Cambridge Rugby Club and Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club announce three-year partnership

Cambridge Rugby and Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club have announced a three-year partnership – 5C – for the promotion of rugby union in the city of Cambridge.

The two clubs’ joint aim is to create a Town and Gown virtual rugby club where resources are shared, income is generated, and the best possible rugby experience is available to the student and local populations.

Cambridge Rugby chair Tim Hague said: “This is hugely exciting. We’re already engaged in the process of establishing a series of fixtures at both of our home grounds at a number of levels and including both men and women.

“We’ve effectively had a Town/Gown double header this season with our 1923s taking on the Light Blues men twice. We’ve inaugurated the Women’s Town/Gown competition over two legs, home and away for both sides, which is the first ever since the inception of the Light Blues Women’s team.

“Finally, our academy played the University 3rd XV in February as part of their final Varsity Match preparations. Next season, on October 5, we’ll have a Men’s and Women’s double header to celebrate the partnership launch.”

“We’re already underway with a number of other initiatives – joint coaching and training sessions are happening regularly. But we have a much bigger programme to roll out. We’re going to launch a joint season ticket for season 25/26, allowing supporters of both clubs access to the best local fixtures.

“We’ll be jointly marketing key games and we’ll be promoting the Varsity Match on Cambridge Rugby’s social media as well as other high-profile University games. We’ll be marketing a series of special offers to students and our members, too.

Meanwhile, the chair of Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, Jessica Tayenjam, added: “On the playing side, the partnership will work on several levels. This will include the dual registration of players, allowing CURUFC players access to elite rugby whilst carrying on their academic studies and representing the University in its highest profile matches.

“We have a recent example of that working very effectively, in the case of Jamie Benson, who has now gone on to play full time with Harlequins in the Premiership. We also continue to engage in the development of a specific women's partnership

“As we progress through years two and three, the plan is to achieve a 'shared service model', collaborating on medical provision, strength and conditioning, coaching, community engagement, coaching development for students and joint branding where appropriate. It’s an ambitious programme, but we believe that it is very achievable.”