Otley R.U.F.C.

Otley
Full nameOtley Rugby Union Football Club
UnionYorkshire RFU
NicknameZebras
Founded1865 (1865)
LocationOtley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
GroundCross Green (Capacity: 7,000 (852 seats)[1])
LeagueNational League 2 North
2024–2510th
Team kit
Official website
pitchero.com/otley

Otley Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union club representing Otley in the City of Leeds, district of West Yorkshire. The club runs two senior teams – the first XV, the Saracens (2nd XV), as well as a full range of junior teams. The first XV play in National League 2 North.

History

Otley RUFC was founded in 1865[2] but broke away from rugby union in 1900 to become a rugby league club. They disbanded in 1906 and reformed as a rugby union club in 1907, the ground being at Wharfeside.[3] In 1909–10 they won the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.[3] Play was suspended during the First World War, but started again in 1919, and on 28 September 1921 they moved to a new and better ground at Cross Green, Otley.[3]

In the 2007–08 season they won the National Division Two title securing an immediate return to National Division One having been relegated the previous season, however they were immediately relegated again in the 2008–09 season along with fellow promoted side Manchester and three other teams due to the new professionalised format of National Division One (now the RFU Championship). Two seasons later the club was relegated again, this time to National League 2 North. The all-time leading try scorer is James Twomey, with 74 in 107 appearances between 2009 and 2013.

In 1979 the stadium was the site of a famous victory by the North of England against the New Zealand ″All Blacks″.[4] The Wallabies suffered the same fate in October, 1988. Cross Green hosted one group game of the 1991 Rugby World Cup, between the United States and Italy which was won by Italy 30–9.

Notable former players

Honours

Current standings

2025–26 National League 2 North table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Sheffield 21 21 0 0 818 358 +460 20 0 104 Promotion place
2 Tynedale 23 18 0 5 790 451 +339 16 3 91 Promotion Play-off
3 Macclesfield 22 18 0 4 889 577 +312 17 1 90
4 Hull Ionians 23 15 1 7 715 491 +224 17 3 82
5 Darlington Mowden Park 23 13 1 9 767 741 +26 18 2 74
6 Fylde 23 12 3 8 722 570 +152 14 5 73
7 Wharfedale 23 11 0 12 634 680 −46 13 6 63
8 Sheffield Tigers 23 10 0 13 583 533 +50 11 7 58
9 Billingham 23 9 0 14 521 782 −261 14 2 52
10 Preston Grasshoppers 22 8 1 13 637 682 −45 13 3 50
11 Otley 23 6 0 17 588 728 −140 10 8 42
12 Rossendale 23 6 0 17 508 885 −377 12 2 38 Relegation Play-off
13 Hull 23 4 0 19 505 812 −307 10 5 31 Relegation place
14 Scunthorpe 21 4 0 17 456 843 −387 9 5 30
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source: National League Rugby [6]
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

References

  1. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Otley R.U.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 178.
  2. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1991). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991–92. Taunton: Tony Williams. ISBN 1869833155.
  3. ^ a b c Brumfitt, Elise (1986). Old Otley. Leeds: M. T. D. Rigg Publications. ISBN 0950919136.
  4. ^ "TV screening of Otley's historic rugby day". Telegraph & Argus. Newsquest Media Group. 16 September 2004. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  5. ^ "Former Otley rugby player wins Nobel prize". Wharfedale and Airedale Observer. 15 October 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  6. ^ "National League 2 North". NCA Rugby.
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