Our Colleges

Christ's College

Christ’s College was founded in 1505 by Lady Margaret Beaufort. Notable alumni include Milton, Darwin and Sacha Baron Cohen. Christ’s College Rugby Football Club has made 5 appearances in the Cuppers Final, winning 3. The last victory came in the 1963-4 season The college grew from God's House founded in 1437 on land now occupied by King's College Chapel. It received its first royal licence in 1446. It moved to its present site in 1448 when it received its second royal licence. It was renamed Christ's College and received its present charter in 1505 when it was endowed and expanded by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII.

Christ’s Rugby Captain is Rory Durham rad71@cam.ac.uk

http://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/

Churchill College

Founded in 1960 as the national memorial to Winston Churchill, the college is specialist in admitting students to study science (though of course all are welcome). Our rugby team prides itself on having a fantastic social side, regularly practicing its 'fitness'. There is a sense that Churchill is a team on the way up - proud champions 4 years running of the League of Shame and dogged semi-finalists in the 2009 cuppers.

Churchill Rugby Captain is Jack Salvesen jpts2@cam.ac.uk

http://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/

Clare College

The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs" (the back of the colleges that overlook the River Cam). The college was founded in 1326 by the university's Chancellor, Richard de Badew, and was originally named University Hall. Providing maintenance for only two fellows, it soon hit financial hardship. In 1338, the college was refounded as Clare Hall by an endowment from Elizabeth de Clare, a granddaughter of Edward I, which provided for twenty fellows and ten students. The college was known as Clare Hall until 1856, when it changed its name to "Clare College". (A new "Clare Hall" was founded by Clare College as an exclusively postgraduate institution in 1966.)

Clare Rugby Captain is Tom Milford tm644@cam.ac.uk

http://www.clare.cam.ac.uk/

Clare Hall

http://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/

Corpus Christi College

Corpus Christi College is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary, it bears the distinction of being the only College in Oxford or Cambridge founded by their citizens. The College recently celebrated 650 years of commitment to teaching and research. In terms of rugby Corpus currently plays in a joint team with Clare College and Kings College called CCK, although we still put out our own team for the annual "corpus challenge" against Corpus Christi Oxford. Whilst not the most renowned rugby college CCK have enjoyed some recent success, having reached the semi-finals of Cuppers last year.

Corpus Rugby Captain is Piran Venton pjmv3@cam.ac.uk

http://www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/

Darwin College

If you are attending Darwin and you’re interested in playing rugby please contact John Naylor john.naylor@curufc.com

http://www.darwin.cam.ac.uk/

Downing College

Founded in 1800, Downing's neo-classical architecture offers something unique in Cambridge. Boasting the longest sustained period in the top division of any college, Downing is a hotbed of sporting talent and regularly produces blues, LXs and U20 players. Notable alumni include John Cleese, Michael Winner and Quentin Blake. Downing College Rugby Club currently stands as Cambridge’s top rugby college with a victory in the annual Cuppers competition in March of 2019. The rise of Downing has included a win in the Plate competition during the 2017/18 season and 3 league victories in the top division of college rugby over its quarterly cycle this season. Training sessions are run between one and two times a week inside college grounds, a maximum of 2 minutes away from any Downing accommodation! We welcome players of all abilities and our coaching team of senior players, including 3 Cambridge blues, is keen to ensure that everyone who joins the club reaches their potential. For those who wish to play for the University, Downing’s strong track-record of producing University players for both the 1st and 2nd teams means the club can offer valuable advice and information on how to reach this level. Downing also has a thriving social scene with post-game celebrations and regular events. These events include club viewings of international matches, the annual dinner, and rugby curry, but perhaps most exciting is the annual rugby tour. In the past 3 years the club has visited Budapest, Warsaw and Munich with plans for something special in the year to come. If Downing College Rugby Club is something you are interested in then please don’t hesitate to contact our captain Connor Newell, or alternatively you can message us through the club’s social media accounts: Instagram @downingrugby

Downing Rugby Captain is Connor Newell cen38@cam.ac.uk

http://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/

Emmanuel College

Emmanuel College has both a male and female rugby team who both, over the recent years have shown a great deal of success in both the inter-college leagues, cuppers and the annual 7's tournament. Every year we play a visiting side from our sister Exeter College Oxford.

