History

A Brief History of the Club

Horsham Rugby Club was founded 80 years ago in 1928 by E.J. Hodgson and A.G. Puttock during an auspicious meeting in the Station Hotel, which still stands today and forms part of the Beefeater Chain. At the time, the fixture list consisted of a mere twelve matches. Today it totals over thirty.

For the first couple of years, the team played on some farmland near the old Warnham Park gates on the London Road. In 1930 the team moved to Horsham Cricket Club where they played until 1968. After the Second World War, the numbers of players steadily grew, and additional pitches were rented in Horsham Park. From 1968 there was a period of nomadic existence until the new ground at Coolhurst, off Hammerpond Road, was ready to house the club in 1972. This scenic ground remains its home today, set in twenty-seven acres of outstanding natural beauty.

Horsham Goes Global – entertaining the visitors from afar

During the 1950’s and 1960’s the regular Easter visitor was the Seven Sisters club from Wales. Horsham has also played host to the American Mill Creek Valley Rugby Football Club, the state side, Transkei, from South Africa in 1984, and Elmavali Rugby Football Club from Tblisi in Georgia, USSR in 1990.

In 1974 Horsham entertained St. Maixent from western France and exchange tours at all levels continued until 1990. During 1992 Horsham veterans travelled to Delvin in Ireland and in 2003 reached the quarter finals of an International 10’s tournament, part of the IRB World Seven’s festival in Dubai. In 2005 the Under 15’s represented Horsham Rugby Union Football Club at 4 fixtures in Durban and Cape Town, South Africa.

At the end of the 2008/09 season Horsham sent a small expeditionary force into the heartlands of France to enter the Roland Alvarez 10s Tournament, hosted by Auxerre Rugby Club.  After a highly successful few days it is hoped that we will continue to build strong links with Auxerre.

Mini Rugby – only the beginning

Horsham Rugby Union Football Club started up Mini-Rugby in 1976 with 150 boys and girls aged between 7 and 12 years. It proved to be so successful that 2 years later a tour to the West Country and a Festival of Mini-Rugby were introduced. These events continue to form an integral part of Horsham’s busy season and many of the Mini-Rugby squad go on to become key players at all levels.

The Present Day HRUFC

Horsham RUFC currently has 400 playing members ranging from Under 7 to three Senior (adult) teams, including a Ladies team. The 1st XV team plays in London South East 3, the Lions 2nd XV plays in Sussex 2 West and the 3rd XV plays in Sussex 3 West. This season Mal Chumbley continues as head coach along with Nick Stocker, and the coaching team has been expanded to include Alan Croucher and Alex Hay.  Matt Stone is again 1st XV Captain, Doug Wright and Dan Kelly are the joint Lions Captains and Tom Mathias is Captain of the new 3rd XV.  David York continues as Club Captain and will also Captain the Horsham Casuals.

The Development Committee within the Club has raised funds and provided a new pitch which will provide much needed additional playing space to allow the growing Junior and Ladies teams to play and train, as well as the Senior sides.

The Development Committee are now looking at planning to build a new Clubhouse within the next 5 years, which will require in the region of £1M funding. The Club are committed to continuing to work with their current sponsors and continue to look for new sponsors to support this potential development.

Honours