top of page

STUDENTS' RFU MEMBERSHIP 2024-25

The information below sets out how Higher Education Institution (HEI) Rugby Clubs become members of both the Students’ Rugby Football Union (SRFU) and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) as either voting or non-voting members. Membership to both bodies is required for all student clubs including those entered in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), London Universities Sport Leagues (LUSL) and National Association of Medical Schools (NAMS) Rugby Union competitions (XV & 7s).​

SRFU Memberships Table_v2.png

Joining is a two-step process:

1. Membership Form

Complete this season’s registration form here.

 

New for this season is confirming adherence to Regulation 9 and the Behaviour Charter. Please read both documents carefully before completing the form.

​

Please take the time to read the Reg 9 guidance for universities.  This clarifies the requirements for pitchside / team first aiders. We recognise that universities may have their own practices in place, and want to take a pragmatic approach – The principles are:

  • Safety is dictated by a risk assessment and every institution must have a risk assessment which can be produced if requested by us, or a visiting team.

  • It is the responsibility of the home team to have EFA cover in place articulated in the risk assessment (this may be staff for example and the EFA identifies how they are reached at the facility).

  • If the club are unable to provide evidence of their RA upon request this should be reported to universities@rfu.com. It will not impact the validity of a BUCS fixture.

​2. RFU Game Management System​

  1. Update/complete the golden roles on your institution profile. This must include Main Rugby contact, Rugbysafe contact and Hon Sec

  2. Complete the Rugbysafe & Player welfare tab under organisation profile

  3. Adhere to RFU Regulation 13, ensure all university rugby players are registered to play.

  4. Step by step guidance for players and administrators HERE

​

Looking for more information? 

​

Click here for membership criteria

Click here for FAQs

Click here for Player Registration Guidance

​

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

  • 1973
    The Rugby Football Union set up a specific Higher Education panel to bring together University of London, UAU, British College and British Polytechnics
  • 1976
    The Students’ RFU (SRFU) was formed as a National Constitute Body of the RFU to represent Higher Education. The SRFU was formed in order to coordinate all universities and polytechnics, where there had previously been separate bodies. University of Oxford and University of Cambridge remained separate Constitute Bodies on the RFU.
  • 1976
    Appointment of the first SRFU’s Council Member onto the RFU Council - Derek Morgan
  • 1976
    The first SRFU Committee took place with Derek Morgan as Chair with Brian McLelland as Secretary.
  • 1995
    The number of RFU Council Rep for the SRFU increased to two. Bob Reeves joined Derek Morgan as the second rep on the RFU Council to represent Higher Education Rugby Union.
  • 2001
    The SRFU established charitable status with a charitable object to: To administer, foster, encourage, extend and control Rugby Football Union (“the game”) for the moral and physical development of students at University and other institutions of higher education within England.
  • 2002
    Derek Morgan stepped down as SRFU Chair and Council Rep to take up the position of RFU President. He remained involved in the SRFU as Hon Treasurer and Trustee. Bob Reeves was appointed by the board of trustees as SRFU Chair. Vaughan Parry Williams was appointed at the second RFU Council Rep for the SRFU.
  • 2009
    Ian Elvin is appointed as the second SRFU Council Member of the RFU Council. Ian replaces Vaughan Parry William, unfortunately Vaughan passed away in June.
  • 2012
    Derek Morgan stepped down as Hon Treasurer and Trustee handing over to Stuart Wade. The AGM approved the appointment of Derek Morgan to the position of SRFU President as recommended by the Board of Trustees
  • 2014
    Derek Morgan stepped down as SRFU President. Bob Reeves was appointed as both SRFU & RFU President and in turn stepped down as SRFU Chair and Council Member. Iain Elvin was appointed as SRFU Chair. Jonathan Webb was appointed by the board of trustee as the second council rep for the SRFU.
  • 2015
    Jonathan Webb was appointed as World Rugby Council Member for the RFU replacing Bill Beaumont who became World Rugby Chair. Jonathan stepped down as RFU Council Rep for the SRFU and Trustee
  • 2016
    Ian Elvin steps down as SRFU Chair, RFU Council Rep and Trustee. Phil Attwell is appointed by the Trustee Board to succeed Ian.
  • 2017
    Phil de Glanville was appointed as the SRFU Council Rep on the RFU Council and Trustee
  • 2018
    Phil de Glanville was appointed to the RFU Board, as well as, remaining as Council Member for the SRFU.
  • 2019
    Mark Hyndman succeeds Phil Attwell as SRFU Chair and joins the SRFU as a Trustee. Phil Attwell and Phil de Glanville continue as RFU Council reps for the SRFU.
Membrship criteria

FAQs

  • 1973
    The Rugby Football Union set up a specific Higher Education panel to bring together University of London, UAU, British College and British Polytechnics
  • 1976
    The Students’ RFU (SRFU) was formed as a National Constitute Body of the RFU to represent Higher Education. The SRFU was formed in order to coordinate all universities and polytechnics, where there had previously been separate bodies. University of Oxford and University of Cambridge remained separate Constitute Bodies on the RFU.
  • 1976
    Appointment of the first SRFU’s Council Member onto the RFU Council - Derek Morgan
  • 1976
    The first SRFU Committee took place with Derek Morgan as Chair with Brian McLelland as Secretary.
  • 1995
    The number of RFU Council Rep for the SRFU increased to two. Bob Reeves joined Derek Morgan as the second rep on the RFU Council to represent Higher Education Rugby Union.
  • 2001
    The SRFU established charitable status with a charitable object to: To administer, foster, encourage, extend and control Rugby Football Union (“the game”) for the moral and physical development of students at University and other institutions of higher education within England.
  • 2002
    Derek Morgan stepped down as SRFU Chair and Council Rep to take up the position of RFU President. He remained involved in the SRFU as Hon Treasurer and Trustee. Bob Reeves was appointed by the board of trustees as SRFU Chair. Vaughan Parry Williams was appointed at the second RFU Council Rep for the SRFU.
  • 2009
    Ian Elvin is appointed as the second SRFU Council Member of the RFU Council. Ian replaces Vaughan Parry William, unfortunately Vaughan passed away in June.
  • 2012
    Derek Morgan stepped down as Hon Treasurer and Trustee handing over to Stuart Wade. The AGM approved the appointment of Derek Morgan to the position of SRFU President as recommended by the Board of Trustees
  • 2014
    Derek Morgan stepped down as SRFU President. Bob Reeves was appointed as both SRFU & RFU President and in turn stepped down as SRFU Chair and Council Member. Iain Elvin was appointed as SRFU Chair. Jonathan Webb was appointed by the board of trustee as the second council rep for the SRFU.
  • 2015
    Jonathan Webb was appointed as World Rugby Council Member for the RFU replacing Bill Beaumont who became World Rugby Chair. Jonathan stepped down as RFU Council Rep for the SRFU and Trustee
  • 2016
    Ian Elvin steps down as SRFU Chair, RFU Council Rep and Trustee. Phil Attwell is appointed by the Trustee Board to succeed Ian.
  • 2017
    Phil de Glanville was appointed as the SRFU Council Rep on the RFU Council and Trustee
  • 2018
    Phil de Glanville was appointed to the RFU Board, as well as, remaining as Council Member for the SRFU.
  • 2019
    Mark Hyndman succeeds Phil Attwell as SRFU Chair and joins the SRFU as a Trustee. Phil Attwell and Phil de Glanville continue as RFU Council reps for the SRFU.
FAQs
bottom of page