Middlesex Rugby Football Union

Middlesex Rugby is the governing body for rugby union in Middlesex, England; Middlesex is a historic county of England that covers areas in the ceremonial counties of Greater London, Surrey and Hertfordshire. The historic county is still in use when referring to sport, and some businesses in the area. Middlesex RFU was originally created as the Middlesex County Rugby Club but within six years was being referred to as the Middlesex County Rugby Football Union and is now known simply as Middlesex Rugby.

Middlesex RFU
Full nameMiddlesex Rugby Football Union
UnionRFU
Founded1879 (1879)
RegionLondon
ChairmanPeter Baveystock(Grasshoppers RFC)
PresidentTom Brownsell(Hendon RFC)
Team kit
Official website
www.middlesexrugby.com

History

FR Adams Esq of Richmond F.C. called a meeting at the Bedford Hotel at which a resolution was passed bringing the club into being. He served as the Club and Union's first president until 1883 being succeeded by E. Temple Gurdon (also of Richmond F.C.).

Middlesex Sevens

The world-famous Middlesex Sevens were organised by Dr. Russell-Cargill and the Middlesex Hon. Secretary CS Bongard, the first tournament taking place according to one source[1] in 1925 and others[2] in 1926. This was the first seven-a-side rugby festival in England. The first tournament took place at Twickenham in aid of Middlesex hospital was won by Harlequins.

Union officials

Past Presidents
  • 1879–1883 FR Adam (Richmond F.C.)
  • 1883–1929 Edward Temple Gurdon (Richmond F.C.) *
  • 1929–1933 Ernest Prescott (Old Merchant Taylors RFC) *
  • 1933–1934 JL Bongard (Saracens RFC)
  • 1934–1935 W Williams (Harlequin F.C.)
  • 1935–1937 Dr Russell Cargill (London Scottish RFC)
  • 1937–1946 HB Hayes (Old Merchant Taylors RFC)
  • 1946–1950 Sir Wavell Wakefield MP (Harlequin F.C.) *
  • 1950–1955 RH O'Brien (Richmond F.C.)
  • 1955–1957 William Ramsey (Old Millhillians RFC) *
  • 1957–1960 Cyril Gadney MBE (Pinner RFC) * **
  • 1960–1963 Charles Hopwood MA (Richmond F.C.)
  • 1963–1966 Ronnie Sawyer (Wasps FC)
  • 1966–1969 George Barry MBE (London Irish RFC)
  • 1969–1970 KH Chapman (Harlequin F.C.) *
  • 1970–1973 Barry Boyden OBE (Westminster Bank RFC)
  • 1973–1976 Dick Storry Deans (Rosslyn Park F.C.)
  • 1976–1979 Aubrey Partner (Staines R.F.C.)
  • 1979–1982 Albert Agar (Harlequin F.C.) *
  • 1982–1985 Cyril Brandon (Centaurs RFC)
  • 1985–1988 Sir Peter Yarranton (Wasps FC) *
  • 1988–1991 Mike Christie (Old Merchant Taylors RFC)
  • 1991–1994 Charles Madge (Old Paulines RFC)
  • 1994–1997 Richard Gray (Mill Hill RFC)
  • 1997–2000 David Ransom (Harrow RFC)
  • 2000–2001 Derek Mann (Barclays Bank RFC)
  • 2001–2003 Keith King (Chiswick RFC)
  • 2003–2005 Brian Martin (Chiswick RFC)
  • 2005–2008 Andy Mortimer (Old Millhillians RFC)
  • 2008–2010 John Gunner (Rosslyn Park F.C.)
  • 2010–2012 Paul Astbury (Centaurs)
  • 2010 – Present Michael Barnes (Pinner & Grammarians)

Asterisk denotes President of the R.F.U.
Two asterisks denotes member of the International Rugby Board

Honorary Secretaries
  • 1879–1880 HP Gardner
  • 1881–1881 HL Ashmore
  • 1881–1882 A Ward
  • 1882–1886 FW Collins
  • 1886–1889 JH Roberts
  • 1889–1892 HL Ashmore
  • 1892–1913 RC Hodgson
  • 1913–1920 JC Jenkins
  • 1920–1923 RH Haxell
  • 1923–1946 CS Bongard
  • 1946–1950 Sir W Ramsey
  • 1950–1957 Cyril Gadney
  • 1957–1959 JRC Matthews
  • 1959–1970 Barry Boyden
  • 1970–1972 CH Brandon
  • 1972–1979 Mike Christie
  • 1979–1986 Derek Mann
  • 1986–1996 Graeme Cattermole
  • 1996–2004 David Hiles
  • 2004–2010 Brian East

