Surrey Rugby Football Union

History

Early years of County representative team

The earliest recorded game played by a team purporting to represent Surrey under rugby union auspices was played before the Surrey County Club has been formed. This was played on 21 February 1878 against Middlesex and won by Surrey with a try scored by AS Trevor.

Formation of the County Club

On 22 December 1879, a meeting was held at the York Hotel, on Waterloo Road, South London (then in Surrey), at which the County Club was formed. Two fixtures were played that season. The first was against Middlesex which turned out to be an easy win for Surrey. However, their confidence was put into check when they were soundly beaten by Yorkshire. Another match with Middlesex was played at Old Deer Park on 6 December 1880 with the result of each fifteen scoring one goal, in what was described as a ″splendidly-contested game″.

County side

Honours

County Championship finals (2 wins);

County Championship Shield finals (4 wins);

County Championship Plate finals (1 win);

Notable players for the County side

Many notable players have represented Surrey. The most appearances in County Championship games for the Surrey side have been by:

• Bob Hiller (Harlequins) – 68
• Bob Lloyd (Harlequins) – 46
• Stanley Couchman (Old Cranleighans) – 45
• Ted Priest (Old Alleynians) – 39

Other famous players include:

• George Doherty (former captain of Ireland)
• Jonny Wilkinson
• Fraser Gore

Presidents

• 2025-2026 Mrs J Fisher (Chobham)
• 2024-2025 J Pownall (Farnham)
• 2023-2024 D Doonan (Barnes)
• 2022-2023 G Ashburn (Mitcham & Carshalton)
• 2020-2021 T Long (London Irish Amateur)
• 2019-2020 N Heslop (Chobham)
• 2018-2019 D Druckman (KCS Old Boys)
• 2017-2018 Mrs J Anastasi (Richmond)
• 2016-2017 J Collins (Warlingham)
• 2015-2016 T Sokell (Effingham & Leatherhead)
• 2014-2015 J Raywood (Sutton & Epsom)
• 2013-2014 K Heal (Egham Hollowegians)
• 2012-2013 I Thirlwall (Chipstead)
• 2011-2012 P A Agate (Warlingham)
• 2009-2011 F U Batchelor (Old Freemens)
• 2008-2009 J N Vale (Sutton & Epsom)
• 2007-2008 G Hunt (Chobham)
• 2006-2007 E C S Ivens (Dorking)
• 2005-2006 E J StJ Thomas (Sutton & Epsom)
• 2003-2005 J E Douglas (Dorking)
• 2001-2003 Dr J D Carroll (Guildford)
• 1999-2001 J D E Hamilton (KCS Old Boys)
• 1997-1999 R N Chamberlain (Camberley)
• 1995-1997 J G Kemp (Wasps)
• 1993-1995 B P Miles (University Vandals)
• 1991-1993 C M Herridge (Cobham and Harlequins)
• 1989-1991 J P Collis (Old Whitfitians)
• 1987-1989 E G Lovering (Bec Old Boys)
• 1985-1987 D S Straw (Old Whitgiftians)
• 1983-1985 D E Wood (Streatham-Croydon)
• 1981-1983 R M Bartlett (Harlequins)
• 1979-1981 B Utting (Streatham-Croydon)
• 1978-1979 M F Turner (Old Whitgiftians)
• 1977-1978 R C Finch (Old Rustlishians)
• 1975-1977 A T T Street (Guildford & Godalming)
• 1973-1975 M F Turner (Old Whitgiftians)
• 1971-1973 D K Brooks (Harlequins)
• 1968-1971 D H Frankford (Old Alleynians)
• 1967-1968 F J Monkhouse (University Vandals)
• 1964-1967 J H S Howard (Streatham-Croydon)
• 1962-1964 B E Nicholson (Old Whitgiftians)
• 1961-1962 T E Priest (Old Alleynians)
• 1958-1961 S R Couchman (Old Cranleighans)
• 1957-1958 H A Brashier (Blackheath and Esher)
• 1955-1957 E C P Whitely (Old Alleynians)
• 1950-1955 H R Frisby (Streatham)
• 1948-1950 A J Trollope (Croydon)
• 1920-1948 A D Stoop (Harlequins)
• 1913-1920 R A Sawyer (Lennox)
• 1911-1913 C T Mabey (Streatham)
• 1909-1911 H J Barclay (Sutton)
• 1907-1909 M F Waters (Old Merchant Taylors)
• 1905-1907 H E Steed (Lennox)
• 1903-1905 T S T Tregallas (Lennox)
• 1901-1903 L Mortimer (Richmond)

Affiliated clubs

There are currently 70 full member mens adult clubs affiliated with the Surrey RFU, most of which have teams at both senior and junior level and are based in Surrey and parts of London. Many of the London-based sides are also members of the Middlesex RFU.

