Information about rugby clubs in Norwich and Norfolk will be posted here.
The best known rugby teams in Norwich are the Norwich Union Rugby Football Club at Beeston in Norwich called the Rugby Lions; the NU Football club is based at Sprowston Cricket Club in Norwich and the Crusaders Rugby club that plays at Beckhithe Little Melton. There is also the North Walsham Rugby team in the area that plays derbies against Norwich.
There are also rugby tournaments that take place at Eaton Park in Norwich, played by the Norwich Rebels Tough Touch Rugby team. Their first season began in the 2010 season. Touch rugby is a softer sport than full on rugby which makes it a non-contact sport suitable for both sexes and for any abilities. The club is looking to attract rugby veterans and those with no experience and already has some excellent players from UEA, the University of East Anglia.
Norwich Medics Rugby club is a club for medics from the University of East Anglia and staff from the NHS in the area, founded in 2005.
Players are of all abilities and the club prides its self on giving a good experience to beginners of rugby. Training happens on Thursday evenings at Little Melton at the Crusaders Rugby football club ground. Players are expected to just show up and there are frequent social events throughout the year. The teams include a 1st and 2nd men’s team and a women’s team. The top men’s team plays in the Merit Division 1. Seasons begin in September and finish in April/May of the next year. Their club crest combines the NNUH crest, the medical symbol of Caduceus and the Norwich coat of arms that was designed by Sir Alex Wickham in 2005.
The Norwich Union Football Club at Sprowston has two senior teams, the 1st XV team and the Firebirds (2nd XV). Walsham have four senior teams called the Vikings, Raiders, Warriors and Colts. The club was formed in 1962 and originally played at a local school pitch then moved to Scottow and built a clubhouse with bar. They won the Norfolk Cup and the Eastern Counties Cup in the 1983-4 season. Walsham has now worked hard to progress in the National Leagues where they have stayed for eighteen seasons. The club plays local derbies against Norwich. The club is now a family orientated and popular club with junior sides including under 17s, under 16s, under 15s, under 14s, and under 13s.
The Crusaders, an amateur rugby club, moved to Little Melton in 1975 after having been found in 1960 in an attempt to preserve rugby playing at a senior level. A clubhouse was built in 1980 with bar and by 1985 full changing facilities. Recently these have undergone expansion and training equipment has been improved upon. The club has managed to play at its current ground for thirty years and its member count is increasing. The club runs four adult teams and junior sides aged 14 to 17. Training at the club takes place on Tuesday evenings and new members are always welcome, and don’t forget their social event club nights at the local White Lion on Oak Street are always on.