Emmanuel College Rugby Captain is Tom Birdseye teb63@cam.ac.uk

http://www.emma.cam.ac.uk/

Fitzwilliam College

Fitzwilliam started life in 1869 as a non-collegiate institution, to provide undergraduates unable to afford membership of a college with an opportunity to study at Cambridge. It organised teaching from a handsome house opposite the Fitzwilliam Museum. In the second half of the twentieth century Fitzwilliam House, as it was then called, became Fitzwilliam College, moved to its current site and received its royal charter in 1966. FCRUFC Alumni include Alistair Hignell (England) and Eddie Butler (Wales and British Lions). Successes at the club have been mixed ranging from winning The Plate in cuppers through to being relegated to the lower divisions in the leagues but in the 2018/19 season they finished second in Division 1 and reached the semi-finals of Cuppers

Fitzwilliam Rugby Captain is Will Lockhart wgal2@cam.ac.uk

http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/

Girton College

'The college was established on 16th October 1869 as the pioneering and therefore first residential College for women in England. The college became mixed in 1977 with the arrival of the first male Fellows, and male undergraduates have been admitted since 1979. The equal balance between the numbers of men and women, amongst both the Fellowship and the students, is matched by no other College. Girton occupies spacious grounds to the northwest of the centre of Cambridge. Boasting its own pitches and gym on site, the college thrives on the sports field. The rugby club, normally featuring in one of the top two divisions, aims to encourage new players to join but equally often fields strong sides with several university players

Girton Rugby Captain is Ed Plaut emcp3@cam.ac.uk

http://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/

Gonville & Caius College

Gonville and Caius is the fourth-oldest college at the University of Cambridge. It is centrally located and famed for its academic prowess and history of high achievement. The College has been attended by twelve Nobel Prize winners, the second-most of any Oxbridge college. Caius have consistently provided Blues and under 20s players and have reached the final of the inter-collegiate Cuppers competition in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Gonville and Caius Rugby Captain is Niall Mccarthy nam50@cam.ac.uk

http://www.cai.cam.ac.uk/

Homerton College

The newest Cambridge college having gained our Royal Charter in 2010 but have participated in College and University rugby for many years. With around 580 undergraduates and a postgraduate community of c. 350 doing Masters, PHDs and PGCE, Homerton has more students than any other Cambridge college. The College was founded in Homerton High Street, London, in 1768, and moved to Cambridge in 1894. Until 2001 it only admitted Education Studies students whereas now it offers all subjects. Homerton has a wide range of thriving student clubs and societies, including a Boat club, Music Society, and a resident drama society, HATS. It is the only College with a paid sabbatical JCR President.

Homerton College Rugby Captain is James Chaudhry jwhc4@cam.ac.uk

http://www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/

Hughes Hall

Hughes Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. It is one of four Cambridge colleges which admit only mature students. The majority of Hughes Hall students are postgraduate, although nearly one-fifth of the student population comprises individuals aged 21 and above who are studying undergraduate degree courses at the University. Hughes Hall is the oldest of the Cambridge colleges which admit only mature students.

If you are attending Hughes Hall College and you’re interested in playing rugby please contact John Naylor jo391@cam.ac.uk

http://www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/

Jesus College

Founded in 1496, Jesus College is situated in the heart of Cambridge. Well known for its sporting prowess, Jesus has also boasted such notable alumni as poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, writer Nick Hornby, playwright David Hare, and royal Prince Edward. It is unknown how many of these graced the hallowed turf of Jesus' playing fields with distinction. Jesus regularly provides representatives to Cambridge's Blues and Under 21s outfits, as well as being perennial title contenders in both the Cuppers competition and Division I of the League. In recent years, backrower Richard Bartholomew gained the record for the most ever caps for the Blues.

Jesus Rugby Captain is James Ingham jdi26@cam.ac.uk

http://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/

King's College

King's has an inexperienced rugby team, with many members not having the opportunity to play before coming to university. Despite this the team is enthusiastic and has enjoyed success in 2009 by reaching the semi finals of cuppers

King’s Rugby Captain is Will Ransom wlr22@cam.ac.uk

http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/

Lucy Cavendish College

Lucy Cavendish is the only women's college in Europe exclusively for students aged 21 or over, and a unique part of the University of Cambridge. Its undergraduate and postgraduate students come from over sixty countries, and a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds. Many have changed careers or overcome significant challenges in order to reach University. The College is particularly strong in Medicine, Law, Veterinary Medicine, Psychology, the Social Sciences and English.

