A Brief History of the Club

Horsham Rugby Club was founded 95 years ago in 1928 by A.G.S Hodgson, Bainbridge Copnall and A.G. Puttock during an auspicious meeting in the Station Hotel, which still stands today and forms part of the Beefeater Chain. At the time, the fixture list consisted of a mere twelve matches. Today it totals over thirty.

For the first couple of years, the team played on some farmland near the old Warnham Park gates on the London Road. In 1930 the team moved to Horsham Cricket Club where they played until 1968. After the Second World War, the numbers of players steadily grew, and additional pitches were rented in Horsham Park. Land was bought at Coolhurst, off Hammerpond Road in 1968 and there was a period of nomadic existence for a few years until the new ground was ready to house the club in 1972. This scenic ground remains its home today, set in twenty-seven acres of outstanding natural beauty.

Horsham Goes Global - entertaining the visitors from afar

During the 1950's and 1960's the regular Easter visitor was the Seven Sisters club from Wales. Horsham has also played host to the American Mill Creek Valley Rugby Football Club, the state side, Transkei, from South Africa in 1984, and Elmavali Rugby Football Club from Tblisi in Georgia, USSR in 1990.

In 1974 Horsham entertained St. Maixent from western France and exchange tours at all levels continued until 1990. The relationship was rekindled in 2014 when the Colt's made an Easter tour to France, and then Horsham Colt's played host in 2015.

Mini Rugby - only the beginning

Horsham Rugby Union Football Club started up Mini-Rugby in 1976 with 150 boys and girls aged between 7 and 12 years. It proved to be so successful that 2 years later a tour to the West Country and a Festival of Mini-Rugby were introduced. These events continue to form an integral part of Horsham's busy season and many of the Mini-Rugby squad go on to become key players at all levels.

Current and recent England internationals Billy Twelvetrees and Joe Launchbury both played for many years in Horsham's Minis and Juniors and the club are proud to have played a small part in their development.

The Present Day HRUFC

Horsham RUFC currently has 400 playing members ranging from Under 7 to three Senior (adult) teams. The 2024-25 season sees the Men's 1st XV team play in Regional 1 South Central, the Lions 2nd XV play in the Surrey Premiership and the 3rd XV play in Harvey's Brewery Counties 3 Sussex. Nick Stocker continues as Head of Rugby and is joined by current Director of Rugby at Brighton College, Nick Buoy, as Performance Coach, Adam Halsey as Lead Coach, Richard Tredgett as Forwards Coach and Glen Jones as Team Operations Manager.

In 2006 the club's Development Committee raised the funds and provided a new pitch which has provided much needed additional playing space to allow the growing number of Mini and Junior teams to play and train, as well as the Senior sides.

In 2011 the clubhouse roof was replaced, extending the life of the building, in 2012 the inside of the clubhouse received a major refurbishment, in 2013 a new kitchen was built and in 2014 a new decking and patio area was added.

A new four Changing Room block was opened in September 2017, as the first stage before converting the existing changing rooms into a new bar and social space and improving the interior and exterior of the clubhouse, which was completed in 2021.

In view of the increase in the number of sides playing at the club over recent years we have already outgrown this new facility, and an extension to add a further two Changing Rooms was completed in December 2023.

The club is delighted to have been chosen by the RFU as the only recipient of a new 3G pitch in Sussex, Surrey and Kent, and installation was completed in June 2018.

In September 2019 the newly formed Women's Section played their first ever game and the initiative has been such a success that they now have 50 players and have formed a 2nd XV, as well as Girls sides at U18, U16, U14, U12 and U11. The Women's 1st XV play in NC1 South East (South).

Honours