Honorary Treasurers
  • 1879–1880 HP Gardner
  • 1880–1881 HL Ashmore
  • 1881–1882 A Ward
  • 1882–1886 FW Collins
  • 1886–1889 JH Roberts
  • 1889–1902 HL Ashmore
  • 1902–1904 RJ Hodgson
  • 1904–1919 JN Hill
  • 1919–1928 JL Bongard
  • 1928–1946 JL Bongard & H.J Brewer
  • 1946–1948 HJ Brewer & A.G Watson
  • 1948–1955 AG Watson
  • 1955–1959 Albert Agar
  • 1959–1961 JM Grammer
  • 1961–1976 WMD Lewis
  • 1976–1991 AT White
  • 1991–2001 Keith King
  • 2001–2004 Michael Barnes

Members who were Presidents of the RFU
  • 1890–1892 ET Gurton
  • 1896–1898 RW Whalley
  • 1920–1922 E Prescott
  • 1950–1951 Sir Wavell Wakefield
  • 1954–1955 WC Ramsay
  • 1962–1963 CH Gadney
  • 1974–1975 KH Chapman
  • 1984–1985 AE Agar
  • 1991–1992 Sir Peter Yarranton

County side
Rugby kit (blue and white thin hooped jersey; black shorts; and black socks).
Current Kit

Middlesex County Rugby Union was originally created as a rugby club and as such fulfilled fixtures for six years before becoming the Union for clubs within the county. After becoming a union the club continued to operate selecting players from its constituent clubs to play representative matches for the county and to go on tours.

Very early in its history, Middlesex played Surrey under floodlights at the Old Deer Park. This is possibly the first rugby match played under floodlights as electric light had only just been invented. A floodlit game was the ideal opportunity to try out the new technology although the game was not a great success by all accounts.[3]

On 24 October 1905, Middlesex played the touring South African side at Richmond for their ninth match. The Springboks won 9 – 0, their narrowest score so far in the tour; a penalty by Douglas Morkel and try by Brink made the half time score 6 – 0 whilst in the second half the only points came from a try by Loubser. Middlesex fielded a cosmopolitan team including Jim Louwrens the South African College scrum half of 1901, three Welshmen who were also later to play for Wales (Harding, Jenkins & Williams) and the Scottish international Geddes. The match referee was Cartwright.

On 2 September 1964 Staines RFC played a Middlesex XV on the occasion of the opening of their new ground, "The Reeves".

English County championship
The Middlesex team that played the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team on 22 October 1888
Middlesex appearances in English County Championship Finals
Year Winners Opponents Score Venue
1893 Yorkshire Cumberland, Devon, Middlesex
1905 Durham County Middlesex 9–8 West Hartlepool
1929 Middlesex Lancashire 8–8 Twickenham
8–9 St Anthony's Road ground, Blundellsands
1951 East Midlands Middlesex 10–0 Northampton
1952 Middlesex Lancashire 9–6 Twickenham
1954 Middlesex Lancashire 6–24 St Anthony's Road ground, Blundellsands
1955 Lancashire Middlesex 8–14 Twickenham
1956 Middlesex Devon 13–9 Twickenham
1966 Middlesex Lancashire 0–6 St Anthony's Road ground, Blundellsands
1968 Middlesex Warwickshire 9–6 Twickenham
1976 Gloucestershire Middlesex 9–24 Athletic Ground, Richmond
1977 Lancashire Middlesex 17–6 St Anthony's Road ground, Blundellsands
1979 Middlesex Northumberland 19–6 Twickenham
1985 Middlesex Notts, Lincs & Derby 12–9 Twickenham
1987 Yorkshire Middlesex 22–11 Twickenham
1990 Lancashire Middlesex 32–9 Twickenham

1968 tour of East Africa

Middlesex were the English county champions for the sixth time in 1968, having defeated Warwickshire in the final (tries by Brian Stoneman and Sandy Hinshelwood helped them to their 9–6 win at Twickenham).[4] At least ten of the players that had participated in the final went on the tour in July of that year. Middlesex played a total of seven matches on a tour that lasted a little over two weeks, two games being played in Uganda and five in Kenya. The tourists won all seven matches comfortably and reported that the standard of rugby in the region had dropped noticeably since some members of the touring party had last played there. It was generally felt that the East African sides lacked stamina and tactical nous;[5] the latter is understandable as the opportunities for playing high level rugby in the region were limited, though the former is surprising as much of the region is at altitude and it would be expected that the visitors would suffer more than the hosts.

