History
At the time of founding both codes of football (association and rugby) were played by the same clubs, this being the case with Loughborough. The club fell by the wayside after many men enlisted for the First World War and the membership was reduced.
In 1929 a handful of players, including some of the original membership from before the Great War, met and decided to refound the club. The club was refounded solely as a Rugby Union club, the game having grown to be very distinct from what we now know as association football (soccer).
Loughborough regularly fields four men's sides on a Saturday, as well as having one of the best attended Mini and Junior sections in the county. Loughborough RFC is affiliated to the Leicestershire Rugby Union (LRU), the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football Union for Women. The club now plays its matches on Derby Road Playing Fields and has its own purpose built clubhouse, six changing rooms and four pitches.
The 1st XV play league fixtures in Midlands 1 East for the first time this season. Last season(2010–11)they finished second in Midlands 2 East (North), winning a promotion play-off against Peterborough Lions to gain promotion. The club hopes to build on last season to consolidate their place in the league structure this year. Andrew York stays on for a second term as 1st XV Captain, while Chris Campbell is continuing as head coach and Jason Button has been signed as Director of Rugby.
The club has reached the final of the Leicestershire County Bowl, beating Vipers RFC two years in succession to lift the trophy. (Oddly enough, the 'Bowl' is actually a cup. This should not be seen as being too odd though as when Loughborough won the Leicestershire County Plate, the plate was in fact a shield.) This season Loughborough's attempt to lift the trophy for a third successive year was thwarted by Leicester Forest, a close and hard-fought game ending with a 12-10 victory for the Leicester outfit.
Loughborough's 3rd XV did taste success this year, winning Leicestershire Merit Table Division Two under the expert guidance of skipper Joe McDonnell. Joe received his trophy from RFU President Bob Taylor at the LRU presentation evening in May.
Read more about this topic: Loughborough RFC
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