If you are attending Lucy Cavendish College and you’re interested in playing rugby please contact John Naylor john.naylor@curufc.com

http://www.lucy-cav.cam.ac.uk/

Magdalene College

Founded in 1428 as a hostel for Benedictine monks and then refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene. The college has a number of famous alumni, including Samuel Pepys, John Simpson, C.S. Lewis and Gavin Hastings. Magdalene College RUFC has hada varied history in the last few years, being relegated last year to the second division. But with a strong intake of freshers in 2009, the team ensured promotion to the 1st division and won the Cuppers Shield.

Magdalene Rugby Captain is Tommy Bilclough tdb45@cam.ac.uk

http://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/

Murray Edwards College (New Hall)

Murray Edwards College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It was founded as "New Hall" in 1954, and unlike many other colleges, it was founded without a benefactor and did not bear a benefactor's name. This situation changed in 2008. Following a donation of £30 million by alumna Ros Edwards (née Smith) and her husband Steve Edwards, New Hall was renamed Murray Edwards College, honouring the donors and the first President, Dame Rosemary Murray.

If you are attending Murray Edwards College (new Hall) and you’re interested in playing rugby please contact John Naylor john.naylor@curufc.com

http://www.murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk/

Newnham College

The history of Newnham begins with the formation of the Association for Promoting the Higher Education of Women in Cambridge in 1869. The progress of women at Cambridge University owes much to the pioneering work undertaken by the philosopher Henry Sidgwick, fellow of Trinity. Lectures for Ladies had been started in Cambridge in 1869, and such was the demand from those who could not travel in and out on a daily basis that in 1871 Sidgwick, one of the organisers of the lectures, rented a house at 74, Regent Street to house five female students who wished to attend lectures but did not live near enough to the University to do so. He persuaded Anne Jemima Clough, who had previously run a school in the Lake District, to take charge of this house. The following year (1872), this moved to Merton House (built c1800) on Queen's Road, then to premises in Bateman Street.

If you are attending Newnham College and you’re interested in playing rugby please contact John Naylor john.naylor@curufc.com

http://www.newn.cam.ac.uk/

Pembroke College

The college has over six hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its founding, as well as extensive and immaculately maintained gardens. The college is a financially well-to-do institution, and has a level of academic performance among the highest of all the Cambridge colleges. Not only is Pembroke College home to the first chapel designed by Sir Christopher Wren, but it is also one of the Cambridge colleges to have educated a British prime minister, William Pitt the Younger. The college library, one of the finest in the university, with a Victorian neo-gothic clock tower, is endowed with an original copy of the first encyclopaedia to contain printed diagrams. The college's current master, Sir Richard Dearlove, was previously the head of the United Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Service.

Pembroke College Rugby Captain is Will Melling wjm46@cam.ac.uk

http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/

Peterhouse

Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely. Peterhouse has 284 undergraduates, 130 graduate students and 45 fellows, making it the smallest of the university's traditional colleges (though larger than some of the colleges which admit only women, graduates, or mature students and which are smaller because of their restricted membership). The modern name of Peterhouse does not include the word "college".

Selwyn Rugby Captain is Ben Schindler-Glass bhs30@cam.ac.uk

http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/

Queens' College

The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou (the Queen of Henry VI), and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville (the Queen of Edward IV). This dual foundation is reflected in its orthography: Queens', not Queen's, although the full name is The Queen's College of St Margaret and St Bernard, commonly called Queens' College, in the University of Cambridge.

Queens Rugby Captain is James Lloyd jl2009@cam.ac.uk

http://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/

Robinson College

Robinson is the newest of the Cambridge colleges, and is unique in being the only one to have been intended, from its inception, for both undergraduate and graduate students. The college was founded after the British philanthropist Sir David Robinson offered the university £17 million to establish a new college in Cambridge; this is still one of the largest donations ever accepted by the university. The first graduate students and fellows joined the college in 1977. Undergraduates (20 of them) were first admitted in 1979, but significant numbers only began arriving the following year. The college was formally opened by The Queen in May 1981.

Robinson Rugby Captain is Rory Winterburn rw607@cam.ac.uk

http://www.robinson.cam.ac.uk/

Selwyn College

Situated on the Western side of Cambridge, Selwyn College was founded in 1882 in memory of George Augustus Selwyn, the first Archbishop of New Zealand. Selwyn has been home to many notable alumni, including the comedian and actor Hugh Laurie, the author Robert Harris, and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu. Due to the college’s smaller size, rugby is run in conjunction with Peterhouse but despite this, Selwyn Peterhouse have a reputation for fielding strong teams. In the 2014/15 season, the team finished in second place as well as reaching the semi-finals in Cuppers. The team is highly motivated and is looking to maintain their position in Division 1 while continuing to progress in the cuppers and feed players through to the Cambridge Blues.

