Macclesfield R.U.F.C.
| Full name | Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Cheshire RFU | |
| Nickname | Blues | |
| Founded | 1874 (present club formed in 1927) | |
| Location | Macclesfield, Cheshire, England | |
| Ground | Priory Park (Capacity: 1,250 (250 seats)[1][2]) | |
| Chairman | Robert Cooke | |
| League | National League 2 North | |
| 2025–26 | 3rd (relegated by the RFU to Regional 1 North West) | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| macclesfieldrufc.co.uk | ||
Macclesfield RUFC is a rugby union team based in the Cheshire town of Macclesfield and operates a women's side, three senior men's sides, senior and junior colts and ten mini/junior teams.[3] The men's first XV currently play in the fifth tier of the English rugby union system, Regional 1 North West, following the RFU's relegating the team from National League 2 North because they refused a level transfer to National League 2 West.[4] The second men's XV plays in the Cotton Traders Premier League and the third XV play in NOWIRUL division 3.
History
Macclesfield RUFC was formed in 1877 although the present club was formed in 1927. After playing at several venues, the club moved to its present home in 1980. Five years later they participated in the forerunner to the launch of the national league system when they participated in the Girobank North West League. Over the last 25 years Macclesfield have climbed the pyramid spending one season in National One during the 2012–13 Season before being relegated but bouncing straight back after winning promotion during 2013–14 Season. However the 2014–15 saw the Blues relegated back to National 2 at the end of the campaign. They won the old North West 1 in 1991–92, North 2 in 1994–95 and entered the old National 3 North, then the fourth tier of club rugby, in 2002, winning the league in 2009–10, by which it had been restructured as National League 2 North.[5]
Honours
- Cheshire Plate
- Cheshire Cup
- Winners (8): 1991–92, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2015–16[8]
- Runners-up (2): 2004–05, 2007–08
- North West 1 (1): 1992–93
- North 2 (1): 1994–95
- North 1 v Midlands 1 promotion play-off winners (1): 2002–03[9][10]
- National League 2 North (3): 2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16
- National Division 2 Champions Cup (1): 2009–10
- Regional 1 North West: 2023–24[11]
Current standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield (P) | 26 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1041 | 467 | +574 | 24 | 1 | 121 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Tynedale | 26 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 941 | 509 | +432 | 19 | 3 | 106 | Promotion play-off |
| 3 | Macclesfield (R) | 26 | 20 | 0 | 6 | 1037 | 725 | +312 | 21 | 2 | 103 | |
| 4 | Hull Ionians | 26 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 801 | 592 | +209 | 19 | 3 | 92 | |
| 5 | Darlington Mowden Park | 26 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 878 | 877 | +1 | 20 | 2 | 84 | |
| 6 | Fylde | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 796 | 664 | +132 | 16 | 5 | 79 | |
| 7 | Wharfedale | 26 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 725 | 780 | −55 | 15 | 6 | 73 | |
| 8 | Sheffield Tigers | 26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 686 | 611 | +75 | 15 | 8 | 71 | |
| 9 | Preston Grasshoppers | 26 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 776 | 817 | −41 | 16 | 3 | 61 | |
| 10 | Billingham | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 604 | 905 | −301 | 16 | 3 | 59 | |
| 11 | Otley | 26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 673 | 831 | −158 | 12 | 8 | 48 | |
| 12 | Rossendale (R) | 26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 633 | 965 | −332 | 14 | 4 | 46 | Relegation play-off |
| 13 | Scunthorpe (R) | 26 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 622 | 1097 | −475 | 12 | 7 | 39 | Relegation place |
| 14 | Hull (R) | 26 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 570 | 943 | −373 | 11 | 5 | 36 |
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
References
- ^ "Cheshire FBU Response to 'Draft' Corporate Plan & IRMP 2011/2012" (PDF). Cheshire Fire Authority. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "Harper hoping for a Macc makeover". The RUGBYPaper. No. 441. Rugby Paper Ltd. 26 February 2017. p. 43.
- ^ Club website 'About our Club' page
- ^ "National League Rugby Statement: Composition of National 2". National League Rugby. 12 June 2026.
- ^ Club website - history page
- ^ "1982 PLATE FINAL" (PDF). Cheshire RFU. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
- ^ "ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 13 JUNE 1994" (PDF). Cheshire RFU. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
- ^ Cheshire RFU archive
- ^ "North Play Offs 2002–2003". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
- ^ "North/Mid Play off Match overview Luctonians VS Macclesfield". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "Macclesfield 57 – Penrith 15". Macclesfield Rugby. 6 April 2024.
- ^ "National League 2 North". NCA Rugby.