Description

About our Club
We are the United Bristol Hospitals RFC (UBHRFC) and we primarily represent medics, vets, and dentists at the University of Bristol, alongside local doctors, but students from any course at the university are welcome to join. We are a welcoming club, where any student of any ability is able to get involved and make the most of every opportunity we present - whether you want to play competitive rugby, pick up a new hobby, or just enjoy the socials. With a core of medical students, a unique benefit of our club is our more manageable scheduling to accommodate for your life and studying as you need.
Competitions and Training
We have two active men's teams playing in several competitions throughout the year, including NAMS Rugby (the national medical school cup competition), an annual Varsity match against Cardiff, a biannual sports tour to Nantes (France), an annual Old Boys match against the club's alumni, alongside regular friendly fixtures - so there's plenty of game time available. After back to back NAMS Plate victories, 2023/24 saw our 1st XV crowned national champions in the NAMS Cup and our 2nd XV just lose out in the 2s Cup. Next, the 2024/25 season had the 1st XV missing out on a finals place to an 80th minute penalty against the eventual winners, and our 2XV winning the 2s Cup - a hugely impressive achievement in only their third competitive year and laying strong foundations for the 2025/26 season.
We pride ourselves on being one club, with no distinction between our teams and whole club training sessions and coaching. This means there is always the opportunity for all players to improve and push for a place in the first team. At the UBHRFC, you'll play to as high of a level as you can and wish to with three talented coaches to assist in your development.
We train twice a week at our home ground, Coombe Dingle Sports Complex (BS9 2BJ). We also hold some Strength & Conditioning sessions on Wednesdays on Clifton Down, by the water tower. Fixtures are usually held on Saturdays to minimise the timetable conflicts with other university commitments.
The Best Socials in the South West
Socials are as big a part of our club as any. After a Saturday (or occasional Wednesday) fixture, we usually meet in the evening at the Sportsmans pub (BS1 5AE). Here, we enjoy our own private function room to enjoy food, drink, and games. Throughout the year there are many staple club socials to look forward to like our Old Boys dinner, Sports Christmas Social, end of season awards, and chairman's day out to name a few. Some have specific themes, some celebrate particular events, but all are not to be missed.
Club 'families' are a fantastic component of our social scene – each fresher will have a designated group including a mixture of fellow freshers and senior clubmen. It gives you a way to casually catch up and socialise within the club without the sometimes intimidating socials involving the whole club. We recognise that socials are one of the most anticipated aspects about starting university, but they can also be one of the most daunting. This has driven us to create a social environment focused on fun and enjoyment for everyone, rather than any pressure to drink, for example.
Membership and Fees
We offer a range of membership options, specific to what you're looking for from us. For all memberships, club costs refers to our payments for training facilities, coaching, pitch hire, equipment, subsidised travel, and more. Everyone to the club will receive club ties with their membership fees.
Our Full 2024/25 Membership contributes to club costs and pays for a club tie. It allows the player access to socials, training, and competing for the club - £120
Our Social 2024/25 Membership contributes to club costs and pays for a club tie. It allows the player access to socials and training - £50
Our Fifth Year 2022/23 Membership contributes to club costs, and is reduced to account for those on electives who aren't able to participate for first term. It allows the player access to socials, training, and competing for the club - £60
Note: If you don't already have one, an SEH Access Pass will automatically be added to your basket with our membership – this fee goes to the university and is a requirement of all sports club memberships across the university.
2025-26 Committee
Club Captain - Andrew Mead
Vice Club Captain and Chairman - Karl Wade
1st XV Captain - Ollie Davey
1st XV Vice Captains - Sam Seppings and Fred Gazeley
General Secretary - Jason Da Costa
Treasurer and Sponsorship Secretary - Dom Tresigne
Fixtures Secretary - Tom Krys and Henry Sims
Social Media Secretary - Sam Reuben
Kit Secretary - Max Whiteside
Equalities and Wellbeing Officer - Thanu Vithyakaran
Contact
Club Enquiries: unitedbristolhospitalsrfc@gmail.com
Fixtures: ubhrfcfixtures@gmail.com
Alumni: ubhrfcoldboys@gmail.com
Social Media
Instagram: @ubhrfc
Twitter: @ubhrfc
Facebook: United Bristol Hospitals RFC
UBHWRFC - Womens Medics Rugby
UBHWRFC is entering its 8th year as a club and has gone from strength to strength. What started as a group of friends playing together on the Downs has progressed into a fantastic team from all years and courses competing in the NAMS league. Our club has maintained a fun and friendly ethos throughout its history while maintaining high standards of rugby. In the 2022/23 season, the first ever NAMS league for women’s rugby was set up and our Bristol team went undefeated in the league, eventually going on to win the cup final in front of a large crowd in London. UBHWRFC is run by players, for players, while catering to the unique schedule and challenges of medical students.We train weekly on Saturday mornings on the Downs, by the water tower. Fixtures and socials are also held on weekends to allow the medical students on outplacement to commute back to Bristol and play! If you love fun rugby, a run around on a Saturday morning and competitive matches in a national league then we look forward to welcoming you, whether you have played for years or never picked up a rugby ball! UBHWRFC has a great year ahead of us!
