Here at Combe Down RFC we want to provide playing opportunities for girls and boys of all abilities to enhance the sporting experience. This is a vibrant and ambitious club at the heart of our community that will foster the growth and development of rugby in Combe Down, whilst providing learning opportunities in a safe, equitable and child friendly environment.

*** Training is on Sundays at CDRFC from 10.00am unless there is an away fixture. An additional training session is also available for some age groups on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings. *

Our committee

Chairman, Craig Sheppard
Safeguarding Officer, Andy Newman
Rugby Safe Lead, Giles White
First Aid Lead: Dudley Bond
Girls Rugby Lead: Sam Prescott

Volunteers

Our rugby club is built upon our amazing volunteers who help with the administration, coaching and other support functions. Contact one of the coaches to get involved. Please do consider whether you may be able to help within the kitchen providing bacon rolls on training days, and food for teams on match days - if every parent helped in the kitchen for one day a season, then it can remain open every week!

Kit

We have a fantastic playing shirt which was introduced last year and has been a great success. They are available for loan which is secured with a £20 deposit that's refunded on return of the shirt in a reusable condition. Players can continue to use older style verisons of shirt if they wish. 

Other Combe Down RFC merchandise such as shorts, socks, hoodies, raintops can be purchased from the VX3 club shop. VX3 - Combe Down RFC Shop

Our Minis teams for 25/26 (new coaches always welcome!)

Minis teams and training groups are always fluid as numbers join, and kids move up season-by-season. Girls and boys play together, under RFU regulations, up to and including Under 11 (school year 6). You can find out more about Age Grade Rugby from the RFU here.

First Aid contacts:

The following Combe Down coaches, managers and parents have an England Rugby First Aid in Rugby Union qualification:

Dudley Bond, 07880 714 874
Sam Prescott, 07921 767 830
Katie Jeffreys, 07715 003 885
Mike Druitt
Craig Sheppard, 07818 517 296~
James Underwood, 07950 213 292

Safeguarding Lead - Andy Newman, 07884 475164

U5/U6 (school years: Reception, Year 1)

This is non-contact/tag rugby. There are no inter-club matches at this age-group, and so this group has rugby-related fun and games, and will often travel with the Minis when we play against other Clubs, to train with the other Club. 

Enquiries:

James Byron, 07855 332 604

Sarah-Louise Cameron, 07791 280 235

U7 (school year: Year 2)

This is non-contact/tag rugby - this group usually trains together, and plays matches separately, with fixtures every 2-3 weeks against other clubs. 

Enquiries:

Amy Blackman, 07722 142174

Luke Hunter, 07896 219 571

U8 (school year: Year 3)

This is non-contact/tag rugby - this group usually trains together, and plays matches separately, with fixtures every 2-3 weeks against other clubs. 

Enquiries:

Dudley Bond, 07880 714 874 (First aider)

Josh McNally, 07896 188720

Winnie Sullivan

U9 (school year: Year 4)

Contact rugby starts at school Year 4 - this group usually trains together, and plays matches separately, with fixtures every 2-3 weeks against other clubs. 

There is an additional training session for U9's on Thursday at 6pm.

Enquiries:

Phil Cooper, 07376 009 425 (First Aider)

Ashley Sinclair, 07875 549 184

Tom Snoxell, 07803 265 223

U10 (school years: Year 5)

U10s play contact rugby, and have a fixture every 2-3 weeks against other clubs.

There is an additional training session for U10's on Thursday at 6pm.

Enquiries:

Ian Brooks, 07872 521 869

Ian McNair, 07779 459 396

Kevin Keely, 07809 549 625

Toby Parsons, 07886 568 090

U11 (school year: Year 6)

This group play contact rugby. Subject to RFU permission, the intention is - if necessary - for matches to be played subject to Regulation 15, with fixtures every 2-3 weeks against other clubs as a merged U11/U12 team. 

There is an additional training session for U11s on Tuesday at 6pm.

Enquiries:

James Underwood, 07950 213 292 (First Aider)

Craig Hurd, 07725 694 672

Leon Asmar, 07736 466 142

Tom Biggs, 07904 705186

U12 (school year: Year 7)

This group play contact rugby and train together. Subject to RFU permission, the intention is - if necessary - for matches to be played subject to Regulation 15, with fixtures every 2-3 weeks against other clubs as a merged U11/U12 team.

There is an additional training session for U12s on Tuesday at 6pm.

