Dunstablians
Encyclopedia
Dunstablians Rugby Football Club are a Bedfordshire based English
rugby union
team who currently play their rugby in Midlands Division One (East). Their ground is located just outside of nearby Houghton Regis
and is commonly known as Bidwell Park.
The club runs 4 Senior teams and a full mini, junior and academy programme of teams. Numerous local rivalries are shared, most notably with Luton Rugby Club
.
formed a rugby section, based at Fensomes Field in Leagrave
, Luton
. Unfortunately, following the initial commitments, the number of regular players dwindled, forcing the closure of the club after only three seasons.
In 1948, another group of former pupils made a new start, securing a new ground at French's Avenue in Dunstable
and later moved to Skimpot Lane in Luton, home of what is now a Fitness First Gym.
In 1954 a great step forward was made when a ground in Bullpond Lane, Dunstable was leased. The opening was marked with a match against an East Midlands invitation XV.
It was eventually decided to purchase a new ground at Bidwell Hill in Houghton Regis, the club's present site. A new and dynamic committee was formed with the task of raising the funds required to provide Dunstablians with a new home, purpose built facilities and state of the art pitch floodlight
ing. The bulk of the funds was raised through the sale of the Bullpond Lane site for a housing development
In September 1985, the Club celebrated the opening of the new clubhouse, which was at the time, the best in the county. The Club hosted an International XV which included six past England Captains to mark the opening.
The last ten years except the last have been very successful for the D's. The club has been promoted through the league system in 2000, 2001, then to Midlands 1 in 2002, remaining in the league until 2008 when they were relegated back down to Midlands 2 East
.
The 1999/2000 season saw a near perfect season as the league victory was complemented by the county cup, and saw the club win the national Intermediate Cup at Twickenham
.
Dunstablians retained the county cup adding the Colts cup to the collection in 2001, and also claiming the county cup in 2005.
During 2006/2007 Dunstablians recorded their best ever season. They secured the Bedfordshire county cup at Putnoe Woods defeating Bedford Athletic in the process. Then they returned to Twickenham for their second Intermediate Cup Final losing 36-46 to Cornish side Mounts Bay and finished third in Midlands League 1 (RFU Level 5), their highest ever league placing.
The 2007 season started with high expectations although Dunstablians could not build upon the successes of previous seasons and were relegated on the final day of the 2007/2008 season. Expectations for promotion were initially confident however short lived as a poor second half of the 2008/2009 season saw D's finish a disappointing mid table. A position they consolidated in the 2009/10 season.
Dunstablians start the 2010/11 season again in Midlands 1 East.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rugby union
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 who currently play their rugby in Midlands Division One (East). Their ground is located just outside of nearby Houghton Regis
Houghton Regis
Houghton Regis is a town and civil parish sandwiched between the major towns of Luton to the east and Dunstable to the west. The parish includes the ancient hamlets of Bidwell, Thorn and Sewell...
and is commonly known as Bidwell Park.
The club runs 4 Senior teams and a full mini, junior and academy programme of teams. Numerous local rivalries are shared, most notably with Luton Rugby Club
Luton Rugby Club
Luton Rugby Football Club are a Bedfordshire based English rugby union team who currently play their rugby in National League 3 South-East. Their ground is located by the M1 motorway just outside Stockwood Park and is called Newlands Road....
.
History
In 1927, members of Dunstable Grammar SchoolDunstable Grammar School
Dunstable Grammar School was a grammar school in the market town of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. Opened in 1888, it was closed in 1971.-Foundation:...
formed a rugby section, based at Fensomes Field in Leagrave
Leagrave
For other uses see Leagrave Leagrave is a former village and now a suburb of Luton in Bedfordshire in the northwest of the town. Connected by train from Leagrave station into London and Bedford by First Capital Connect...
, Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
. Unfortunately, following the initial commitments, the number of regular players dwindled, forcing the closure of the club after only three seasons.
In 1948, another group of former pupils made a new start, securing a new ground at French's Avenue in Dunstable
Dunstable
Dunstable is a market town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London. These geographical features form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north.-Etymology:In...
and later moved to Skimpot Lane in Luton, home of what is now a Fitness First Gym.
In 1954 a great step forward was made when a ground in Bullpond Lane, Dunstable was leased. The opening was marked with a match against an East Midlands invitation XV.
It was eventually decided to purchase a new ground at Bidwell Hill in Houghton Regis, the club's present site. A new and dynamic committee was formed with the task of raising the funds required to provide Dunstablians with a new home, purpose built facilities and state of the art pitch floodlight
Floodlights (sport)
Floodlights are broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions....
ing. The bulk of the funds was raised through the sale of the Bullpond Lane site for a housing development
In September 1985, the Club celebrated the opening of the new clubhouse, which was at the time, the best in the county. The Club hosted an International XV which included six past England Captains to mark the opening.
The last ten years except the last have been very successful for the D's. The club has been promoted through the league system in 2000, 2001, then to Midlands 1 in 2002, remaining in the league until 2008 when they were relegated back down to Midlands 2 East
Midlands 2 East
English Rugby Union Midland Division - Midlands 1 East is an English Rugby Union League.Midlands 1 East, previously known as Midlands 2 East prior to September 2009. Is a regional club Rugby Union league in the East Midlands of England, with promoted sides usually entering National Division 3 -...
.
The 1999/2000 season saw a near perfect season as the league victory was complemented by the county cup, and saw the club win the national Intermediate Cup at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
.
Dunstablians retained the county cup adding the Colts cup to the collection in 2001, and also claiming the county cup in 2005.
During 2006/2007 Dunstablians recorded their best ever season. They secured the Bedfordshire county cup at Putnoe Woods defeating Bedford Athletic in the process. Then they returned to Twickenham for their second Intermediate Cup Final losing 36-46 to Cornish side Mounts Bay and finished third in Midlands League 1 (RFU Level 5), their highest ever league placing.
The 2007 season started with high expectations although Dunstablians could not build upon the successes of previous seasons and were relegated on the final day of the 2007/2008 season. Expectations for promotion were initially confident however short lived as a poor second half of the 2008/2009 season saw D's finish a disappointing mid table. A position they consolidated in the 2009/10 season.
Dunstablians start the 2010/11 season again in Midlands 1 East.
Current squad
International honours
| Nationality | Player | Honours |
 |
Marcus Vass | Denmark Denmark national rugby union team The Denmark National Rugby Union Team represents Denmark in the sport of rugby union. They are governed by Dansk Rugby Union and have been playing international rugby since 1949.DRU now has nearly 2,500 members in more than 30 clubs.-History:... |
| |
Søren Brobyskov | Denmark Denmark national rugby union team The Denmark National Rugby Union Team represents Denmark in the sport of rugby union. They are governed by Dansk Rugby Union and have been playing international rugby since 1949.DRU now has nearly 2,500 members in more than 30 clubs.-History:... |
 |
Morne Loxton | South Africa U21s South Africa national rugby union team The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental... |
 |
Anthony Niven | New Zealand U19s New Zealand national under-19 rugby union team The New Zealand Under 19's rugby team was a team for players aged under 19 as a platform to the All Blacks. The New Zealand Under 19's have joined forces with the New Zealand Under 21's to make the new team New Zealand Under 20's for the all new IRB Junior World Championship, which commenced in... |
Club honours
- NPI Intermediate Cup - 2000
- EDF Intermediate Cup - 2007 Runners-up
- Rugby World Team of the Year - 2001
- RFU Midlands 2 East - 2001
- Bedfordshire County Cup - 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007
- Bedfordshire Colts County Cup - 2001