About our Club
Wensleydale RUFC
Welcome to Wensleydale RUFC’s website. We are a Yorkshire rugby union club, made up of 3 senior teams, junior teams and minis.
- 1st XV – Training is on Tuesdays & Thursdays 7pm.
- 2nd XV – Training is on Tuesdays & Thursdays 7pm.
- Ladies XV – Training is on Tuesdays & Thursdays 6.30pm.
- Juniors – Training and matches are always 10 am Sunday.
We are an open and welcoming club and are keen to encourage rugby fellowship, involvement, support and sponsorship from our North Yorkshire sporting, social and corporate community.
Mission
To provide a safe, positive and enjoyable rugby experience for everyone, by following our values and quality coaching.
Vision
To be the best club in Yorkshire
Our History
The Inaugural Meeting of the Club was held on 18th February 1968. Two of the founder members were Peter Davy and Jim Hawkins, both teachers at Wensleydale School. As with most Clubs, the School’s changing facilities were used for home matches. The Club in 1971 were turning out two teams and the pitch was on Wensley Park.
Significant matters in the early years were the Washington brothers who added to the playing side, however possibly the most significant person to join the Club was Frank Cawkill in 1970 when Frank a local Magistrate a very keen cricketer joined the Club and became Chairman. The club then turned out three senior teams. Games were stilled played in Wensley and after match entertainment was at Siddalls Cafe in Leyburn. By 1974 the Club had secured a lease on the land on Wensley Road and the pitches were formed and changing rooms were built.
By 1979 the Clubhouse was built and the senior rugby was going well. Steve Fawcett left the Club and went to Harrogate and played for Yorkshire. Steve went on to play over 500 games for Harrogate 1st XV. Wensleydale won the Yorkshire Silver Trophy in 1981-82 seasons which was the crowing glory for the hard work. The North Yorkshire Trophy followed in 1985-86. Wensleydale joined the North East League system and promotions followed.
Still holding a Lease on the original field the Club purchased the lower field to develop with other sports and additional changing rooms and pavilion were added. The Club continued to develop both on and off the field.
The Club suffered a major loss in 1987 with the death of Frank Cawkill, however everyone came together to continue Frank’s cause. However early in 1993 an arson attack destroyed the Clubhouse area and the bar and function room were out of use for a year until the areas were rebuilt. In the following years the senior playing sides were reduced down to one team.
However the senior side is now growing and even a 3rd xv team looks likely in the near future. The club is now 40 years old and with the growth in the junior section together with the club’s development proposals for the ground and buildings the future looks good.
The facilities on offer will be floodlight playing areas, redeveloped function room, larger kitchen and bar area, new toilets, new and improved changing rooms. These are facilities worthy of a much larger club, being down to the work and vision of the members over the years and must be a true testament to our founders in 1968.
In 2010 the club re-entered the Yorkshire League structure under the initial guidance of head coach Jim Chapman. Progressively over the following years the club moved through the Divisions starting in Division 5 through to 2023 where Division 1 status has been achieved for the first time in the club’s history.
Key Priorities:
Welcome to Wensleydale RUFC’s website. We are a Yorkshire rugby union club, made up of 3 senior teams, junior teams and minis.
As the club continues to grow in stature, we once again see the senior coaching team structure grow. At the start of evey season, we will appoint a Team Manager for each of our 3 teams. This will be hugely valuable in ensuring that the players receive a consistent positive and professional match day experience every week.
For each season the coaching team will consist of 9 captains to represent the club across all squads. We, as coaches, feel confident that these 9 Club Captains will set and maintain the highest of standards across the club and ensure player buy-in. These club captains will also play an active role in the social calendar with each captain, and their POD, leading at least one event this season.
As coaches our priorities have remained as ambitious as ever;
- We aim to offer training sessions that are engaging and challenging for all.
- We aim to provide ongoing feedback following match-days and training to aid your development as a player.
- We aim to take each team to the top of their respective leagues.
Responsibilities:
Coaches
Captains
Managers
Medical
Players Charter:
Teamwork:
Teamwork is essential to our sport. We welcome all new team members and include all because working as a team enriches our lives. We play selflessly: working for the team, not for ourselves alone, both on and off the field. We take pride in our team, rely on one another and understand that each player has a part to play. We speak out if our team or sport is threatened by inappropriate words or actions.
As a player of the Wensleydale Wensleydale RUFC you must ensure that you welcome all new players to the club, free of cynicism. As a squad we work together to seek improvement in our own, and team, performances. We collectively work to drive the club forwards on and off the pitch and understand that our contribution is essential in generating success.
Respect:
Mutual respect forms the basis of our sport. We hold in high esteem our sport, its values and traditions and earn the respect of others in the way we behave. We respect our match officials and accept their decisions. We respect opposition players and supporters. We value our coaches and those who run our clubs and treat clubhouses with consideration.
As a player of the Wensleydale RUFC you must demonstrate respect for each other, the coaches and the committee. This respect shall be mutual. You must also demonstrate respect for the playing and selection systems that are in place by communicating your availability for training and matches as early as possible. Should you be unavailable then offer a reason why. If you wish not to share the reason publicly then communicate directly with your coach and captain.
Enjoyment:
Enjoyment is the reason we play and support rugby union. We encourage players to enjoy training and playing. We use our sport to adopt a healthy lifestyle and build life skills. We safeguard our young players and help them have fun. We enjoy being part of a team and part of the rugby family.
As a player of the Wensleydale RUFC we play for the love of the game. Your playing status within the club is equal to that of every other player, regardless of the team you are selected for. Remember nobody makes an error deliberately, so if you see someone make a mistake then help them put it right. Off the pitch we celebrate success, or dissect defeats, together. We win as a team and we lose as a team.
Discipline:
Strong discipline underpins our sport. We ensure that our sport is one of controlled physical endeavour and that we are honest and fair. We obey the laws of the game which ensure an inclusive and exciting global sport. We support our disciplinary system, which protects our sport and upholds its values. We observe the sport’s laws and regulations and report serious breaches.
As a player of the Wensleydale RUFC we must understand that our discipline on and off the pitch directly links to the overall performance of the club. On the pitch you must be disciplined enough to operate within the laws of the game and not allow ill-discipline to creep in. Off the pitch we must demonstrate restraint to ensure that we are able to operate to the best of our ability on a Saturday afternoon.
Sportsmanship:
Sportsmanship is the foundation upon which rugby union is built. We uphold the rugby tradition of camaraderie with teammates and opposition. We observe fair play both on and off the pitch and are generous in victory and dignified in defeat. We play to win but not at all costs and recognise both endeavour and achievement. We ensure that the wellbeing and development of individual players is central to all rugby activity.
As a player of the Wensleydale RUFC we accept that regardless of the result, we hold our heads up high and interact after a game. Away from home you are expected to show a face in the clubhouse and respect the hospitality of others. You must also understand that as a player you may be rewarded as MoM (or punished as DotD) and this is part and parcel of the camaraderie of sport.
Club Policy Documents
Everyone involved with Wensleydale RUFC shares the responsibility for safeguarding and creating safe environments in rugby union whether as a player, coach, spectator or club official.
Wensleydale RUFC is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for everyone to play and enjoy rugby union and to safeguarding the welfare of everyone involved in the game, particularly those deemed to be at risk. To this end, Wensleydale RUFC maintains a documented H&S policy including an up to date official RFU Risk Assessment & Action Plan.
The club has therefore published the following policy documents which have been written to reflect the club’s commitment in these vitally important areas.
Please click on the following buttons to view and download our policy documents: