Description

Welcome to UBRFC’s homepage!

               

                                                      

Why UBRFC?

UBRFC caters for a wide range of rugby-playing abilities, from the performance squad of our 1st and 2nd XV, and to the development squad consisting of our 3rd XV, our Saturday side and our Freshers XV. There are so many ways to get involved playing rugby for UBRFC, no matter your experience or ability, and with so many teams, there will always be a space available for you. UBRFC is a friendly and exciting club providing all members with professional coaching and facilities to enable athletes to perform at their best.

We're here to help you train, compete and achieve your sporting goals during your time at Bristol. As one of the top 10 universities for sporting achievement in the UK, we have a dedicated team of coaches and support staff to help you to reach your full sporting potential.

Our club

Founded in 1876, University of Bristol RFC is one of the oldest Rugby Clubs in the world. With over 150 current members, and an extensive alumni network, joining UBRFC means more than just pulling on a shirt every week. Every time you step on the pitch, you represent 150 years of clubmen, joining many notable alumni such as former England Sevens Tom Mitchell, former Bristol Bears Dave Attwood and Sam Jeffries. As a club our vision remains the same; to be an internationally recognised University Rugby Club; educating and inspiring Student athletes to connect, lead and excel on and off the field.

Make sure to check out our website for further information!

 

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Getting Involved - Important Dates and Information for New Players

Our student committee members will be present at the University Welcome Fair on Friday 19th September. Come say hello!

Our trials for all new players will take place during the day on the 20th September 2:30pm-4PM. This will be at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex 3G Pitch (BS9 2BJ). All members wishing to attend should sign up in advance using this link, however, should this not be completed, it will be possible to complete the form at sessions. Following your session there will be a presentation by Head of Rugby, Olly Slym and Club Captain, Henry Trevis. Follow our Instagram @unibristolrfc to stay up to date about trials!

After trials, an email or WhatsApp message will be sent out informing what team you have been selected for as well as more information on training times.

Games

The University rugby season starts on the 30th September and will continue, in some cases, through until Easter depending on cup competitions and play-off matches. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd XV teams play BUCS fixtures every Wednesday afternoon. Our Saturday Side play local, Bristol, men's sides on Saturdays. Our Freshers XV will play on Wednesdays and weekends against intramural sides.

In addition to BUCS fixtures, we have our 1876 Maroon side. Over our 150th season there will be celebratory fixtures against historic sides, comprised of UBRFC alumni and other big names. 

Memberships

In regards to membership, prices range from £230 for our Development Squad, £300 for Performance and £360 for our 1st XV Squad; both of these allow you to be insured for training and matches. A kit package (Waterproof training top, UBRFC shorts ,socks and warm up t shirt) can also be purchased.

Annual 1st XV Membership ( Selected Players Only ) £360:

• x3 Training sessions/ week
• 3x Gym a week 
• x2 S&C sessions/ week
• Team match video reviews
• Physio at all matches and off field
• X1 1:1 with head coach
• X1 recovery sessions/ week
• Insurance for all training and matches
• Travel and match fees covered
• Pre-season programme

Annual Performance Membership ( Selected Players Only ) £300:

• x3 Training sessions/ week
• Team match video reviews
• Physio at all matches and off field
• X1 1:1 with head coach
• X1 recovery sessions/ week
• Insurance for all training and matches
• Travel and match fees covered
• Pre-season programme

Annual Development Membership ( Selected Players only ) £230:

• X2 Training sessions/ week
• Physio available off field
• Insurance for all training and matches
• Travel and match fees covered
• Coaching costs covered

We also offer social memberships which can be purchased for players with long term injuries or that wish to be a part of the club but no longer play the sport. 

Scholarships

Our Vice-Chancellor's (VC) Scholars for Sport are an inspirational group who train and compete as part of our club, whilst also driving towards professional athletic careers on the world stage during their time at the University of Bristol.

Scholarships for Sport are offered to a maximum of 10 students each year for £1,500 - £3,000 per student, per annum. The support package that all Scholars receive as part of the programme equates to approximately £6,000 in services.

For more information please visit our website: www.ubrfc.co.uk/performance-sport.

The Maroon Athlete Scholarship is available to current students not already on the VC Scholarship programme. Students are nominated by Head Coaches across our high-performance sport and do not receive no financial award and will also have to pay membership but will benefit from:

• Additional coaching time, support and mentoring
• Active Connect Sports Pass included
• Access to exclusive Scholar S&C sessions 
• Group workshops with Sports Psychologist and Nutritionist 
• Exclusive access to Performance Pre-Season Camps 
• Individual/Team Coaching Sessions 
• Individual Performance Profiling twice per year (May & August)

           

 

Socials

Our weekly socials take place every Wednesday night at Brass Pig on the triangle. These are great for meeting clubmen from across all teams and forming lifelong friendships outside of your traditional course and year of study groups. There are other events throughout the year including Welcome Drinks, Christmas Dinner, Winter Ball, Exam Party and non-alcohol socials with meet ups in coffee shops, golf courses and team meals.

