DCRUFC

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.
History
2011/2012 Season

"DCRUFC had another strong year, again maintaining its record for the most consecutive years in the top division. Finishing second in the league, Downing had an exceptionally strong team, notably beating both and Jesus in the same week! The rugby club will be frustrated not to have won the league, with University rugby commitments and injuries preventing consistent team selection.

Downing narrowly lost to Jesus in the Cuppers semi-final.

DCRUFC was well represented in the Varsity Match, with captain Steve Townend getting a Blue and six other players representing the U21s and U21As.

At the end of the season, captaincy was handed over to Rob Hall, with Max Mather as his vice. Sam Arnold took over the role of Secretary"
The Griffins' Club

2010/2011 Season
DCRUFC maintained its record for the most consecutive years in the top division following a solid season, finally settling for third place. The season saw St John’s spell of dominance at the top of the table come to an end. Downing struck the first blow to John’s chances with a dogged 0-0 draw away on the first day of the season, a win which prompted talk of a title challenge. Unfortunately injuries and inconsistency played a large part in a string of poor results; it wasn’t until the new year that the team really clicked - this coincided with a succession of high scoring wins, an encouraging sign of things to come next year under the stewardship of new captain Steve Townend.

Colours were awarded to Phil Hammersley, who showed consistency and sturdy ball-carrying in the loose all season; J-P Westgate, who has now scored on John’s pitches twice for Downing, and Dan Addis, who will take up the vice captain role next year."
The Griffins' Club

2008/2009 Season - Spain Tour

"Aside from retaining their first division status
for another year and reaching the semifinal of Cuppers for the first time in over
five years, the main highlight of the DCRUFC
season was this year’s tour to Spain.
Spain, a notorious rugby playing nation,
famed for producing such revered talent as
Oriol Ripol and Francisco Puertas Soto,
was always going to be a tough ask for
any touring side. With its sweltering temperatures, sandy beaches and vibrant
nightlife, the unfamiliar conditions were
always going to be a huge factor in
DCRUFC’s success, or failure, on the
continent.

With a depleted squad, featuring some new but familiar faces, their first action was to find a local eatery to satisfy their hungry and well traveled stomachs. This was never going to be a hard task in Spain (Lloret de Mar to be precise), the home of paella, gazpacho, tapas etc. However, like true ‘dads on tour’ a Chinese was decided upon (referred to as a ‘Cheeky Halford’). Following an epic meal and the club ‘endearing’ itself to a lovely little Irish family, they hit the town looking for copious amounts of dad juice, jus d’homme, cold’n’golden…you know the stuff!

Fast forward several hours. Having assessed the temperature of the outdoor swimming pool and ‘acquainted’ themselves with the night security at our hotel, George (not the angry, curly haired one!), it was time for the first rugby match. A pre-match vom, abundant amounts of unnecessary flair, a questionable grasp of the Spanish tongue by an enthusiastic no. 7 and another DCRUFC win later, the DOTs were sat in a local ‘clubhouse’ socialising with their illustrious opponents. (Note: speaking a broken form of English with a dodgy accent is no help whatsoever in communicating with non-English speakers - think about it!). Thanks were given to Rugbi Farners Bandoles for organising the match and their hospitality thereafter.

There was, of course, more highlights of what was a ‘totally, insanely awesome’ tour. There were the bumper cars, the brothel, the brand names, the hamster wheels, Bennett’s moves, Feeney’s ‘Hulk complex’, mental McWhirter, Barker versus Dibble, ants, Sharky, schoolboy, the bill, 4-pint glasses, karaoke, Barcelona, the cow kicking Nelly in the belly in the barn, the barmaid (beautiful), Rhemayo’s new friend, the hen party, Winzor, police, Nathan, podiums, novelty sunglasses, the ‘John’, “CHICKEN PAKORA!”, Burger King, flatulence, nudity, Dirk, boring skip, the exchange rate, “doing horrible things”, deep heat, cycling shorts, the children’s playground, squirty cream, the kinky granny, ‘girls, pints or parties’, the bar owners ‘website’, glass smashing, the mullet and Jane. If there is one woman, for whom all the DOTs hold a flame, it is Jane. So, Jane, if by some unlikely set of circumstances you are reading this, the club passes on its love. "
Mr. Derbert
2007/2008 Season

"In a league campaign strikingly similar to last year's, DCRUFC started slowly in Michaelmas term. A poor performance against a beatable Magdalene side combined with losses to Jesus and left Downing threatened, with relegation looming despite strong victories over Girton and Homerton (twice), which showed Downing's potential.

Captain Jamie Saunders' stalinist pre-mid-season 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 break and finish from 40 metres set the platform for a win, securing top division status. Momentum continued against Girton the following week. Dynamic, open rugby led to a 46-0 defeat of a side Downing had 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 performance at lowly 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.

Jim Moyle became Captain at the end of the season, with Matt Halford his vice-captain.
Matt Halford, Club Secretary
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 were sponsored by Citigroup for the 2009 to 2011 period. Primary sponsorship was then taken over by Freshfields in a 3-year contract covering the 2011/12 season through to the 2013/14 season.

The team's annual Easter tours are traditionally sponsored by The Panton Arms of Cambridge; the pub where the team hosts its weekly post-match social events.
Captains

The Captain for the upcoming season is decided by vote at the DCRUFC Annual Dinner at the end of Lent term. The Secretary is also appointed at this date, and in most years a Vice-Captain is also appointed. Previous captains are listed below.
2012/13 - Rob Hall
2011/12 - Steve Townend
2010/11 - Keith Hagyard
2009/10 - Matt Halford
2008/9 - Jim Moyle
2007/8 - Jamie Saunders
2006/7 - Pete Knipe
2005/6 - Jake Goodman
2004/5 - Jon Begg
2003/4 -
2002/3 - Adrian Pask
2001/2 - Oliver Rule
2000/1 - Chris Pask
1999/2000 - Ben Wilson
Women's Rugby
Downing college has, in recent years, proudly supported its women's 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 Term (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.
2011/2012 Season
Racing again as 'Downing IV', the rugby boat began in 3rd place within the 6th division. Despite looking promising in training, the Rugby boat successfully sabotaged 's chances of winning the overall boat club accolades.

Day 1 - Overbumped by Corpus Christi III
Day 2 - Overbumped by Selwyn IV
Day 3 - Bumped by Darwin III
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
2009/2010 Season
Day 1 - Bumped by Girton III
Day 2 - Rowed over
Day 3 - Rowed over
Day 4 - Bumped by Pembroke IV
2008/2009 Season
Day 1 - Rowed over
Day 2 - Bumped Queens IV
Day 3 - Overbumped by Hughes Hall II
Day 4 - Bumped by Christ's V
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

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