Chichester Rugby Football Club is an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

team based in

Chichester Chichester ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in the Chichester District, Chichester district of West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher ...

, in

West Sussex West Sussex is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Surrey to the north, East Sussex to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Hampshire to the west. The largest settlement is Cr ...

. The club runs three senior men's teams, a ladies team and a full range of mini and junior teams. The 1st XV play in

Counties 1 Hampshire Counties 1 Hampshire is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in Hampshire and West Sussex and is administered by Hampshire Rugby and the London & SE RFU. Structure and format The twelve teams play home and away matc ...

, a level 7 league in the

English rugby union system Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system. Women's Rugby union in England consi ...

, after relegation from

Regional 2 South Central Regional 2 South Central is a level six league in the English rugby union system, one of twelve leagues, at this level. Originally part of the South West Division of the RFU, the league was transferred to the London & SE Division for season ...

at the end of the 2024–25 season. Oaklands Pavilion is the home of Chichester Rugby Football Club (CRFC) being located within

Oaklands Park Oaklands Park is a southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Marion. The Marion Shopping Centre is a major feature of the suburb. History On 14 December 1906, Oaklands was bought by Thomas Currie Tait for £15,000. In 192 ...

, this large tree lined park is to the north of the city of Chichester and is one of the most picturesque rugby locations in the South East of England; with views of the city and cathedral from the balcony. The recently modernised clubhouse – Oaklands Pavilion – overlooks the 1st XV pitch which is recognised as one of the finest pitches in Sussex. The club location is Wellington Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6BB. Chichester is a city with many historical connections especially its Roman origins and Georgian background. The city is growing at a rapid rate, hosting many local and international businesses together with a traditional agricultural industry. CRFC has established links with local schools, and further education establishments; Chichester College of Further Education, Chichester University for example. The club also has a long tradition of welcoming players from the southern hemisphere. Connections with local business have enabled them to provide work and accommodation for these visiting players. The Director of Rugby for CRFC is Paul Colley with the senior coaching team comprising Ken Dowding (Head Coach) supported by Mark Norton. Scott Barlow, Billy Toone and Richard Ives. The 2nd XV play in Counties 2 Hampshire. The 3rd XV play in Counties 5 Hampshire South East of the Hampshire Merit Tables. As well as having several successful men's teams and the mini & juniors section the club's ladies team has done from strength to strength since its formation in 2019, the ladies team are currently in the RFU Inner Warrior Sussex League with several other development ladies teams in the county. Chichester were promoted into National 3 (Level 5 of English rugby) at the end of the 2013–14 season, beating Eton Manor in a play-off. The club spent three seasons in National 3, finishing 7th, 10th and 12th. Relegation was sealed by a 5 point deduction from the RFU.

Honours

1st team: *

Sussex 1 Sussex 1 (known as Harvey's of Sussex 1 due to sponsorship reasons) is an English level 9 Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams predominantly from Sussex. Teams play home and away matches from September through to April. The league champi ...

champions (2): 1989–90, 2001–02 * London 4 South West champions: 2002–03 *

London 3 South West London 3 South West is an English rugby union league at the eighth level of club rugby union in England involving sides based in Hampshire, Surrey and south-west London. Promoted clubs move into London 2 South West. Relegated clubs move into ...

champions: 2008–09 * London 1 (North v South) promotion play–off winner: 2013–14 2nd team: *

Hampshire 1 Counties 3 Hampshire (formerly Hampshire 1) is an English level 9 Rugby Union league for teams based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Up until the 2017–18 season it was known as Hampshire 2 but was changed to Hampshire 1 following the res ...

champions: 2019–20 3rd team: *

Sussex 2 Sussex 2 is an English level 10 Rugby Union League. It is run by the Sussex Rugby Football Union and contains teams predominantly from West Sussex. The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams mov ...

champions: 2010–11

External links

Official club website
Rugby union teams in England Rugby clubs established in 1926 Rugby union in West Sussex Sport in Chichester {{England-rugbyunion-team-stub