Team Biography

Grey College has over the last fives years become one of the top teams on the inter collegiate rugby circuit. Although perceived as just a college side, Grey adopts a very serious approach to its rugby.

We now regularly beat the more established colleges and are finally beginning to compete on an equal level with traditional sports colleges such as Hatfield, St.Cuthberts and Hild & Bede. This has been a long process but gradually over the last few years we have instilled the attitude amongst players that we should not be happy to simply be regarded as an average college team, but aspire to be the best.

Just as the popularity of the college in terms of student application has increased, so we believe the success on the sports field should increase.

As evidence of this increased success, we have over the past four years finished within the top three teams (out of 14) in the Premier League (there are two leagues). Although we were delighted to win the plate in the Floodlit competition in 2001 (a subsidiary competition held for teams eliminated in the 1st round) now expectations would regard a 1st round knock out as unacceptable. We reached the Semi-finals of the main Floodlit Trophy competition in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Such has been this success, that more and more university level players have seen great opportunity to play high grade rugby without neglecting their sense of pride for college. It is this sort of attitude and commitment that we hope to build on.

In addition to this Grey also has had the pleasure of hosting a number of touring sides, from both home and abroad. In fact Grey has significant links with the development of rugby in Central and Eastern Europe. With the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, state funding was taken out of a significant number of sports in these countries. With rugby not being an Olympic sport it was hit particularly badly by this lack of state funding. Where as a country such as Romania in the early 80’s once boasted over 200 clubs and were challenging the likes of France internationally, now only have a handful of clubs in existence all of which are on the brink of bankruptcy. It is such things as tours to these destinations by amateur and student clubs from places such as Britain that keeps rugby union alive in Eastern Europe.

As a Club we are very proud to be a part of this life line having toured to Prague, Budapest and Tallinn (Estonia) in the past three years, where we not only play rugby but try to get involved in the local communities as much as we can.

Team Operation

Grey college RFC consists of four teams: a men’s A side, a Men’s B side, a Women’s team and a specialist sevens’ side. These sides are a combination of experienced players who have enjoyed the game through their school careers and novices with a tremendous amount of natural talent but who have lacked the opportunity to take up the game. For the mens’ sides, training takes place three times a week usually with two matches. Representatives of the male sides contribute towards the coaching of the Women’s side and also organise regular training sessions for all novice players. In addition we view ourselves as more then a rugby team providing first aid and refereeing courses and offering leadership building exercises. We are coached by two very competent members of the Durham University fraternity. Brendan McKerchar, who plays scrum-half for the university 1st team and Scotland U21s and Mr. Cameron who coaches a university side and has played to a good level in his own career.

We are also in close contact with the North East rugby development officer who assists and advises us where necessary. We operate a physical training session on a weekly basis to maintain the fitness of both men’s and women’s sides. As well as being a reputable rugby team within the inter-collegiate system, we also stage various social occasions to help maintain morale and camaraderie; essentially encouraging non-playing members to become actively involved in GCRFC life.

The club has an executive committee with the Captain, Ben Dalziel, holding overall control and responsibility. In addition, we actively help in promoting rugby within the community by offering our coaching services to local schools. We maintain close links with Durham City RFC. At the end of the 15 a side season, we arrange a tour. In the past we have travelled to a variety of different locations, mainly in Eastern Europe. We specifically choose these destinations as we feel that our support to the development of poorer nations is essential and imperative for the growth of rugby union on a global scale. On tour, we actively get involved in the distribution of rugby equipment to local teams and offer advice on the more contemporary strategic approaches to rugby.