Rugby Union (Men's)
One of the outstanding options for rugby players wanting a world class degree
Durham University Rugby Football Club is one of the oldest sporting clubs in the University and has a proud tradition of developing players and producing teams that compete at the very highest level of British University Sport. Many international players have come through DURFC including England captains Phil de Glanville and Will Carling.
Since our separation from Newcastle in 1967, twenty-five Durham players have won international honours. In recent years the list has included Will Greenwood, Tim Stimpson, Duncan Hodge, David Walder and Charlie Hodgson. In total three former Durham students have captained England and five have played for the British Lions.
The University Club provides playing opportunities for four teams and the club continues to have sustained success at all levels. The 2004 British University Champions have finished second in the Northern Premier League for the last two seasons ensuring that they have retained their status as a top eight British University programme. However performance further down the club has been equally impressive. In 2008/09 the men's 2s secured promotion to Northern Premier League B whilst the men's third team sit just one league below them and will be one of the favourites to take the Division 1 crown this time around. The fourth team play in a regional Saturday league, an ideal competition for those that do not want to compete in Wednesday University sport or for those that are striving to develop their game and break into the BUCS squads.
The club also enjoys a good relationship with the Newcastle Falcons. Many members of the squad train and play along side the Falcons, with some players earning a professional contract with the club upon graduation.
The club's coaching structure is extensive with all four sides receiving weekly training and match day support. We are currently in the process of appointing of first first full time Senior Rugby Coach who will start in advance of the 2010/11 season.
The appointment of a full time coach coincides with the building of a new floodlit rugby union rubber crumb facility which was completed in September 2009. The full size pitch has been built to the highest specifications and will be used by the Rugby Club throughout the season for both training and competition.
Rugby Union Scholarships are available to players who have competed at age group international level or to those that are formerly associated with professional clubs. For more information about Scholarships and the Elite Athlete Performance Programme, please click here.
Durham University Men's Rugby Union is a Tier 1 Performance programme and athletes within the club have access to the following support services
- Full time professional coaching support
- Sports specific strength and conditioning and fitness support
- Access to nutritional guidance seminars and additional nutritional information
- Access to Connect Physical Health Centre Open Clinics and pre booked physiotherapy sessions to selected athletes
- Access to an on-site doctor to selected athletes
- Performance and individual technique video analysis (First Team only)
- Access to a comprehensive pre-winter season, post Christmas and pre-summer season training programme
- Support in attaining sporting concessions where the performer is in good academic standing
- Lifestyle and time management support / mentoring for selected athletes
Want to know more about the Team Durham Performance programme? Please click here
