Macclesfield R.U.F.C.
English rugby union club, based in Macclesfield
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Macclesfield RUFC is a rugby union team based in the Cheshire town of Macclesfield and operates a women's side, three senior men's sides, senior and junior colts and ten mini/junior teams.[3] The first XV men's currently play in the fourth tier of the English rugby union system, National League 2 North, following a level transfer from National League 2 West at the end of the 2024–25 season. The second men's XV plays in the Cotton Traders Premier League and the third XV play in NOWIRUL division 3.
 | ||
| Full name | Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Cheshire RFU | |
| Nickname | Blues | |
| Founded | 1874 (present club formed in 1927) | |
| Location | Macclesfield, Cheshire, England | |
| Ground | Priory Park (Capacity: 1,250 (250 seats)[1][2]) | |
| Chairman | Robert Cooke | |
| League | National League 2 North | |
| 2024–25 | Level transfer from National League 2 West (11th) | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| macclesfieldrufc.co.uk | ||
History
Macclesfield RUFC was formed in 1877 although the present club was formed in 1927. After playing at several venues, the club moved to its present home in 1980. Five years later they participated in the forerunner to the launch of the national league system when they participated in the Girobank North West League. Over the last 25 years Macclesfield have climbed the pyramid spending one season in National One during the 2012–13 Season before being relegated but bouncing straight back after winning promotion during 2013–14 Season. However the 2014–15 saw the Blues relegated back to National 2 at the end of the campaign. They won the old North West 1 in 1991–92, North 2 in 1994–95 and entered the old National 3 North, then the fourth tier of club rugby, in 2002, winning the league in 2009–10, by which it had been restructured as National League 2 North.[4]
Honours
- Cheshire Plate
- Cheshire Cup
- Winners (8): 1991–92, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2015–16[7]
- Runners-up (2): 2004–05, 2007–08
- North West 1 (1): 1992–93
- North 2 (1): 1994–95
- North 1 v Midlands 1 promotion play-off winners (1): 2002–03[8][9]
- National League 2 North (3): 2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16
- National Division 2 Champions Cup (1): 2009–10
- Regional 1 North West: 2023–24[10]
Current standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 787 | 337 | +450 | 19 | 0 | 99 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Tynedale | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 769 | 420 | +349 | 16 | 3 | 91 | Promotion Play-off |
| 3 | Macclesfield | 21 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 837 | 546 | +291 | 16 | 1 | 85 | |
| 4 | Hull Ionians | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 686 | 453 | +233 | 16 | 3 | 81 | |
| 5 | Darlington Mowden Park | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 731 | 710 | +21 | 17 | 2 | 69 | |
| 6 | Fylde | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 679 | 544 | +135 | 13 | 5 | 68 | |
| 7 | Wharfedale | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 603 | 628 | −25 | 12 | 6 | 62 | |
| 8 | Sheffield Tigers | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 546 | 494 | +52 | 11 | 6 | 57 | |
| 9 | Billingham | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 490 | 765 | −275 | 13 | 2 | 47 | |
| 10 | Preston Grasshoppers | 21 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 598 | 645 | −47 | 12 | 3 | 45 | |
| 11 | Otley | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 562 | 685 | −123 | 9 | 8 | 41 | |
| 12 | Rossendale | 22 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 470 | 856 | −386 | 11 | 2 | 33 | Relegation Play-off |
| 13 | Scunthorpe | 20 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 439 | 812 | −373 | 9 | 5 | 30 | Relegation place |
| 14 | Hull | 22 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 474 | 776 | −302 | 9 | 4 | 29 |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Number of matches drawn
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