The Best Socials in the South West
This year is shaping up to be one of our most social seasons yet, with our social secretary hard at work behind the scenes! From post training coffees to match pub trips, to nights out to joint socials with UBHRFC, our club has something for everyone. UBHWRFC prides itself on our inclusive, welcoming environment, for everyone from freshers to a fifth year. Some yearly highlights include our Alumni Dinner, where we welcome old members of the club, or Varsity, a big day of matches across all sports against Cardiff.
Additionally, our EDI officer runs sober socials, as not everyone wants to drink and socialise in settings involving alcohol. These include a coffee club where we catch up in a casual environment, and group study sessions where the older years can (attempt) to advise the younger years and provide academic guidance!
2025-26 Committee
Captain - Emily Matthews
Vice Captains - Abi Brooke and Terris Ho
Treasurer - Nikita Rahme
Sponsorship Sec - Vanessa Shaw
EDI and Welfare Sec - Hannah Lawrie
Fixtures Sec - Ella Skipsey
Social Media Sec - Georgia Wooding
Social Sec - Lydia Matumba
Kit Sec - Maddi Thandi
Contacts
Instagram: @ubhwrfc
Email: ubhwrfc@gmail.com
Close
Membership Fee Inclusions
Prior to signing up to a Club or Society speak to the Committee to find out what your membership includes and if there are any further expenses throughout the year.
Full Membership Includes:
- Full matchday team kit (Shirts, warm up shirts, shorts, socks, subs coats),
- Training equipment and match balls, club membership card with discounts (Maxinutrition, 50% off Comfort Health Physio, 20% off Nandos Park Street, £15 haircuts at Minimal Barbers, food after matches and discounted drinks at Sportsman's),
- Full time coaching at every training session and match as well as matchday analysis,
- Physio cover at games and access to club sessions on a Friday,
- Transport to all away NAMS matches,
- Freshers: tie, hymn book, shorts, socks, t-shirt (if this is your first season),
Service Standards
All Club or Society members can expect to receive:
- The opportunity to attend regular meetings, events, activities, trips and socials as arranged.
- The opportunity to stand for a committee position or vote in their elections (Bristol students only).
- For Sports Club – to attend regular training sessions and have the opportunity to be selected for the teams.
Code of Conduct
When joining a club or society you are agreeing to abide by the constitution, general rules, regulations and policies of University of Bristol Students’ Union and also the Club or Society Code of Conduct which sets out the level of behaviour & discipline expected of all Club & Society members.
Download the Code of Conduct
Refund Policy
Any customer who pays for a membership subscription to a Bristol SU Society, Sports Club, Student Media and initiatives has a 14 day cooling off period from the time and date of purchase during which they have the right to cancel the subscription and receive a full refund. If you do decide to cancel within the 14 days, Bristol SU will refund your payment within a further 30 days of the cancellation. To request a refund please email: bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk
Data sharing (Sports Club members only)
Please be aware that Bristol SU may share data relating to the members of its sports clubs with the Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health (a department of the University). This information may be used for the purposes of communicating direct with these members and/or to cross-reference against SEH's Sports Pass membership records.
As part of Bristol SU's membership of British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) Bristol SU may have to share data on to its sports clubs members so BUCS can, from time to time, communicate with these members.
Data sharing (Societies members only)
If you're joining one of the societies listed below please be aware that your name and email address will be shared with Bristol Hub for the purpose of keeping you up to date with their activities through their email “The Week”:
AIESEC Bristol, AMICUS Bristol, Anti-Slavery Society, Bristol Feminists, Bristol Friends of MSF, Bristol Marrow, Bristol Social Enterprise Society, Bristol Student Action for Refugees, Bristol University Amnesty International, Conservation Group, Bristol University Oxfam Group, Bristol University Sustainability Team, Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad, Engineers Without Borders, Howard League for Penal Reform Student Society, International Affairs Society, Medsin Bristol, Model United Nations, and Vegetarian and Vegan Society.
For more information on Bristol Hub visit: http://www.bristolhub.org.
If you do not want your details shared with the Hub please email: bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk.
These terms shall be governed by English law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. Nothing in these terms shall exclude liability for fraudulent misrepresentation.