Kit

A match top will be provided on the day of a game but it is important on game days that you wear only UBRFC kit to travel in, warm up in and upon arriving at Coombe Dingle. For training times and S&C sessions, any kit can be worn but you must have appropriate footwear.

There is also an option to buy these items separately using this link.  Please note: all other stash not listed on this website or on the Surridge website (including sports fleeces and vests) will be purchased in bulk throughout the year - keep an eye on announcements from our kit secs to find out how to place an order for these items. The club tie will be handed out after your first match appearance for UBRFC!

Tour

After the great success of the 2023 summer tour to Madagascar, the club decided to go bigger and better for our 2025 edition, selecting Argentina as our destination. Our tours are highly regarded among current clubmen and alumni alike. They are popular and highly sought-after, and the centre of the club's Rugby and social calendars. A tour is in the works for 2027 so stay posted!

             

FAQs

Q. I haven’t played rugby before, can I still join the club?

Yes! UBRFC is an inclusive club that welcomes all members of all skill levels. The club strives for members to progress and improve skills, so even if you have no rugby experience, you are sure to have plenty by the time you leave the club. 

Q. What are trials like?

The session will initially be split into forwards and backs. There will be a variety of position-specific drills run by players, designed for you to show off your skills. Then forwards and backs will come together for a 15 vs 15 game, to assess those skills in a real game. 

If after trials you are unhappy with your team placement and feel you would be more suited to a higher/lower level, get in touch with the Director of rugby or Club Captain and we can, if applicable, make some amendments. It is usual for our captains to shuffle members around in the first couple of weeks of training anyway to make sure we have the strongest teams we can for the season. Everyone will be put in a squad, and no one will miss out on joining the club!

Q. Do you have a sevens side?

Yes! We have our very own University of Bristol Men’s RFC 7s team named Maroon 7’s ( instagram - maroon7s) which has seen current students go onto represent Great Britian 7's. Our sevens team compete in the annual BUCS sevens competition as well as being an invitational side for current players and alumni which compete in tournaments such as Bournemouth, Prague and Amsterdam to name a few. The season commences after Easter before exams start in May and everyone wanting to participate will be invited to try out.

Q. I’m injured at the moment; can I still be a part of the club?

Of course! You are more than welcome to still attend training sessions, socials, S&C sessions and match days even if you are injured. Please still complete our trial form and fill out your injury in the selected section. Do not worry if you can not partake in the trials during welcome week; once you are fit and ready to return to rugby, we can assess which team is suitable for you. 

Q. I can’t make the trials during welcome week, can I still join the club?

Yes. Please get in contact with our Club Captain Henry Trevis (yl25531@bristol.ac.uk) who will be able to direct you to a training session to take part in when you’re available.

Q. What is the SEH Acess Pass?

All students who attend club training sessions allocated through the Facility Allocation Matrix will be required to have a valid Sport, Exercise and Health (SEH) Access Pass at the cost of £25. This allows access to training sessions that take place on SEH and SEH funded facilities.

                                          

The Committee 2024/25 & how to contact us:

Club Captain: Henry Trevis - yi25531@bristol.ac.uk

Vice Captain: James Williamson - j.j.williamson.2023@bristol.ac.uk

Secretary: Dan Oliver - dan.oliver206.2025@bristol.ac.uk

EDI and Well Being Officer: Tash Munjanganja - ny24083@bristol.ac.uk

Fresher Secretary: Ben Yeo - ji25384@bristol.ac.uk                                       Seb McNamara - qq25510@bristol.ac.uk

Social Media: Ryan Williams - tq25210@bristol.ac.uk

Alumni Secretary: Jasper Orlebar - uk24464@bristol.ac.uk

Treasurer: Horatio Murrin - xl25676@bristol.ac.uk

Social Secretary: Joe Young - joe.young.2025@bristol.ac.uk                             Nico Savic - ep25030@bristol.ac.uk

Kit Secretary: Aubrey Gardner - cf25351@bristol.ac.uk

Kit Secretary: Barney Raphael - cz25877@bristol.ac.uk

Business and Events Secretary: Oli Panther - tx25576@bristol.ac.uk

 

Social Media – Stay in the loop!

Make sure to follow us on all our socials to keep up to date with all upcoming events and announcements:

Instagram - @unibristolrfc

Twitter - @unibristolrfc

Facebook - University of Bristol Rugby FC

TikTok - @unibristolrfc

LinkedIn - University of Bristol Rugby Club Alumni

YouTube - University of Bristol RFC

Website - https://www.universityofbristolrugby.com

Alternatively, if you have any questions, feel free to message us on our Instagram or Facebook account. You can also contact our club captain Henry – yl25531@bristol.ac.uk . You should hear back from us regarding any queries you have within 24-48 hours!