Worthing Rugby Football Club

English rugby union club, based in West Sussex

Rugby team

Worthing

Full name| Worthing Rugby Football Club
Union| Sussex RFU
Nickname(s)| Raiders
Founded| 1920; 102 years ago (1920)
Location| Angmering, West Sussex, England
Ground(s)| Roundstone Lane (Capacity: 1,500 (100 seats)[1])
Coach(es)|  Ian Davies  Jody Levett  Ben Coulson
Captain(s)|  Liam Perkins
League(s)| National League 2 South
2021–22| 4th

Team kit

Official website
worthingrfc.co.uk

Worthing Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team playing in the fourth tier of the English rugby union league system; National League 2 South. The first XV, nicknamed The Raiders, were runners-up to Henley Hawks in the National League 2 South 2012–13 season and qualified for a play-off against the runners-up of National League 2 North, Stourbridge winning 28 – 26.[2][3][4] In doing so, the club became the first club from Sussex to play in the third tier of English rugby.[5] The club also has a number of other teams, and while their 2nd XV is non-league, their 3rd XV currently plays in the Sussex Spitfire 1 league.[6] Worthing also have a successful Ladies 1st XV who are currently in 2nd place in the National Challenge South East South 2 league

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Honours
* 3 Club colours
* 4 Notable former players
* 5 Current squad
* 6 Current standings
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## History[edit]

A group of local sportsmen meeting at York House formed the club on the 10 September 1920.[7] They had no ground or equipment,[7] and initially borrowed a field from a local farmer off Wallace Avenue in West Worthing[8] before moving to the Rotary Ground at Broadwater.[7] In the 1924–25 season the club moved to Rugby Road in West Worthing. The Rugby Road ground was the club's home until 1927, when a 6-acre (24,000 m2) site was purchased in Castle Road, West Tarring.[7] The club moved to its current location at Roundstone Lane in Angmering in 1977 and the ground is now designated a Centre of Excellence for rugby in Sussex. The ground is approximately 5.5 miles (8.9 km) west of the centre of Worthing. Worthing has a proud history of mini and junior rugby, having been the first club in England to offer mini rugby and having held the first mini rugby festival in England which attracted hundreds of teams in the early 90s.

## Honours[edit]

1st team:

* London Division 3 East champions: 2001–02
* London Division 2 South champions: 2002–03[9]
* London 1 v South West 1 promotion play-off winner: 2007–08
* National League 2 (north v south) promotion play-off winner: 2012–13

Worthing Senior I:

* Sussex Late Red 3 West champions: 2011–12
* Sussex 2 champions: 2013–14

Worthing Senior II:

* Sussex Late Red 3 West champions: 2012–13

## Club colours[edit]

The original club colours were green and white stripes, which were also sported by Old Guilfordians RFC.[7] The choice of the present royal blue with chocolate and gold hoops was made in 1927.[7] The scheme is an amalgamation of the colours of Dulwich College, Mill Hill School and Cranleigh School where many of the team members had been to school.[7]

## Notable former players[edit]

* Joe Launchbury
* Joe Marler
* Martyn Elms \- England U16s
* Semisi Taulava
* James Chisholm – England U20s
* Piers O'Connor – England U20s
* Harry Sloan – England U20s
* Amy Wilson-Hardy – Team GB Olympics Women's 7s 2016, England Women's 15s & 7s

## Current squad[edit]

In July 2011, former Ireland international Kieron Dawson was appointed head coach of Worthing Rugby Football Club, succeeding Will Green.[10] Charlie McGowan previously made an appearance for the Barbarians against the Combined Services at Plymouth in the annual Remembrance Match in November 2013. He has also been selected for the England Counties squad for their match against Scotland Club XV at Fylde’s Woodlands Memorial Ground on 27 February 2015. Matt Miles (ex Raiders captain) had previously played for Northampton Saints and Ulster before joining Worthing RFC. For the 2016 season, former Worthing RFC 1XV Coach and former Director of Rugby at Cornish Pirates Ian Davies rejoined the Raiders as Director of Rugby with former Raiders wing Ben Coulson and former Raiders Captain Jody Levett on the coaching staff.

