National League Rugby Discussion Forum".
- ^ "1st XV Squad". Ampthill RUFC. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ^ "Ampthill & Saracens Partnership". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "1st XV Squad - Ampthill Rugby". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC. Retrieved 26 September 2025.