• Barnes
• Battersea Ironsides
• Bec Old Boys
• Camberley
• Chipstead
• Chobham
• Cobham
• Cranleigh RFC
• Croydon
• Dorking
• Economicals
• Effingham & Leatherhead
• Egham Hollowegians
• Esher
• Farnham
• Guildford
• Guildfordians
• Harlequins Amateurs
• Haslemere
• KCS Old Boys
• Kew Occasionals
• Kingston
• Kingston University
• Law Society
• Lightwater
• London Exiles
• London Irish Wild Geese
• Merton
• Met Police
• Mitcham & Carshalton
• Old Alleynians
• Old Blues
• Old Caterhamians
• Old Cranleighans
• Old Emanuel
• Old Freemen's
• Old Georgians
• Old Haileyburians
• Old Johnian
• Old Oundelians
• Old Pauline
• Old Reigatian
• Old Rutlishians
• Old Suttonians
• Old Tiffinians
• Old Walcountians
• Old Whitgiftian
• Old Wimbledonians
• Purley John Fisher
• Raynes Park
• Reeds Weybridge
• Reigate & Horley
• Richmond
• Rosslyn Park
• Royal Holloway University
• South London Stags
• Southwark Tigers
• Streatham-Croydon
• Surbiton Decca
• Sutton & Epsom
• Teddington
• Trailfinders
• Trinity
• Wandsworthians
• Warlingham
• Weybridge Vandals
• Wimbledon
• Woking
• Worth Old Boys

Defunct clubs

• Airoch Crusaders RFC
• Horley
• Lennox
• London Irish
• Old Tonbridgians
• OR Serpents
• South Godstone
• Old Wellingtonians

County club competitions

The Surrey RFU currently runs the following club competitions for club sides based in Surrey and parts of London:

Leagues

Post the 2022 Adult Competition Review

• Counties 1 Surrey / Sussex – league ranked at tier 7 of the English rugby union system
• Counties 2 Surrey – league ranked at tier 8
• Counties 3 Surrey – league ranked at tier 9
• Counties 4 Surrey – league ranked at tier 10
• Counties 5 Surrey – league ranked at tier 11

Prior to the 2022 Adult Competition Review

• Surrey 1 – league ranked at tier 9 of the English rugby union system
• Surrey 2 – tier 10 league
• Surrey 3 – tier 11 league
• Surrey 4 – tier 12 league
• Surrey 5 – tier 13 league that ran between 1989 and 1992

Cups

• Surrey Cup – founded in 1890, for local clubs at tier 5 of the English rugby union system
• Surrey Trophy – founded in 2009, for clubs at tiers 6–8
• Surrey Shield – founded in 1998, for clubs at tiers 9–10
• Surrey Bowl – founded in 2006, for clubs at tiers 11–12

Notes

References

References

1. [http://www.ocrfc.com/surrey-rugby.html Rugby in Surrey at Old Cranleighan Rugby Club Official site]
2. (9 December 1880). "Football". The Cornishman.
3. (29 May 2005). "County Championship Plate Final 2005". englandrugby.com.
4. "Rugby: Dorset & Wilts enjoy Twickenham triumph".
5. (29 May 2011). "Dorset & Wilts claim Shield win". BBC News.
6. "Leicester Aim for Shield Success". RFU.
7. "Surrey retain County Championship Shield". RFU.
8. "Surrey finish strongly to seal hat-trick".
9. (31 May 2015). "Super Surrey call Twickenham their home once again". Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser.
10. (2019-06-01). "Reigate Rugby Club senior rugby development". Reigate RFC.
11. "A New Era". Surbiton Decca RFC.
12. (2019-06-01). "Reigate Rugby Club senior rugby development". Reigate RFC.
13. "Senior Clubs Near You". Surrey RFU.
14. "Incentive FM KO Competitions". Surrey RFU.