The Students’ RFU (SRFU) is a national constitute body of the RFU representing higher education. We are Independent Limited Company with Charitable Status which is run by volunteers. There are over 100 universities with student rugby clubs that make up the membership of the SRFU and are in turn full voting members of the Rugby Football Union.

ABOUT

WHAT MAKES UP THE STUDENTS' RFU

148 member clubs

17,500 players

Over 2,000 matches per season

15 volunteers & 1 part-time employee

Close work with RFU & BUCS

Over 10,000 social media followers

OUR IMPACT 2022/23

Made discipline guidance easier to find and understand

England Students beat France Universities on French soil for the first time in 17 years

Hosted the University Rugby Awards at the HSBC London 7s

Piloted a new EDI toolkit for universities

Issued grants and awards totalling over £14,000

Supported the launch of a new women's Medics league

Hosted the University Rugby Development Forum at the StoneX Stadium

IMPACT

PLANS FOR THE 2022/23 SEASON

Introducing a new behaviour charter

Exploring opportunities to develop the women's game at universities

Rolling out a new process

for registering student players

Supporting clubs with grant offers

Working to secure one or more test fixtures for England Students

HISTORY

History

A timeline of events that have shaped the Students' RFU.

1973

The Rugby Football Union set up a specific Higher Education panel to bring together University of London, UAU, British College and British Polytechnics
1976

The Students’ RFU (SRFU) was formed as a National Constitute Body of the RFU to represent Higher Education. The SRFU was formed in order to coordinate all universities and polytechnics, where there had previously been separate bodies. University of Oxford and University of Cambridge remained separate Constitute Bodies on the RFU.
1976

Appointment of the first SRFU’s Council Member onto the RFU Council - Derek Morgan
1976

The first SRFU Committee took place with Derek Morgan as Chair with Brian McLelland as Secretary.
1995

The number of RFU Council Rep for the SRFU increased to two. Bob Reeves joined Derek Morgan as the second rep on the RFU Council to represent Higher Education Rugby Union.
2001

The SRFU established charitable status with a charitable object to: To administer, foster, encourage, extend and control Rugby Football Union (“the game”) for the moral and physical development of students at University and other institutions of higher education within England.
2002

Derek Morgan stepped down as SRFU Chair and Council Rep to take up the position of RFU President. He remained involved in the SRFU as Hon Treasurer and Trustee. Bob Reeves was appointed by the board of trustees as SRFU Chair. Vaughan Parry Williams was appointed at the second RFU Council Rep for the SRFU.
2009

Ian Elvin is appointed as the second SRFU Council Member of the RFU Council. Ian replaces Vaughan Parry William, unfortunately Vaughan passed away in June.
2012

Derek Morgan stepped down as Hon Treasurer and Trustee handing over to Stuart Wade. The AGM approved the appointment of Derek Morgan to the position of SRFU President as recommended by the Board of Trustees
2014

Derek Morgan stepped down as SRFU President. Bob Reeves was appointed as both SRFU & RFU President and in turn stepped down as SRFU Chair and Council Member. Iain Elvin was appointed as SRFU Chair. Jonathan Webb was appointed by the board of trustee as the second council rep for the SRFU.
2015

Jonathan Webb was appointed as World Rugby Council Member for the RFU replacing Bill Beaumont who became World Rugby Chair. Jonathan stepped down as RFU Council Rep for the SRFU and Trustee
2016

Ian Elvin steps down as SRFU Chair, RFU Council Rep and Trustee. Phil Attwell is appointed by the Trustee Board to succeed Ian.
2017

Phil de Glanville was appointed as the SRFU Council Rep on the RFU Council and Trustee
2018

Phil de Glanville was appointed to the RFU Board, as well as, remaining as Council Member for the SRFU.
2019

Mark Hyndman succeeds Phil Attwell as SRFU Chair and joins the SRFU as a Trustee. Phil Attwell and Phil de Glanville continue as RFU Council reps for the SRFU.