DCRUFC
Encyclopedia
Downing College Rugby Union Football Club (also referred to as DCRUFC and Downing Rugby) is the official Rugby Union
team of Downing College, one of the constituent colleges of Cambridge University. Boasting the longest sustained period in the top division of Cambridge University's inter-collegiate league, the team will embark on their 22nd campaign within this league at the beginning of the 2011/12 season.
for the 2009 to 2011 period. The team are now looking for new sponsors for the 2011/12 season. The team's annual easter tours are traditionally sponsored by The Panton Arms of Cambridge; the pub where the team hosts its weekly social events.
2006/7 - Pete Knipe
2007/8 - Jamie Saunders
2008/9 - Jim Moyle
2009/10 - Matt Halford
2010/11 - Keith Hagyard
2011/12 - Steve Townend
(when there are no league fixtures), the club typically enters a boat for the May Bumps
rowing competition; known as Downing College Rugby Union Football Club Boat club, or DCRUFCBC for short. This involves a period of intense preparation during exam term, followed by a flourish of guile, precision and flair, not to mention strength and determination, during the 4 day competition.
2007/2008 Season
The rugby boat qualified for Division 6, after a preliminary "Getting On" time trial race.
Day 1 - Bumped
Girton IV.
Day 2 - Overbumped
Girton III.
Day 3 - Bumped by Kings IV.
Day 4 - Rowed over.
2010/2011 Season
The crew qualified in 6th place in division six without being required to row the Getting On Race. They raced as 'Downing IV', with slightly disappointing results but showed fierce determination and a good sprint start. The crew was unfortunate not to bump during the competition.
Day 1 - Rowed over.
Day 2 - Bumped by Clare IV.
Day 3 - Bumped by Kings IV.
Day 4 - Rowed over.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team of Downing College, one of the constituent colleges of Cambridge University. Boasting the longest sustained period in the top division of Cambridge University's inter-collegiate league, the team will embark on their 22nd campaign within this league at the beginning of the 2011/12 season.
History
2007/2008 SeasonMatt Halford, Club Secretary
"In a league campaign strikingly similar to last year's, Downing Rugby started slowly in Michaelmas term. A poor performance against a beatable Magdalene side combined with losses to Jesus and John's left Downing threatened, relegation looming, despite strong victories over Girton and Hommerton (twice) showing potential.
Captain Jamie Saunder's stalinist pre-midseason training schedule paid off with the best performance of the year, a memorable turnaround against Jesus, securing a 19-12 victory, having been behind at half time. Sam Shribman's sniping breakand finish from 40 metres set the platform for a win, securing top division status. Momentum coninued against Girton the following week. Dynamic, open rugby led to a 46-0 defeat of a side we'd consigned to the 2nd division a week before.
A 3rd place finish in Division 1 reflected the improvement of the squad over the year and took us into the annual old boy's fixture with confidence high. Forwards and backs fronted up against a physical opponent, showing the cohesion needed to outscore them four tries to two; before the inevitable post match festivities.
Unfortunately the run of form did not continue into cuppers, with a poor performanceat lowly queens' leaving us in the plate competition. A strong win against Magdalene at the third time of asking, was followed by a win over Peterhouse/Selwyn, taking us into the plate final at Grange road. Strong winds made it difficult to play the kind of rugby we would have liked and a tight game ended 17-7 to a girton side more adept at playing 10 man rugby. New captain Jim moyle and myself will be hoping to live up to the expectation of another excellent season for Downing next term."
Club Colours
The rugby club play in Downing College colours of magenta and black. Shirts vary from season to season but are generally magenta and black hoops, with black shorts and black socks with two magenta hoops around the top.Sponsorship
DCRUFC have recently acquired sponsorship from CitigroupCitigroup
Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
for the 2009 to 2011 period. The team are now looking for new sponsors for the 2011/12 season. The team's annual easter tours are traditionally sponsored by The Panton Arms of Cambridge; the pub where the team hosts its weekly social events.
Captains
2005/6 - Jake Goodman2006/7 - Pete Knipe
2007/8 - Jamie Saunders
2008/9 - Jim Moyle
2009/10 - Matt Halford
2010/11 - Keith Hagyard
2011/12 - Steve Townend
Women's Rugby
Downing college has, in recent years, proudly supported its womens' rugby team. Coached by members of the men's first XV and the female team enjoyed early successes, winning Cuppers in the 2006/07 season and reaching the semi-final in the 2007-08 season. Captain for the 2008/09 season was Lucy Chumas. Unfortunately due to lack of participation the team as been forced to temporarily withdraw from competition and did not compete in the 2010/11 season.Rugby Boat
Each year, during the Easter TermEaster term
Easter term is the name of the summer term at the University of Cambridge, the University of Wales, Lampeter, University of Durham, and formerly University of Newcastle upon Tyne , in the United Kingdom...
(when there are no league fixtures), the club typically enters a boat for the May Bumps
May Bumps
The May Bumps are a set of rowing races, held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge. They began in 1887 after separating from the Lent Bumps, the equivalent bumping races held at the end of February or start of March. Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from...
rowing competition; known as Downing College Rugby Union Football Club Boat club, or DCRUFCBC for short. This involves a period of intense preparation during exam term, followed by a flourish of guile, precision and flair, not to mention strength and determination, during the 4 day competition.
2007/2008 Season
The rugby boat qualified for Division 6, after a preliminary "Getting On" time trial race.
Day 1 - Bumped
Bumps race
A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each boat attempting to catch and "bump" the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind....
Girton IV.
Day 2 - Overbumped
Bumps race
A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each boat attempting to catch and "bump" the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind....
Girton III.
Day 3 - Bumped by Kings IV.
Day 4 - Rowed over.
2010/2011 Season
The crew qualified in 6th place in division six without being required to row the Getting On Race. They raced as 'Downing IV', with slightly disappointing results but showed fierce determination and a good sprint start. The crew was unfortunate not to bump during the competition.
Day 1 - Rowed over.
Day 2 - Bumped by Clare IV.
Day 3 - Bumped by Kings IV.
Day 4 - Rowed over.