The Middlesex tour party consisted of 70 members though the minority of these were players, the majority were officials and non-playing members who were travelling as supporters. Amongst the players, at least three had previously toured East Africa; Patrick Orr (twice, with Anti-Assassins in 1965 and Richmond F. C. in 1963), Chris Ralston (with Richmond F. C. in 1963) and Brian Stoneman (twice, with Richmond F. C. and Combined (Oxford and Cambridge) Universities, both in 1963).[1]

Matches and Results[5]
Date Opposition Location Result Score
1968-07-06 UgandaKampalawon5–47
1968-07-08Uganda Invitation XVEntebbewon0–32
1968-07-10West Kenya ProvinceEldoretwon3–57
1968-07-13Central ProvinceNairobiwon6–35
1968-07-14Scorpions RFCRFUEA Ground, Nairobiwon0–47
1968-07-17Coast Invitation XVMombasawon0–16
1968-07-20 East AfricaRFUEA Ground, Nairobiwon0–28

Middlesex scored 262 points in seven matches, an average of more than 37 per game. In total they conceded only 14 points. They scored 61 tries, 32 conversions, three penalty-goals and two dropped-goals. Top scorer was Gordon MacDonald (45 points, all from goal-kicking), Ricky Parsons was second highest scorer (33 points, from 5 tries, the rest from goal-kicking), Mike Alder was third (31 points from 6 tries, the rest from goal-kicking). Top try scorers were Tim Rutter and Robin Jolliffe (7 each), Mike Alder and Roger Weaver (6 each). Francis Mann was the outstanding player of the tour.[5]

The tour had been organised by the Middlesex Hon. Secretary Barry Boyden, his assistant Cyril Brandon and the RFUEA's appointed Tour Chairman Bernard Nicholls. As with all rugby tours to East Africa in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, it would not have been possible without the hosting arrangements offered by the rugby fraternity in Kenya and Uganda; in order to cut down on costs, members of the tour party were welcomed into the homes of the hosts and provided for in a manner that was acclaimed by those that were lucky enough to have toured the region.[6] Hence the frequency with which first time tourists rapidly made certain they returned a second or third time.

Notable players

These players have played test rugby.

Affiliated clubs

There are currently 88 clubs affiliated with the Middlesex RFU, most of which have teams at both senior and junior level. All these clubs are based in Greater London – in what used to be the historic county of Middlesex, although a large number of clubs are also members of the Surrey RFU.

[11]

County club competitions

The Middlesex RFU currently helps run the following competitions for clubs based in the historic county of Middlesex (now part of London):

Leagues

Cups

[12]

Discontinued competitions

Notes
  1. Barnes are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  2. Battersea Ironsides are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  3. Bec Old Boys are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  4. Blackheath are members of the Kent RFU, Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  5. Croydon are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  6. Ealing Trailfinders are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  7. Effingham & Leatherhead are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  8. Epping Upper Clapton are members of both the Middlesex RFU and Essex RFU.
  9. Footscray are members of both the Middlesex RFU and Kent RFU.
  10. London Cornish are joint members of both the Cornwall RFU and Middlesex RFU.
  11. London Exiles are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  12. London Irish Wild Geese are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  13. London Irish Wild Geese are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  14. London Welsh went into liquidation in January 2017.[10] Amateur side still in existence.
  15. Merton are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  16. Millwall are members of both the Middlesex RFU and Essex RFU.
  17. Old Alleynians take part in competitions organized by the Surrey RFU.
  18. Old Colfeians are joint members of both the Kent RFU and Middlesex RFU.
  19. Old Haileyburians are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  20. Old Pauline are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  21. Old Tiffinians are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  22. Old Whitgiftian are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  23. Old Wimbledonians are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  24. Rosslyn Park are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  25. Southwark Lancers are joint members of both the Kent RFU and Middlesex RFU.
  26. Streatham-Croydon are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  27. Teddington are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  28. Warlingham are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.
  29. London Wasps moved to Coventry in 2014. Amateur side still based in London.
  30. Wimbledon are joint members of both the Middlesex RFU and Surrey RFU.

See also

Within Wikipedia

Photos on the web
  • Middlesex v 1905 New Zealand scrum
  • Peter Kininmonth who scored a drop goal to propel Scotland to a famous win against Wales in 1951
  • The Middlesex side that played Somerset on 28 December 1889 at Weston-super-Mare
  • Middlesex v 1906/7 Sprinboks at Richmond (South Africa won 9–0)

References
  1. Programme of Middlesex RFU tour of East Africa. Rugby Football Union of East Africa. 1968.
  2. "The First Middlesex Sevens". The Rugby History Society. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  3. "Middlesex RFU: History". Middlesex RFU. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  4. "ESPN Scrum". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  5. Cherry, Rupert (1968). "262 points in 7 matches". Rugby World (September): 39.
  6. Booth, Michael (1969). "Bill Hartley – 22 tries in seven tour matches". Rugby World (August): 32.
  7. "Archive, The Barbarians". Barbarian FC. Archived from the original on 25 March 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  8. "The British & Irish Lions". The British Lions. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
    • David Cooke Captain of Winning County side in 1985, Harlequins and England
  10. "London Welsh: RFU refuses permission for Exiles to stay in Championship". BBC Sport. 24 January 2017.
  11. "FIND A CLUB IN LONDON". Middlesex RFU. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  12. "Middlesex Cup". Middlesex RFU. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
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