Old Malvernian RFC

RE-LAUNCH OF THE OLD MALVERNIAN RUFC DELAY

Following a positive response to the email sent by Iain Hunter to a list of over 100 rugby-playing OMs, supplied by Nick Tisdale, we decided to arrange a match against a Monmouth School Old Boys team. This was to be part of the Border Shield Day at Ledbury RFC on Fri 9th October 2020. It was agreed that the first Annual General Meeting would follow the lunch. And then Covid-19 struck!! ............

In view of the uncertainty as to when the Government and the Rugby Football Union will allow Community Rugby Clubs to return to playing the full-contact game, Iain Hunter, (Acting Chairman), and I have reluctantly decided to delay the re-launch until the 2021 Border Shield Day, by which time we will hopefully be free from this wretched virus. The decision to delay the re-launch was taken after consultation with Nick Tisdale and has been endorsed by Paul Godsland, the Executive Director of the Malvernian Society.

However much has been achieved following communications between the above four persons:
1. An Action Plan has been agreed.
2. A Constitution has been drawn up in readiness for the first Annual General Meeting.
3. The views of six rugby-playing OMs have been canvassed.
4. A Facebook account has been established.
5. Investigations are ongoing into matches against Old Boys teams, local clubs & Sevens events.
6. Contact has been made with North Midlands County RFU regarding affiliation & insurance.
7. Paul Godsland has agreed to recommend to the Trustees of the OM Club that we should receive a grant towards set-up costs to cover the purchase of kit, affiliations & Sevens entry fees.
8. The following OMs have agreed to serve as Officers, subject to endorsement at the first AGM:
Chairman – Iain Hunter (No.1 1976-81);
Secretary – James Scott (No.7 2015-17);
Treasurer – George Barrell (No.7 2011-16);
Team Secretary – AJ Renton (No.7 2012-17);

I would like to hear from any OMs who would be interested in helping with the organisation of our club. These are exciting times which need the involvement of enthusiastic young rugby-playing OMs.

Enjoy your Rugby, once you start playing again!

Acting Secretary – Peter Hughes (No.4 1951-55) 07771 711405 [email protected]
17th November 2020

History of the Old Malvernian Rugby Union Football Club

The Old Malvernian Rugby Union Football Club [OM RUFC] played its first match between two teams of OMs at London Scottish RFC on Sunday 19th March 1989 and two weeks later its first match against another club - London Scottish RFC 6th. At the AGM of the Malvernian Society on 10th June 1989, it was agreed that the OM RUFC should be officially recognised and allowed to use the name of the College and Old Malvernian colours. The first officers were: President - Peter E. Hughes, a former International Referee and Lancashire Representative on the Rugby Football Union Committee, (one of Will Carling’s 57 Old Farts); Chairman - John D. Vergopolous; Secretary - Rob J.V. Owen and Captain - Iain L. Hunter.
By the second season, twelve matches were played, the majority being in the London area on a Sunday to avoid clashing with OM Football Club Saturday fixtures. For the next few seasons the club continued to flourish; the number of matches increased; regular newsletters were circulated; Annual Dinners were held and there were end-of-season tours to Holland and Portugal. As the nineties progressed however, the club found it increasingly difficult to raise teams and heavy defeats were sustained, or matches had to be cancelled. Recruitment was difficult as rugby union football was not the primary winter sport at the College and eventually the Secretary of the club sent a letter to all members in January 1998 advising them that the OM RUFC would have to be wound up. The balance of the funds (£195.90) and the jerseys were given to John Blackshaw, the Secretary of the Malvernian Society at the time.
In 2006, rugby union football became the sport played by boys in the winter term at the College and twelve teams are now regularly fielded. At the AGM of the Malvernian Society on 15th June 2019, Peter E. Hughes (4.51-55), a College Governor and the President of the original OM RUFC, expressed disappointment that there was no longer an OM RUFC and hoped that one could be re-established. Subsequent exchanges with Paul Godsland, the Malvernian Society Executive Director, and Nick Tisdale, the Master i/c Rugby Union Football at the College were very encouraging. At the Border Shield lunch at Ledbury RUFC, a table of recent rugby-playing OMs were all very enthusiastic. Iain L. Hunter (1.76-81), a former captain of the original OM RUFC, a Level 2 coach and active member of the Ledbury RFC committee, expressed an interest in being involved in the re-establishment of the OM RUFC and became the Acting Chairman with Peter Hughes the Acting Secretary.
The picture below was taken on Sunday 26th February 1990, before the match against Phil John’s Fifteen. (Phil John was the Master i/c Rugby Union Football at the College at the time). Chairman, John D. Vergopolous is third from the left standing with the white headband. Secretary, Rob J.V. Owen is ??????. Captain - Iain L. Hunter is in the middle kneeling with the ball at his feet. President, Peter Hughes is on the right standing. On Peter Hughes’ right is ‘the Silver Fox’ Nick Price (7.70-75) who had played for Gloucester RFC during the previous four seasons.