Old Laurentian Rugby Football Club was founded over 90 years ago by former pupils of Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby. It has been open to all comers since the late 1960s although it still retains strong links with the school which produces a regular supply of quality players for the club. The club is proud of our close connection with the origin of the great game. Not only is the club located in Rugby but we are named after the founder of Rugby School, Lawrence Sheriff.
OLRFC is committed to providing a good standard of amateur rugby with traditional rugby club hospitality for like-minded players and supporters. The aim of the club is to provide regular, competitive games for players of all abilities and ambitions backed up by a qualified coaching team, excellent facilities and qualified medical support.
The club is based at Fenley Field, Bilton, a thirteen acre sports ground with three pitches, (one with training floodlights), a welcoming clubhouse, a well equipped gym and a purpose built grandstand with seating for 200 spectators
The 1st XV finished second in Midlands Two West (South) in 2009/10 and won the play-off game for promotion to Midlands One (West). This followed four seasons in Midlands Two, in three of which the club finished third and narrowly missed out on promotion. Last season we were relegated on the last day of the season despite winning more games than two or three teams above us.
The 2nd XV compete in Warwickshire League One. They have had outstanding results for the past two seasons finishing third in 2009/10 and second last year, as well as winning the local Clonmell Cup for 2nd XVs. The 3rd XV play competitive rugby in Warwickshire League Three and are a mixture of young, developing talent combined with, shall we say, years of experience.
A mini rugby section was started in 2009 and had two great seasons. With a well established management and coaching set up, the future looks bright for mini and junior rugby at OLs.
Whilst league success is the measure of our progress, the club does not neglect the social side, for which the club has always been well known. Before the advent of leagues, opposition teams were known to ask for two fixtures against the OLs because of their renowned hospitality.
OLs have hosted clubs from afar including teams from USA, Canada, Hungary, South Africa, France and Ireland. We are keen tourists and over the last twenty years and more have built strong links with sides from Minneapolis including Metropolis RFC www.metropolisrugby.com. The last, so far, of our five tours to the USA was in spring 2011, during which many of our younger members were introduced to the joys of touring.
OLs boast an active Vice Presidents membership of more than 125, many of whom are prominent in the business and commercial life of Rugby and the surrounding area. Consisting of former players and supporters, our VPs are important to us and valued by us. The annual VP Lunch and Away Day are two of the highlights of the social calendar. The ladies are not forgotten, as the club hosts a Ladies Lunch at the beginning of each season along with other ladies events during the season.
While the rugby club is the major sports group at Fenley Field, the ground is also home to Rugby & East Warwickshire Hockey Club, a leading club in Midlands hockey, who use the clubhouse and gym facilities at Fenley Field.
In the summer there is also a thriving OL’s cricket section, which plays in the local Rugby Advertiser midweek league.
