Durham University Rugby Club at 150
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1875 - 2025
Durham University Rugby Club (DURFC) is one of the oldest and most successful university rugby clubs in the UK.
Join us for a day of rugby in Durham
Durham University Rugby Club (DURFC) and Durham University Women's Rugby Club (DUWRFC), together with Team Durham, and with the support of Campus Living Villages, invite you to a day of rugby on Saturday 3 May. Everyone is welcome!
"To celebrate the 150th year of rugby at Durham University, the club is both honoured and proud to become only the 5th university team to take on the world famous Barbarians. To do so in the North East, where it all began for the renowned wearers of the black and white shirt (the first game ever was against Hartlepool Rovers in 1890), makes it even more of a privilege."
- Alex Keay, former Barbarians player, current Barbarians lead coach, and DURFC 150th Coordinator
If you can't make it, don't panic - our award-winning student TV station, PalTV, will be live-streaming the matches.
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Talking Team Durham with University rugby coaches Si Culley and Rob Vickers
The second episode of the newly-launched Talking Team Durham podcast features a conversation with our current Head and Assistant Coaches (and Durham alumni) Si Culley and Rob Vickers.
Listen in as they chat to hosts Dave Coldwell (our Head of Sport and Physical Activity) and Peter Warburton OBE (our former Director of Sport) about the Rugby Club's 150th Anniversary, their experience of rugby at Durham, subsequent professional rugby careers, and coming back at Durham as coaches.
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Durham Inspired: Racecourse Rugby Scholarship
The Racecourse Rugby Scholarship provides support for incoming undergraduates looking to combine rugby as a University level sport with further education at Durham. The Scholarship has been gifted by University rugby club alumni who wish to provide the same opportunities they were afforded.
From students to professionals: our international rugby community
A large number of our alumni have gone on to become famous international players. Familiar names include former England captains Peter Dixon, Will Carling, Phil de Glanville, and England World Cup Winner Will Greenwood.
Find out more
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Watch videos with our current and former rugby stars
Durham University Rugby Football Club at 150 - Arthur Green
Current undergraduate Arthur Green (Sociology, Grey College) answers a few questions on his experience of playing rugby at Durham. Arthur combines his studies with a professional rugby career at Bath Rugby.
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A remarkable rugby heritage
With roots dating back to the foundations of the University, DURFC's past is illustrious and long-standing.
From origins as one of the strongest senior sides, DURFC-linked teams dominated the rugby landscape in the North East of England in the 1900s. The importance of rugby and sport in general as a unifying element of society was recognised early on, with The Northerner (student newspaper in the 1900s) remarking:
"When our cup-ties do come around, it is imperative that men turn out and yell for all they are worth. Laboratories and lectures are no excuse, and, in fact, we do not see why the colleges should be open at all on these important days."
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The 1875 Alumni Society
Named after the year DURFC was founded, the Alumni Society provides a community to maintain the relationships and camaraderie experienced by former DURFC players. They also support the rugby club's vision to maintain its position amongst the elite rugby universities in the UK.