Old Albanian Rugby Football Club

Rugby team
teamname = Old Albanians


fullname = Old Albanians Rugby Football Club
location = St Albans, England
country

founded = 1924
ground = Woollam Playing Fields, St Albans
president = Ali Mills
chairman = Robin Farrar
coach = Bruce Millar
league = London 1
colours = Red, Gold and Blue
url= www.oarugby.com

Old Albanian Rugby Football Club (OAs) is a rugby club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England.

The club runs up to six senior teams each week and has one of the largest Mini and Junior sections in the country. There is a thriving social membership and members enjoy some of the finest facilities in the country. The club's mission is 'To promote the game of rugby at all levels of ability, across all age groups and for both sexes.'

Formation

The club was formed in 1924 by a group of far-sighted Old Boys of St Albans School with a mutual love of the game (and doubtless an ale or two as well!). They acquired their first pavilion which was a timber WW1 Barrack Hut. Organised rugby was thus established in St Albans, providing rugby union for all.

Men's rugby

1987 - Selected, with 2 other Hertfordshire clubs, to form part of the London League Division 2

1996 - Won London NW division 3 gaining promotion to London League Division 2 North

1998 - Won the Herts. President's Cup

2001 - Won the County Sevens and were runners up in the Herts. President's Cup

2003 - Promotion to the London League Division One

2005 - Reached their highest-ever league position (5th place in Powergen London One)

The men's coaching team is led by Bruce Millar, ex Saracens chief.

Women's rugby

In 2005 the first women's XV ('The Saints'), unbeaten since November 2003, secured the South East One League title without losing a game. They won promotion to National League 2 in the subsequent play-off competition, securing victory over each of their regional rivals.

The Woollam Playing Fields

After 78 years based at Beech Bottom, the club moved to their current playing fields following the development of Cheapside Farm into The Woollam Playing Fields, generally referred to as "Woollam's". The playing facilities opened in 2002 with a club selected XV match against a star-studded international XV led by Peter Winterbottom which formed the centre-piece of the opening ceremony.

Facilities

The state of the art sporting complex in St Albans was acknowledged as the largest sporting development in Europe during its construction. It is regarded by many as the finest amateur sporting venue in the land. The Woollam Playing Fields is the choice of Saracens for their 'A' team's home fixtures and has hosted both England Under 16 and England RFUW International matches.

Representative honours

OAs have had players recognized at county level and national level.

England: Jeff Probyn
Wales : Paul Turner
Ireland : Darragh O'Mahony
Barbarians: Steve Pope, Greg Botterman
Serbia: Danilo Bulatovic
Sweden: Charlie Openshaw

England: Cath Botterman
Hong Kong: Tamsin Reed
Italy: Nadia Brannon

External links

* [http://www.oarugby.com/ Old Albanian Rugby Football Club Official Site]
* [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=TW2+7SX&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=51.450858,-0.343205&spn=0.002922,0.010815&t=h&om=1&iwloc=A Old Albanian Rugby Football Club ] at Google Maps.