Rams RFC
English rugby union club, based in Berkshire
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Rams Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based near the village of Sonning on the outskirts of Reading in the county of Berkshire. The first XV play in the third-level league of the English rugby union system, National League 1, following their promotion from National League 2 South as champions at the end of the 2018–19 season. Until 2018, the club had been known as Redingensians and then Redingensians Rams before being renamed simply as Rams for the 2018–19 season onwards.[1]
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| Full name | Rams Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Berkshire RFU | |
| Nickname(s) | Ensians, Rams | |
| Founded | 1924 | |
| Ground | Old Bath Road (Capacity: 2,000 (300 seats)) | |
| Chairman | Andrew Lynch | |
| CEO | Gary Reynolds | |
| President | Marcus Noye | |
| Coach | Seb Reynolds | |
| League | National League 1 | |
| 2024–25 | 5th | |
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| Official website | ||
| www | ||
History
Rams consist of five senior teams of differing playing ability and a full complement of mini and junior sides.[2] The first team currently plays in National League 1 (level 3) of the rugby union league structure. The second team play in Canterbury Division 3, the third team play in Berks/Bucks & Oxon Prem A, and the fourths in Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1. The fifth team participates in the Thames Valley Invitational Leagues. Both the under-17s and colts play in division 1 of their respective Berks/Bucks & Oxon leagues. Rams RFC is also renowned for its Rugby 7s capability and participates in several major international tournaments across Europe from March through to August.
Ground
Rams play home fixtures at Old Bath Road in the village of Sonning on the north-east outskirts of Reading.[3] As it is next to the A4 travel links are good, with parking available at the ground and regular bus services to Reading which is accessible by train. The ground consists of a main pitch next to a modern club-house, along with a number of other pitches for second XV and junior rugby.[4]
Originally all standing, in 2021 the 300 seat Pountney Stand was built, named after the club's founding father Leslie Pountney.[5] The ground capacity is around 2,000, with the 300 seater stand and approximately 1,700 (all standing) around the main pitch and on the club-house balcony.[6]
On 6 December 2024 a record crowd of 1,829 attended Old Bath Road for the top of the table clash between Rams and Richmond.[7]
Honours
1st team:
- Southern Counties champions: 1987–88
- Southern Counties South champions: 2000–01
- Southern Counties North champions: 2005–06
- South West Division 2 East champions: 2006–07
- National League 3 South West champions: 2014–15
- National League 2 South champions: 2018–19
2nd team:
- Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier A champions: 2007–08
4th team:
- Berks/Bucks & Oxon 4 South champions: 2014–15
- Berks/Bucks & Oxon 3 champions: 2015–16
Current standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rotherham Titans | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 848 | 456 | +392 | 17 | 3 | 92 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Plymouth Albion | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 833 | 450 | +383 | 19 | 0 | 91 | Promotion play-off |
| 3 | Blackheath | 22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 715 | 436 | +279 | 16 | 3 | 87 | |
| 4 | Sale FC | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 705 | 459 | +246 | 16 | 5 | 81 | |
| 5 | Rosslyn Park | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 735 | 584 | +151 | 19 | 4 | 79 | |
| 6 | Rams | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 622 | 604 | +18 | 15 | 6 | 65 | |
| 7 | Bishop's Stortford | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 618 | 704 | −86 | 16 | 3 | 63 | |
| 8 | Tonbridge Juddians | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 617 | 605 | +12 | 15 | 6 | 59 | |
| 9 | Leeds Tykes | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 537 | 704 | −167 | 10 | 2 | 48 | |
| 10 | Birmingham Moseley | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 534 | 610 | −76 | 10 | 6 | 46 | |
| 11 | Dings Crusaders | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 552 | 807 | −255 | 12 | 4 | 44 | Relegation play-off |
| 12 | Sedgley Park | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 448 | 665 | −217 | 8 | 3 | 43 | Relegation place |
| 13 | Clifton | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 499 | 764 | −265 | 9 | 4 | 41 | |
| 14 | Leicester Lions (R) | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 519 | 934 | −415 | 12 | 2 | 22 |
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
