The History of Basingstoke Rugby Club

The Club was formed in March 1948. Two matches were played during that season and a full fixture list for two fifteens, the following season.

In the early days matches were played on Basingstoke Common and later at Whiteditch Field and several other grounds within the locality. A number of local hostelries provided the headquarters until 1958 when the Cricket Pavilion at Mays Bounty became the Club’s home until the move to Down Grange in 1971.

During the seventies the Club was one of the strongest in the County. Playing strength declined for a while in the early eighties, but the wise investments in a strong junior and youth section paid dividends.

The advent of the knock-out competitions and leagues was welcomed at Basingstoke. The Club has won the Hampshire Cup on numerous occasions, and occasionally been the runners up.

In 1993 and 1994 Basingstoke RFC reached the fourth round of the Pilkington Cup, losing to Harlequins and London Irish respectively.

When league rugby started in 1987/88 the Club was entered into London Division 2 which they won that year, and the following year headed London Division 1, being promoted to National League 4 South (later to become League 5 South), in which they were runners-up two years running.

Regrettably a rather mixed performance in 1994/95 resulted in relegation to London Division 1. On two occasions our Sevens team has reached Twickenham and performed valiantly against first class opposition. On the second occasion they reached the final of the plate competition.

The ground fund account was opened at the AGM in 1961 with a sum of £1 which was all the Club could afford. During the late sixties fund raising and negotiations with Basingstoke Borough Council proceeded slowly. Eventually a ground lease was arranged at Down Grange. Building started in September 1970 and the Clubhouse was opened in January 1971. Once the project became a reality, fund raising improved dramatically, in addition a grant was obtained, and also a loan from the brewery.

Two years later in 1973 two more changing rooms, a referees dressing room, a store and the spectator stand to the 1st XV pitch were added, together with other improvements largely to cope with the increasing number of players and supporters.

In 1984 the President’s Lounge was built which provided comfortably accommodation for members and their families. The Club was still run entirely on a voluntary basis by members, however, in December 1988 in order to make greater use of the facilities and provide a better service for members, a full-time steward was employed and has been ever since.

One more major development took place in 1991, when extensions to provide a dining area, larger kitchen, office, shop and weight training room were built. Internal improvements also included a fully equipped medical room, a new central heating system and enlargement of the bar area.

The Club is once again undergoing major developments. A new floodlit first team pitch and stand, plus a floodlit training area have been created and plans are in hand for further extensions to the changing facilities to accommodate the increase in young players and the introduction of the women’s game.

The Club now runs four senior sides, an Academy and youth rugby for youngsters from the age of eight to sixteen, we also run a women’s XV and a girls’ team. The Club Committee is ambitious, planning to improve playing performance and return to the National Leagues. It is also intended to provide better facilities for members, making Basingstoke RFC the acknowledged centre of Rugby Football in North Hampshire with social and recreational facilities to match. In January 2007, the Club was awarded the RFU Seal of Approval.