About Essington RUFC
Essington Rugby Club was established in 1998, based in the Essington village following the merger of 3 local rugby clubs – Rubery Owen (est.1954), Old Oaks and Wulfrun.
We currently run two senior men’s contact teams and a Mixed Touch rugby team
The first men’s team compete in Midlands West (North) Division 4 and also compete in the Staffordshire cups. The second team compete in local friendlies for returning players and senior / Vets players, of any ability.
We train on Monday evenings fitness (7pm), Wednesdays Men’s contact (7.15pm) and Mixed Touch Thursdays (7.30pm) all at the clubs High Hill ground.
Recent history
Since 2022 with the league restructure, our Men’s 1sts now play in Midlands West (North) Division 4.
Our Mixed Touch team play in the Staffordshire Summer Tournament and the Midlands Touch League.
We are a centre for the community, not only providing a home for rugby, but also the club house is used by a local club’s such as a local Taekwondo club, karate club, Zumba, baby groups, dance groups etc. We hold community events such as summer family days and host birthdays, engagements and wedding receptions. We also have been a centre for charity events such as Sport Relief.
Our teams are based on fun and being a family based club. We perform at a competitive level, but not at the loss of inclusivity for all of those who train and want to play.
We perform well in leagues with our neighbouring clubs. Notably : In 2015 and 2012 we won the Rubery Owen Cup and 2008 we were runners up. In 2016 we won both leagues that the 1st and 2nd team competed in. In 2008/9 season our 1st team won the league, by winning all 14 games and had no ties/defeats.
In 2012 we started a ladies team, which competed for 5 years and in 2014, we hosted a Ladies County game and had 6 players in the Staffordshire Ladies team.
We did for a period in 2007 and 2008 have a junior ladies team and junior (u16) boys team. For the club facilities, the signing of the lease in early 2008 has taken years of work, but means that the club has secured its future at the site and can now make solid plans to upgrade the grounds, club house and facilities. In addition, the lease means we can apply for support from the RFU and develop the facility into a greater resource for rugby and the community.
An amateur club since its inception, recently became a community amateur sports club (CASC).
The club was registered at companies house, to become a limited company in 2008. The club has currently 2 pitches directly outside of the club house.
Membership of the club consists of honorary life members, playing members and Social members. Social Membership is available without discrimination, upon payment of subscription. The Vice Presidents membership has been running for 2 seasons and has been very successful in encouraging ex players and ex members back to the club.
Pre-Essington history
Essington was formed from a merger of 3 teams:
– Rubery Owen RFC was formed as a works team in 1954 and continued in this form until the factory closed in the 1980’s. For the next few years it has a nomadic existance, playing on various school pitches with a local Community Association as it’s social base.
In the late 1980’s the club rented premises and built its own clubhouse and bar for the first time, while continuing to play on school pitches. This was very successful: an Under 19’s team was formed and was in profit after a few years.
In 1993 the club decided to look for premises with pitches, changing facilities and a training area on one site, which resulted in agreement with Essignton Council to take a short term lease on High Hill site.
– Old Oaks RFC was formed in the 1990’s and successfully ran their own club and bar of around 10 years, until the merger with Rubery Owen.
– Wulfrun RFC started at Wulfrun College (now City of Wolverhampton College) as a college side from 1963 - 1966 and was formed by a student, Mel Barrett and became a Rugby Club in September 1966 and was a very successful team. The first Club Chairman was John Carrick who was a lecturer at Wulfrun College. The club's most prominent player was Nick Jeavons who played back row for England at schoolboy & U23 whilst at Wulfrun & the senior England team. He went on to play for Moseley. (Thanks to Stan Turner for the information).
Three years after the merger of Rubery Owen and Old Oaks, Wulfrun were asked to merge, which prompted the change of name to Essignton RUFC.
Club logo
The club logo contains a bird, which is a Shitehawk. A scavenging bird of prey, this was a name given to various avian species encountered in India by British troops from the 18th century.
