Ampthill RUFC

Ampthill
Full nameAmpthill RUFC
UnionEast Midlands RFU
Founded1881 (1881)[1]
GroundDillingham Park (Capacity: 3,000)
Director of RugbyMark Lavery
CoachPaul Turner
CaptainJosh Barton
LeagueChamp Rugby
2024–258th
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.[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

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

2025–26 Champ Rugby table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Ealing Trailfinders 20 20 0 0 899 322 +577 18 0 98 Play-off
semi-finals
2 Worcester Warriors 20 13 0 7 737 458 +279 16 5 73
3 Bedford Blues 20 13 1 6 592 483 +109 15 3 72 Play-off
quarter-finals
4 Coventry 20 12 0 8 739 578 +161 17 5 70
5 Cornish Pirates 20 11 1 8 618 490 +128 13 3 62
6 Chinnor 20 12 0 8 519 481 +38 7 5 60
7 Hartpury 20 11 2 7 536 516 +20 10 2 60
8 Nottingham 20 10 1 9 475 418 +57 11 7 60
9 Doncaster Knights 20 7 3 10 521 495 +26 10 4 48
10 Caldy 20 8 0 12 477 587 −110 11 3 46
11 Ampthill 20 7 0 13 494 765 −271 12 4 44
12 Richmond 20 6 1 13 401 591 −190 4 4 34 Relegation play-off
13 London Scottish 20 5 0 15 379 704 −325 7 2 29
14 Cambridge 20 0 1 19 346 845 −499 6 4 12 Relegated
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source: England 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

Current squad

For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2025–26 Champ Rugby transfers § Ampthill.

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.

Player Position Union
Harrison Dakin Hooker England
James Isaacs [a] Hooker England
Seb Smith Hooker England
Richard Barrington Prop England
Harrison Courtney Prop New Zealand
Dom Hardman Prop England
James Johnston Prop Samoa
Callum Norrie Prop Scotland
Jevaughn Warren Prop England
Totoa Auva'a [a] Prop Samoa
Aaron Gear Lock England
Aidan King Lock Australia
Justin Mataele Lock Tonga
Jake Parkinson Lock England
Valentino Mapapalangi Back row Tonga
Barney Merritt [a] Back row England
Olly Mullarkey Back row England
Matthew Parry Back row England
Lekima Ravuvu Back row Fiji
Charles Rylands Back row England
Player Position Union
Alex Davies Scrum-half England
Efan Jones Scrum-half Wales
Rory Morgan Scrum-half Ireland
Josh Barton Fly-half England
Louis Grimoldby Fly-half England
Louie Johnson [a] Fly-half England
Olly Hartley [a] Centre England
Matt Salisbury Centre England
Fraser Stratchan Centre Scotland
Sione Vaenuku Centre Tonga
Oscar Wilson [a] Centre England
Mason Cullen Wing Scotland
Seva Kava Wing Fiji
Sam Kildunne Wing England
Rhys Thomas Wing Wales
Joe Heslop Fullback England
Albie Matthews Fullback England
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Saracens players who are dual-registered with the club for the 2025-26 season.[10][11]

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".
  7. ^ http://www.emru.co.uk/clubimages/10/documents/Previous%20winners%20of%20the%20WB%20EM%20Snr%20Cup.doc
  8. ^ "National League Rugby Discussion Forum".
  9. ^ "1st XV Squad". Ampthill RUFC. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Ampthill & Saracens Partnership". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  11. ^ "1st XV Squad - Ampthill Rugby". www.ampthillrufc.com. Ampthill RUFC. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
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