## Current standings[edit]

|  | 2021–22 National League 2 South Table |

* v
* t
* e

|
|

|  | Played  | Won  | Drawn  | Lost  | Points for  | Points against  | Points diff  | Try bonus  | Losing bonus  | Points  | Points deducted
1 | Esher | 30 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 1115 | 617 | 498 | 23 | 2 | 122 |
2 | Redruth | 30 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 973 | 489 | 484 | 19 | 2 | 119 |
3 | Clifton | 30 | 22 | 1 | 7 | 1181 | 677 | 504 | 22 | 4 | 116 |
4 | Worthing Raiders | 30 | 20 | 1 | 9 | 886 | 648 | 238 | 21 | 6 | 110 |
5 | Leicester Lions | 30 | 21 | 0 | 9 | 872 | 583 | 289 | 18 | 5 | 107 |
6 | Bury St Edmunds | 30 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 897 | 744 | 153 | 14 | 6 | 88 |
7 | Dings Crusaders | 30 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 847 | 812 | 35 | 19 | 6 | 87 |
8 | Henley Hawks | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 765 | 729 | 36 | 14 | 4 | 84 |
9 | Old Albanian | 30 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 876 | 791 | 85 | 17 | 9 | 77 | −5
10 | Guernsey Raiders | 29 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 731 | 851 | −120 | 14 | 4 | 72 |
11 | Barnes | 30 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 740 | 724 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 71 |
12 | Canterbury | 29 | 10 | 2 | 17 | 628 | 707 | −79 | 11 | 5 | 60 |
13 | Hinckley | 29 | 9 | 0 | 20 | 700 | 849 | −149 | 12 | 9 | 57 |
14 | Rochford Hundred | 29 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 530 | 948 | −418 | 8 | 7 | 43 |
15 | Westcliff | 30 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 401 | 1365 | −964 | 5 | 2 | 19 |
16 | Barnstaple | 30 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 427 | 1035 | −608 | 0 | 2 | 18 |

* 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

Green background is the promotion place. Pink background there are no relegation places this season.
Updated: 1 June 2022
Source: National League 2 South RFU [11]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Championship Rugby on The South Coast". Rolling Maul. 4 March 2013.
2. ^ "Results - SSE National League 2S". The Rugby Paper. 12 May 2013. p. 32.
3. ^ "National League 2 South". Rugby Football Union.
4. ^ "RFU National Leagues (levels 1-4)". Sussex Rugby Football Union.
5. ^ Legg, Mike (13 September 2013). "Worthing Raiders Fired Up For Historic Home Clash". The Argus. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
6. ^ "Sussex Spitfire 1". Rugby Football Union.
7. ^ a b c d e f g "Worthing RFC official website". Worthing Borough Council. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
8. ^ Elleray, D. Robert (1998). A Millennium Encyclopaedia of Worthing History. Worthing: Optimus Books. ISBN 0-9533132-0-4
9. ^ "L2S 02/03". www.hampshirerugby.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014.
10. ^ "Raiders Get Underway for 2011/12". Retrieved 20 July 2011.
11. ^ "National League 2 South". England Rugby.

## External links[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

National League 2 South

2021–22 teams (final season)|

* Barnes
* Barnstaple
* Bury St Edmunds
* Canterbury
* Clifton
* Dings Crusaders
* Esher
* Guernsey Raiders
* Henley Hawks
* Hinckley
* Leicester Lions
* Old Albanian
* Redruth
* Rochford Hundred
* Westcliff
* Worthing Raiders

Former clubs|

* Ampthill
* Askeans
* Barking
* Basingstoke
* Berry Hill
* Birmingham & Solihull
* Bishop's Stortford
* Blackheath
* Bournemouth
* Bracknell
* Bridgwater & Albion
* Broadstreet
* Camberley
* Camborne
* Cambridge
* Charlton Park
* Cheltenham
* Chinnor
* Cinderford
* Dorking
* Ealing Trailfinders
* Exeter Chiefs
* Exmouth
* Guernsey
* Hartpury College
* Haywards Heath
* Havant
* Hertford
* High Wycombe
* Jersey
* Launceston
* London Irish Amateur
* London Scottish
* London Welsh
* Luton
* Lydney
* Maidenhead
* Maidstone
* Metropolitan Police
* Mounts Bay
* Newbury Blues
* North Walsham
* Norwich
* Old Colfeians
* Old Elthamians
* Old Patesians
* Old Redcliffians
* Penzance & Newlyn
* Plymouth Albion
* Reading
* Richmond
* Rosslyn Park
* Salisbury
* Shelford
* Sidcup
* Southend Saxons
* Streatham-Croydon
* Stroud
* Sudbury
* Sutton & Epsom
* Tabard
* Taunton Titans
* Tonbridge Juddians
* Westcombe Park
* Weston-super-Mare
* Wimbledon

Seasons|

| Area League South|

* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90

|

National 4 South|

* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93

National Division 4|

* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96

National Division 4 South|

* 1996–97

National League 2 South|

* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–00

National Division 3 South|

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

National League 2 South|

* 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

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in Sussex

Governing body|

* Sussex Rugby Football Union

National League 2 South|

* Worthing I

London 1 South|

* Chichester I
* Haywards Heath I
* Hove I

London 2 South East|

* Lewes I
* Brighton I
* Heathfield I
* East Grinstead I

London 2 South West|

* Bognor Regis I

London 3 South East|

* Horsham I
* Crowborough I
* Eastbourne I
* Uckfield Rugby Club
* Crawley I

Sussex 1|

* Brighton II
* Burgess Hill I
* Chichester III
* Eastbourne II
* East Grinstead II
* Holbrook I
* Newick I
* Pulborough I
* Rye I
* Seaford I
* Worthing III

