| Full name | Old Albanian Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Rugby Football Union |
| Nickname(s) | OA's |
| Founded | 1924 |
| Location | St Albans, England |
| Ground(s) | Woollam Playing Fields, St Albans |
| Chairman | Rory Davis |
| President | Robin Farrar |
| Coach(es) | James Shanahan, Bruce Millar, Mark Langley |
| Captain(s) | Laurence White |
| League(s) | National League 2 South |
| 2009–10 | 2nd (promoted) |
| Official website | |
| 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.'
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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 World War I Barrack Hut. Organised rugby was thus established in St Albans, providing rugby union for all.
1987 - Selected, with two other Hertfordshire clubs, to form part of 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 London League Division One
2005 - Reached their highest-ever league position (5th place in Powergen London One)
2009 - Won the Herts County 7s, runners up in the Herts County Cup Final. OA Colts reach both National Cup & Herts County Cup Finals and finish as Runners Up.
2010 - OAs gain promotion to National League 2 South from National League 3 South East with a playoff win vs Old Patesians R.F.C.. Old Albanian Saints gain promotion to RFUW Premiership.
Running five men's sides each week the club has grown to become one of the biggest in the country, featuring a full schedule of league and friendly fixtures.
1st XV - National League 2 South
2nd XV - Canterbury Shield, Division 2
3rd XV - Greene King Super Premier Division
4th XV - Herts Middlesex Merit Tables, Division 3
5th XV - Herts Middlesex Merit Tables, Division 5
OAs has recruited over 750 mini and junior rugby players. The minis enjoy good success in the Hertfordshire leagues, whilst the juniors are well represented in the Saracens Herts and Middlesex Junior leagues. Most age groups are able to provide two squads to the leagues and provide very good competition.
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. In 2010 the OA Saints 1st XV gained promotion to the RFUW Premiership.
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.
The state-of-the-art sporting complex on the northern outskirts of 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.
OAs have had players recognized at county level and national level.
Men's rugby
England: Jeff Probyn
Wales : Paul Turner
Ireland : Darragh O'Mahony
Barbarians: Steve Pope, Greg Botterman
Serbia: Danilo Bulatovic
Sweden: Charlie Openshaw
Women's rugby
England: Cath Botterman
Hong Kong: Tamsin Reed
Italy: Nadia Brannon
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