Enquiries:

James Underwood, 07950 213 292 (First Aider)

Craig Hurd, 07725 694 672

Leon Asmar, 07736 466 142

Tom Biggs, 07904 705186

U13 (school year: Year 8)

This group play contact rugby - this group usually trains together, and plays matches separately, with fixtures every 2-3 weeks against other clubs. 

There is an additional training session for U13s on Tuesday at 7pm.

Craig Shepherd, 07818 517 296 (First aider)

Andy Newman, 07884 475 164 (First Aider)

Stuart Ash, 07897 222 075

U14 (school year: Year 9)

This group play contact rugby - this group usually trains together, and plays matches separately, with fixtures every 2-3 weeks against other clubs. 

There is an additional training session for U14s on Tuesday at 7pm.

Enquiries:

Stuart Ash, 07897 222 075

U15/16 (school years: 10-11)

We do not currently field boys teams at either of these age-groups, but there may be opportunities to join with a mixed-age, non-contact group on Tuesday evenings, 7-8pm. We will help any boys wanting to play matches to do so with nearby Clubs if they wish to.

Enquiries:

Giles White, 07775 686 919

Girls U12 upwards

Combe Down RFC Girls have been developing players of all abilities both in touch rugby teams and full contact teams. We are proud to coach not only the principles of rugby but the power of teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and loyalty. 

For season 25/26, we will run a mixed age (Under 12 upwards), non-contact girls training group on Wednesday evenings, 6.30-8pm - with coaches Giles White, Ollie Hayes and Winnie Sullivan. Dependent on numbers, this will develop into contact training within specific age-groups.

This year (25/26) Somerset RFU are planning a number of U12 Festivals, which will enable girls to form teams from different clubs and play competitive matches (12 October, Bridgwater & Albion RFC; 16 November, Bath RFC; 7 December, Yeovil RFC; 25 January, Minehead RFC; 15 February, Wells RFC; 1 March, Midsomer Norton RFC; 12 April, TBC)

Enquiries:

Giles White, 07775 686 919

Highlights from last season 

• The players Christmas Party featuring a visit from Santa Claus and a huge Christmas Raffle.

•  Combe Down Rugby's Big Day Out!! Over 200 players and parents travelled together to watch Bristol Bears versus Bath Rugby at the Principality Stadium. 

• Display matches at community events.

• Attendance at rugby tournaments at Old Reds and Thornbury.

• Day trip and camping overnight at Avon Valley Wildlife and Adventure Park for players and their families. 

• End of season party and awards ceremony. 

• Summer Touch Rugby from May through to July on Tuesday evenings 

Membership of Combe Down RFC and RFU affiliation/registration

Membership of Combe Down RFC for Minis and Juniors is only £90 (£60 for each additional sibling) for the season 25/26.

Your membership pays for:

• inclusion in our events and fun activities (restrictions apply)

• rugby balls and other training equipment

• social membership and access to Club facilities for parents/guardians of Mini/Junior players

• skills, safeguarding and First Aid training courses for Coaches

• DBS checks

• Support for players who join through the STAR Scheme

For season 25/26 each Mini/Junior players’ membership - if the player is registered and membership paid by 31st October - includes a free £50 voucher for Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park – our amazingly generous lead sponsor. Find out about events at Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park here.

To become a member of Combe Down RFC you must also affiliate to the RFU. You can do this by creating an account on the RFU Game Management System here.. Via this link you must first register the parent/guardian, and then add junior player in turn as dependents to the adult account. The final step - if you are ready to join the Club - is to complete the appropriate annual membership payment(s).

New members – try before you buy

New members are welcome to attend for 2-3 Sundays and try out before committing to paying annual membership. You don’t need any specific kit for training – but we recommend boots with studs or trainers (and from U9s upwards when contact rugby starts, a gumshield). 

Sunday morning coaching and matches – everyone is welcome

Rugby coaching and matches take place at Combe Down RFC on Sunday mornings from 10am – all boys and girls from 5 years-old upwards are welcome to come and try it out. (Under 9s upwards may also train on Tuesday or Thursday evenings).

Our clubhouse

If you haven’t visited Combe Down RFC recently, we have a fantastic clubhouse and covered terrace from which you can watch the rugby. The kitchen is usually open serving bacon rolls and a coffee machine is available. We serve food for the players on match days only.

Fixtures

You can see our 2025/26 fixture list and season calendar here (Awaiting link)

Other rugby clubs wanting to organise or confirm fixtures against Combe Down RFC, please contact: May Wall, 07791 396 376

Subject to final numbers, we aim to field teams at all levels, however, we are open to combining up to 2 x age-groups in order to ensure that everyone can play matches and to accommodate other clubs who may not have teams at all age-groups.