Esher RFC
Full name | Esher Rugby Football Club | |
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Union | Surrey RFU | |
Founded | 1923 | |
Location | Hersham, Surrey, England | |
Ground(s) | Molesey Road (Capacity: 3,500 (1,200 seated)) | |
Chairman | Bob Stratton | |
Coach(es) | Chris Wilkins | |
Captain(s) | Harrison Collins | |
League(s) | National League 2 East | |
2023–24 | Champions (promoted to National League 1) | |
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Official website | ||
www |
Esher Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Surrey, England. Esher currently play in the fourth division of the English league system; National League 2 East following their relegation from National League 1 at the end of the 2022–23 season.
History
The club was formed in 1923 when four rugby enthusiasts agreed to start a club.
When the league system was introduced in 1987 Esher were placed in
Esher were first promoted to the national leagues system for the 1997–98 season, finishing fourth in National League 2 South. They led for most of the season the following year but finished second, but won promotion in 1999–00. The club set a new points record when winning National Division Two in 2006–07 and were thus promoted. They were promoted into the second tier, the RFU Championship after winning National League 1 in 2009–10. During this season they broke the world record when they beat Manchester 148 – 0. They played in the Championship for two seasons before being relegated back into National League 1 for the 2012–13 season.[1]
Esher suffered another relegation at the end of the 2018–19 season, dropping down to National League 2 South, their lowest league level since the end of the 1990s. They would yo yo between the leagues over the next few years, being promoted as National 2 South champions in 2021–22 and then being relegated from National League 1 at the end of 2022–23 season.
In 2020, the club announced a two-year agreement to share their ground with RFU Championship side London Scottish starting in 2021–22.[2] However it was later confirmed that Scottish would remain at Richmond Athletic Ground.[3]
On April 13 2024 Esher defeated Dorking to win National League 2 East and return to National League 1 after being relegated the season before.[4]
Current standings
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Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Points | ||||||||
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1 | Esher (C) | 25 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 1084 | 572 | 512 | 21 | 3 | 112 | ||||||
2 | Barnes | 25 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 857 | 607 | 250 | 17 | 4 | 101 | ||||||
3 | Dorking | 25 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 945 | 657 | 288 | 22 | 3 | 99 | ||||||
4 | Henley Hawks | 25 | 15 | 2 | 8 | 742 | 656 | 86 | 18 | 2 | 84 | ||||||
5 | Tonbridge Juddians | 25 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 811 | 672 | 139 | 19 | 7 | 84 | ||||||
6 | Bury St Edmunds | 25 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 787 | 625 | 162 | 16 | 5 | 79 | ||||||
7 | Canterbury | 25 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 774 | 715 | 59 | 15 | 5 | 68 | ||||||
8 | Old Albanian | 25 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 774 | 802 | -28 | 16 | 4 | 64 | ||||||
9 | Westcombe Park | 25 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 693 | 708 | -15 | 15 | 9 | 64 | ||||||
10 | Guernsey Raiders | 25 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 661 | 814 | -153 | 15 | 2 | 61 | ||||||
11 | Sevenoaks | 25 | 11 | 1 | 13 | 584 | 690 | -106 | 10 | 4 | 60 | ||||||
12 | Worthing Raiders | 25 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 690 | 944 | -254 | 17 | 5 | 46 | ||||||
13 | Wimbledon | 25 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 667 | 873 | -206 | 13 | 4 | 43 | ||||||
14 | North Walsham (R) | 25 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 413 | 1147 | -734 | 6 | 0 | 12 | ||||||
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Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places. Updated: 20 April 2024 Source: National League 2 East RFU [5] |
Honours
- Surrey Cup winners (8): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1994, 1996, 2011, 2012
- London Division 2 Southchampions: 1993–94
- London Division 1 champions: 1996–97[6]
- National League 2 South champions: 1999–00, 2021–22
- National League 1 (formerly National League 2) champions (2): 2006–07, 2009–10
- National League 2 East champions: 2023–24
Notable former players
- Barbarians and England Counties XV as well as captaining Surrey.
- Ladislav Vondrasek - captain of the Czech Republic national team played for Esher between 2005–07.
References
- ^ "History of Esher Rugby Club". Esher Rugby Club. Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
- ^ "General announcements of progress and fundraising during the Covid pandemic". Esher Rugby Club. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "London Scottish to remain at the RAG". London Scottish Rugby. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ "Esher on top to seal title triumph". The RugbyPaper. No. 813. 14 April 2024. p. 32-33.
- ^ "National League 2 East". England Rugby.
- ^ "London 1 96/97". www.hampshirerugby.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014.