Selwyn Rugby Captain is Tom Osborn tao29@cam.ac.uk

http://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/

Sidney Sussex College

Founded in 1594 by Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex, Sidney Sussex College is the newest of the ‘old colleges’ in Cambridge. Known for having the fortunate positron of being placed across the road from Sainsburys, it seems Lady Sidney must have had some sort of foresight regarding the needs of her future students. Notable alumni include the TV personality Carol Vordeman and the military and political leader Oliver Cromwell. A quick Wikipedia search shows that at least part of Cromwell has returned to the college, with his head now being buried within the grounds. In terms of rugby, Sidney Sussex have several university rugby players representing the university in the U21, U21A and Colleges XV teams last season. With regular fixtures in the college league and cuppers, it is surprising that Sidney find the time to play any extra matches at all. However, there is the annual ‘Alan Dashwood Cup’ match played against the old boys of Sidney Sussex, Sidney also have ties with Yale university rugby club, having played Yale’s second team last season. Finally there is the newly formed ‘Wallace-Hadrill Shield’ played against St John’s College Oxford, Sidney’s twin college. The Wallace-Hadrill shield is named after the master of the college (who attended both St John’s and is now master of Sidney) and currently resides in Sidney Sussex after we won the inaugural match last season.

If you are attending Darwin and you’re interested in playing rugby please contact John Naylor john.naylor@curufc.com

http://www.sid.cam.ac.uk/

St Catharine's College

St Catharine's College was founded in 1473 by Robert Woodlark for a Master and three Fellows and is situated in the centre of Cambridge. In the sixteenth century undergraduates were admitted. Catz rugby has traditionally been very strong, and has produced some exceptional teams over the years, with a couple of Cuppers final appearances and even a Cuppers victory over the last decade. In 2009, two Catz rugby players represented the Blues in the Varsity match at Twickenham.

St Catharine’s Rugby Captain is Rhys Mould rm876@cam.ac.uk

http://www.caths.cam.ac.uk

St Edmund's College

Eddies have been a side predominantly made up of post graduate Blues and post graduate academics with no rugby experience. Always an entertaining side that has won cuppers on occasions. It was founded in 1896 as a residential hall of residence by Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk and Baron Anatole von Hügel. St Edmund's College received its Royal Charter in 1996. St Edmund's is one of four Cambridge colleges oriented to mature students, only accepting those reading for either Masters or Doctorate degrees, or undergraduate degrees if they are aged 21 or older (two other colleges cater to graduate students only). Over three-quarters of St Edmund's students are studying towards higher degrees, usually the PhD, MPhil or LLM degrees.

St Edmunds College Rugby Captain is Tristan Vincent tv279@cam.ac.uk

http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/

St John's College

The St John’s College Rugby Team (fondly known as the 'Redboys') constantly compete in Division 1 of the college leagues and regularly get their names on the Cuppers trophy. From 2004 to 2010, St John's won both the League and the Cuppers trophies, and in the past three seasons has taken home two Cuppers trophies, three Division One League Shields, and the inaugural Sevens Shield in 2016/17. In the 2016/17 season, the Redboys went undefeated. The college has a cardio gym and a weights gym on site, and has pristine pitches right behind college. St John's regularly produces a strong contingent of university players, but also ensures new players develop and get game time swiftly. For further information, please contact the captain or follow us on twitter @redboysrugby, on Instagram @stjohnscollegerufc, and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sjcredboys

St John’s College Rugby Captain is Will Saunter wrms2@cam.ac.uk

http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/

Trinity College

Trinity College has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows (however, counting only the student body but not Fellows, Trinity has somewhat fewer students than Homerton College). Trinity considers itself to be "a world-leading academic institution with an outstanding record of education, learning and research". Like its sister college, Christ Church, Oxford, it was traditionally considered the most aristocratic of the Cambridge colleges — and it has generally been the academic institution of choice of the Royal Family (King Edward VII, King George VI, Prince Henry of Gloucester, Prince William of Gloucester and Edinburgh and Prince Charles were all undergraduates).

Trinity Rugby Captain is James Hughes jeh210@cam.ac.uk

http://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/

Trinity Hall

Trinity Hall is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich. The college site on the River Cam was originally obtained from the purchase of a house from John de Crauden to house the monks during their study, and the main court was built in the college's first few decades.

If you are attending Trinity Hall and you’re interested in playing rugby please contact John Naylor john.naylor@curufc.com

http://www.trinhall.cam.ac.uk/