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Our History
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The old adage asks; "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" ... the same is sometimes asked as to the origin of our home town's name; "Which came first, the game or the town?"
The
answer is somewhat more simple than the egg question, and in the centre of Rugby
can be seen the statue of
William Webb Ellis, the originator of the game we all love that bears testament
to the fact that a pupil at Rugby School was responsible for the game of
rugby. Old Laurentian RFC are proud to be the leading junior side in the
town and a brief history of our club can be seen below ...
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Old Laurentian
RFC
Like many clubs Old Laurentians was formed after a meeting in a pub. It was
created by Old Boys of
Lawrence Sherriff School 1n 1919 and up to
the late 60’s only old boys could play for the club. If one was to kick a
ball from The Close, where William Webb Ellis reputedly created the game we all
love, it could quite easily land in the grounds of the school. |
Our Teams The club currently fields 3, sometimes 4, adult sides along with a Development XV that gives an opportunity for recent Lawrence Sherriff Old Boys currently at university to play competitive rugby during vacations. An Under 14's side now plays their rugby at Fenley Field and we look forward to their players breaking into our senior sides as soon as age permits. |
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| In the early days the club played on the school grounds at Hart Field, the school's current sports facility. The club moved to its present ground, Fenley Field, just after the Second World War. The ground is named after Lol Fenley one of the great stalwarts of the club and Warwickshire RFU for over 50 years. The club was opened in 1946 when Old Newtonians were the visitors. Exactly 50 years on an anniversary game was played against the same club, although the personnel had changed somewhat over the years. |
Grammar School in the centre of Rugby town centre, just a short kick from “The Close” where William Webb Ellis, with a fine disregard of the rules picked up the ball and ran ~ the rest, they say is history |
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Over the years the club supplied a steady stream of players to Rugby Lions, one
of the premier England sides up to the sixties. Since the introduction of
leagues a number of players have played for Warwickshire with four players
turning out in one game. ‘Pop’ Dunkley, after joining and captaining
Harlequins, and Stan Purdy, in 1963, were Old Laurentians that went on to play
for England.
After missing out on promotion three times the club achieved its ambition last
season with promotion to Midland I. Twice before we had finished third, when two
teams were promoted, and the season before last we lost the final game of the
season to lose out to champions Bromsgrove. Success in the league has been matched by success in the Warwickshire County Cup. After losing to Broadstreet a few years ago we eventually won the county cup in 2001-02 beating Stratford in the final. Our Second XV has had even more success winning the County Cup three times including 2001-02, when the club held both county trophies. While success in the league is much sought after the club is equally focused on providing a regular game for players of all abilities and ambitions. At the same time it does not neglect the social side for which the club has been well known for some time. The club is now in Midland I, one level below National Leagues. We want to continue our upward patch but at the same time we would like to increase the number of teams we put out on a Saturday. Any player who enjoys his rugby will be made welcome at the Old Laurentians no matter what skill level or ambition he may have. Please contact the club through this web site, call the clubhouse between 7pm and 9pm on Mondays and Thursdays or call Dean Cobley on +44 1788 811827 |
Lawrence Sherriff His exact date and place of birth are not certain, but it was in the centre of Rugby, possibly on the present site of the school he founded. His father was a grocer and in 1534 Lawrence was apprenticed to a grocer in London. He was admitted to the Worshipful Company of Grocers in 1541. He was made an Esquire with a Coat of Alms in 1559 for political services to Elizabeth I. By his death he had become second warden of the Grocers Company and accumulated some land in both Rugby and London. His will requested that almshouses and a free grammar school should be founded, funded by the rents from his land. This was a common practice for self made men at the time. Many similar institutions failed over the years but because the London land income increased Lawrence's foundation flourished. When the original school was converted into Rugby School in 1867, the present Lawrence Sherriff Grammar School in Clifton Road was founded to continue the free education of local boys. (There are also some scholarships to the main school for local children.)
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Rugby in Rugby
Old Laurentians are the leading junior side within Rugby and District RFU
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Team |
Based In |
Miles from OL's |
League Status | Level | Sides | Other |
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Rugby
Lions Old Laurentians Newbold on Avon Rugby St Andrews Rugby Welsh AEI Daventry Long Buckby Lutterworth |
Rugby Rugby Rugby Rugby Rugby Rugby Daventry Long Buckby Lutterworth |
1 |
National
2 Midlands 1 Midlands 2 |
3 5 6 |
3 3 3 3 1 1 3 2 3 |
Minis,
juniors and Colts Under 14’s Under 16’s & Colts Minis and juniors Colts Colts |