Sussex 2|

* Barns Green I
* Heathfield & Waldron II
* Hellingly I
* Hove III
* Hove IV
* Lewes II
* Norfolk Arms I
* Plumpton I
* Shoreham I
* St Francis I

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in England

Governing body|

* Rugby Football Union
* Rugby Football Union for Women (merged into the RFU)

National teams|

| Men's|

* England
* England A
* 7's
* U-21
* U-20
* U-18
* British & Irish Lions
* England Counties XV

|

Women's|

* Women's
* 7's

International competitions|

| Men's|

* World Cup
* Six Nations
* Rugby World Cup Sevens
* Sevens World Series
* Sevens Grand Prix Series
* Commonwealth Games

|

Women's|

* World Cup
* Six Nations
* World Series Sevens

Competition divisions|

| Men's|

* Premiership
* Championship
* National Leagues
* London and SE Division
* Northern Division
* Midland Division
* South West Division

|

Women's|

* Premier 15s

European competitions|

* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup

National competitions|

* Premiership Rugby
* Premiership Cup
* RFU Championship
* Championship Cup
* National League 1
* National League 2 East
* National League 2 North
* National League 2 West
* RFU Intermediate Cup
* RFU Senior Vase
* RFU Junior Vase
* Premiership Rugby Sevens Series
* Women's Premiership
* Premier 15s

London and South East
competitions|

* Regional 1 South East
* Regional 2 South East
* London 1 North
* London 1 South
* London 2 North East
* London 2 North West
* London 2 South East
* London 2 South West
* London 3 North West
* London 3 South East
* London 3 South West
* London 3 Eastern Counties
* London 3 Essex
* Eastern Counties 1
* Eastern Counties 2
* Eastern Counties 3
* Essex 1
* Hampshire Premier
* Hampshire 1
* Hampshire Cups
* Herts/Middlesex 1
* Herts/Middlesex 2
* Hertfordshire Cups
* Middlesex Cups
* Kent 1
* Kent 2
* Kent Cups
* Surrey 1
* Surrey 2
* Surrey 3
* Surrey 4
* Surrey Cups
* Sussex 1
* Sussex Cups

Midland competitions|

* Regional 1 Midlands
* Midlands 1 West
* Midlands 1 East
* Midlands 2 West (North)
* Midlands 2 West (South)
* Midlands 2 East (North)
* Midlands 2 East (South)
* Midlands 3 West (North)
* Midlands 3 West (South)
* Midlands 3 East (North)
* Midlands 3 East (South)
* Midlands 4 West (North)
* Midlands 4 West (South)
* Midlands 4 East (North)
* Midlands 4 East (South)
* Midlands 5 West (South)
* Leicestershire Cups
* North Midlands Cups
* Staffordshire Cups
* Warwickshire Cups

Northern competitions|

* Regional 1 North East
* Regional 1 North West
* North 1 East
* North 1 West
* North 2 West
* Lancs/Cheshire 1
* Lancs/Cheshire 2
* Cheshire Cups
* Lancashire Cups
* Cumbria 1
* Cumbria Cups
* Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
* Durham/Northumberland 1
* Durham/Northumberland 2
* Durham/Northumberland 3
* Durham Cups
* Northumberland Cups
* Yorkshire 1
* Yorkshire 2
* Yorkshire 3
* Yorkshire 4
* Yorkshire Cups

South West competitions|

* Regional 1 South West
* Regional 2 Severn
* South West 1 East
* South West 1 West
* Southern Counties North
* Southern Counties South
* Western Counties North
* Western Counties West
* Cornwall/Devon
* Cornwall 1
* Cornwall 2
* Cornwall Cups
* Devon 1
* Devon Cups
* Gloucester Premier
* Gloucester 1
* Gloucester 2 North
* Gloucester 2 South
* Gloucestershire Cups
* Somerset Premier
* Somerset 1
* Somerset 2 North
* Somerset 2 South
* Somerset 3 North
* Somerset 3 South
* Somerset Cups
* Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
* Oxfordshire Cups
* Dorset & Wilts 1 North
* Dorset & Wilts 1 South
* Dorset & Wilts 2 North
* Dorset & Wilts 2 South
* Dorset & Wilts 3 North

County competitions|

* Division 1
* Division 2
* Division 3

Discontinued competitions|

* Divisional Championship
* National League 2 South
* North Premier

Related articles|

* International players
* Clubs
* Churchill Cup
* Calcutta Cup
* Millennium Trophy
* Ella-Mobbs Trophy
* Hillary Shield

Other|

* Timeline of rugby union on UK television

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