Macclesfield R.U.F.C.

English rugby union club, based in Macclesfield

Rugby team

Macclesfield

Full name| Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club
Union| Cheshire RFU
Nickname(s)| Blues
Founded| 1874; 151 years ago (1874) (present club formed in 1927; 98 years ago (1927))
Location| Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
Ground(s)| Priory Park (Capacity: 1,250 (250 seats)[1][2])
Chairman| Robert Cooke
League(s)| National League 2 West
2023–24| Promoted from Regional 1 North West (champions)

Team kit

Official website
www.macclesfieldrufc.co.uk

Macclesfield RUFC is a rugby union team based in the Cheshire town of Macclesfield and operates three senior sides, senior and junior colts and ten mini/junior teams.[3] The first XV currently play in the fourth tier of the English rugby union system, National League 2 West, following their promotion from Regional 1 North West at the end of the 2023–24 season. The second XV plays in the Cotton Traders Premier League and the third XV play in NOWIRUL division 3.

## History

[edit]

Macclesfield RUFC was formed in 1877 although the present club was formed in 1927. After playing at several venues, the club moved to its present home in 1980. Five years later they participated in the forerunner to the launch of the national league system when they participated in the Girobank North West League. Over the last 25 years Macclesfield have climbed the pyramid spending one season in National One during the 2012–13 Season before being relegated but bouncing straight back after winning promotion during 2013–14 Season. However the 2014–15 saw the Blues relegated back to National 2 at the end of the campaign. They won the old North West 1 in 1991–92, North 2 in 1994–95 and entered the old National 3 North, then the fourth tier of club rugby, in 2002, winning the league in 2009–10, by which it had been restructured as National League 2 North.[4]

## Honours

[edit]

* Cheshire Plate
* Winners (2): 1981–82,[5] 1993–94[6]
* Cheshire Cup
* Winners (8): 1991–92, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2015–16[7]
* Runners-up (2): 2004–05, 2007–08
* North West 1 (1): 1992–93
* North 2 (1): 1994–95
* North 1 v Midlands 1 promotion play-off winners (1): 2002–03[8][9]
* National League 2 North (3): 2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16
* National Division 2 Champions Cup (1): 2009–10
* Regional 1 North West: 2023–24[10]

## Current standings

[edit]

2024–25 National League 2 West table  Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Camborne | 21  | 18  | 1  | 2  | 898  | 526  | +372  | 19  | 0  | 93  | Promotion place
2  | Clifton | 21  | 16  | 1  | 4  | 707  | 485  | +222  | 18  | 3  | 87  |
3  | Cinderford | 21  | 13  | 1  | 7  | 621  | 545  | +76  | 12  | 4  | 70
4  | Taunton Titans | 21  | 12  | 2  | 7  | 633  | 559  | +74  | 13  | 2  | 67
5  | Redruth | 21  | 12  | 1  | 8  | 596  | 513  | +83  | 13  | 3  | 66
6  | Loughborough Students | 21  | 10  | 1  | 10  | 709  | 606  | +103  | 19  | 4  | 65
7  | Hornets | 21  | 10  | 1  | 10  | 636  | 669  | −33  | 15  | 5  | 62
8  | Luctonians | 21  | 10  | 1  | 10  | 571  | 467  | +104  | 11  | 4  | 57
9  | Hinckley | 21  | 10  | 0  | 11  | 721  | 648  | +73  | 12  | 4  | 56
10  | Old Redcliffians | 21  | 8  | 1  | 12  | 562  | 662  | −100  | 13  | 5  | 52
11  | Exeter University | 21  | 8  | 1  | 12  | 607  | 646  | −39  | 10  | 2  | 46
12  | Macclesfield | 21  | 5  | 1  | 15  | 527  | 803  | −276  | 12  | 4  | 38
13  | Bournville | 21  | 5  | 0  | 16  | 467  | 714  | −247  | 8  | 6  | 34  | Relegation place
14  | Devonport Services | 21  | 4  | 0  | 17  | 411  | 823  | −412  | 9  | 2  | 27

Updated to match(es) played on 8 March 2025. Source: National League Rugby [11]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. Number of matches won
2. Difference between points for and against
3. Total number of points for
4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Cheshire FBU Response to 'Draft' Corporate Plan & IRMP 2011/2012" (PDF). Cheshire Fire Authority. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
2. ^ "Harper hoping for a Macc makeover". The RUGBYPaper. No. 441\. Rugby Paper Ltd. 26 February 2017. p. 43.
3. ^ Club website 'About our Club' page
4. ^ Club website - history page
5. ^ "1982 PLATE FINAL" (PDF). Cheshire RFU. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
6. ^ "ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 13 JUNE 1994" (PDF). Cheshire RFU. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
7. ^ Cheshire RFU archive
8. ^ "North Play Offs 2002–2003". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
9. ^ "North/Mid Play off Match overview Luctonians VS Macclesfield". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
10. ^ "Macclesfield 57 – Penrith 15". Macclesfield Rugby. 6 April 2024.
11. ^ "National League 2 West". NCA Rugby.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

National League 2 North

2024–25 teams|

* Billingham
* Chester
* Fylde
* Harrogate
* Hull
* Hull Ionians
* Leeds Tykes
* Lymm
* Otley
* Preston Grasshoppers
* Sheffield
* Sheffield Tigers
* Tynedale
* Wharfedale

Former clubs|

* Ampthill
* Aspatria
* Barkers Butts
* Bedford Athletic
* Beverley
* Birkenhead Park
* Birmingham & Solihull
* Blaydon
* Bournville
* Bradford & Bingley
* Broadstreet
* Bromsgrove
* Broughton Park
* Caldy
* Chester
* Cleckheaton
* Darlington
* Darlington Mowden Park
* Derby
* Doncaster
* Dudley Kingswinford
* Durham City
* Halifax
* Hereford
* Hinckley
* Huddersfield
* Kendal
* Leicester Lions
* Lichfield
* Liverpool St Helens
* Longton
* Loughborough Students
* Luctonians
* Macclesfield
* Manchester
* Morley
* New Brighton
* Northern
* Nuneaton
* Orrell
* Peterborough Lions
* Rotherham Titans
* Roundhay
* Rugby Lions
* Sale FC
* Sandal
* Sedgley Park
* Scunthorpe
* Solihull
* South Leicester
* Stockport
* Stoke-on-Trent
* Stourbridge
* Towcestrians
* Vale of Lune
* Walsall
* Waterloo
* West Hartlepool
* Westoe
* West Park
* Whitchurch
* Winnington Park
* Worcester

Seasons|

| Area League North|

* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90

|

National 4 North|

* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93

National Division 4|

* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96

National Division 4 North|

* 1996–97

National Division 2 North|

* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–00

National Division 3 North|

* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09

National League 2 North|

* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* ~~2020–21~~
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Matches played
*[W]: Matches won
*[D]: Matches drawn
*[L]: Matches lost
*[PF]: Match points for
*[PA]: Match points against
*[PD]: Match points difference
*[TB]: Try bonus competition points
*[LB]: Losing bonus competition points
*[Pts]: Total competition points