Otley R.U.F.C.

Otley Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union club representing Otley in the City of Leeds, district of West Yorkshire. The club runs three senior teams – the first XV, the Saracens (2nd XV) and the Viscounts (3rd XV), as well as a full range of junior teams. The first XV play in North Premier.

Otley
Full nameOtley Rugby Union Football Club
UnionYorkshire RFU
Nickname(s)The Zebras
Founded1865 (1865)
LocationOtley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Ground(s)Cross Green (Capacity: 5,000)
League(s)North Premier
2019–20National League 2, 14th (relegated)
Team kit
Official website
www.pitchero.com/clubs/otley/

History

Otley RUFC was founded in 1865[1] but broke away from rugby union in 1900 to become a rugby league club. They disbanded in 1906 and reformed as a rugby union club in 1907, the ground being at Wharfeside.[2] In 1909–10 they won the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.[2] Play was suspended during the First World War, but started again in 1919, and on 28 September 1921 they moved to a new and better ground at Cross Green, Otley.[2]

In the 2007–08 season they won the National Division Two title securing an immediate return to National Division One having been relegated the previous season, however they were immediately relegated again in the 2008–09 season along with fellow promoted side Manchester and three other teams due to the new professionalised format of National Division One (now the RFU Championship). Two seasons later the club was relegated again, this time to National League 2 North. The all-time leading try scorer is James Twomey, with 74 in 107 appearances between 2009 and 2013.

In 1979 the stadium was the site of a famous victory by the North of England against the New Zealand ″All Blacks″.[3] The Wallabies suffered the same fate in October, 1988. Cross Green hosted one group game of the 1991 Rugby World Cup, between the United States and Italy which was won by Italy 30–9.

Notable former players
Cross Green, Otley's home ground.

Honours

Current standings
2019–20 National League 2 North Table
Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Losing bonus Points
1Caldy (C)2525001002279723190119
2Fylde25171779044734316490
3Hinckley25170863446117312585
4Sedgley Park2517086275497811483
5Loughborough Students251401174960514413574
6Chester25131116906187212470
7Stourbridge25111136796166313968
8Hull251221147947275663
9Wharfedale2511212528539-115659
10Huddersfield259412528592-649457
11Tynedale249213583592-910757
12Sheffield Tigers2412012516570-545356
13Luctonians259115496609-1138854
14Otley (R)259313508628-1205552
15Preston Grasshoppers (R)254318385656-2713429
16Scunthorpe (R)2500253411302-961426
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 14 March 2020
Source: "National League 2 North". NCA Rugby.
Notes

Notes

    References
    1. Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1991). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991–92. Taunton: Tony Williams. ISBN 1869833155.
    2. Brumfitt, Elise (1986). Old Otley. Leeds: M. T. D. Rigg Publications. ISBN 0950919136.
    3. "TV screening of Otley's historic rugby day". Telegraph & Argus. Newsquest Media Group. 16 September 2004. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
    4. "Former Otley rugby player wins Nobel prize". Wharfedale and Airedale Observer. 15 October 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
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