Combe Down RFC

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 26/27 (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
Andy Newman, 07884 475 164 
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:

Alex Dodgson, 07846 019082 (First Aider)

U7 (school year: Year 2)

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

Enquiries:

James Byron, 07855 332 604

Sarah-Louise Cameron, 07791 280 235

U8 (school year: Year 3)

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

Enquiries:

Amy Blackman, 07722 142174

Luke Hunter, 07896 219 571

Louis Messer

Sam Rosa

U9 (school year: Year 4)

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

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

Enquiries:

Dudley Bond, 07880 714 874 (First aider)

Josh McNally, 07896 188720

Kevin Keely, 07809 549 625 (First aider)

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:

Phil Cooper, 07376 009 425 (First Aider)

Tom Snoxell, 07803 265 223

Tom Biggs, 07904 705186

U11 (school year: Year 6)

U11s play contact rugby, and have a fixture every 2-3 weeks against other clubs.

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

Enquiries:

Ian Brooks, 07872 521 869

Ian McNair, 07779 459 396

Toby Parsons, 07886 568 090

James Stevens

Alex Griffiths

U12 (school year: Year 7)

This group play contact rugby, with fixtures every 2-3 weeks against other clubs. Subject to RFU permission, some matches will be played in accordance to Regulation 15, as a merged U12/U13 team.

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

Enquiries:

James Underwood, 07950 213 292 (First Aider)

Craig Hurd, 07725 694 672

Leon Asmar, 07736 466 142

U13 (school year: Year 8)

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

There is an additional training session for U13s on Thursday at 6pm.

Enquiries:

James Underwood, 07950 213 292 (First Aider)

Craig Hurd, 07725 694 672

Leon Asmar, 07736 466 142

Tom Biggs, 07904 705186

U14 & U15 (school year: Year 9 & 10)

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

There is an additional training session for U14 & U15 on Tuesday at 7pm. Subject to RFU permission, some matches will be played in accordance with Regulation 15, as a merged U14 & U15 team.

Enquiries:

Craig Shepherd, 07818 517 296 (First aider)

Andy Newman, 07884 475 164 (First Aider)

Stuart Ash, 07897 222 075

Ashley Sinclair, 07875 549 184

Mark Rust

U16 (school years: 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. 

We adhere to RFU guidance and all girls U5 - U11 (Reception Year to Year 6) play rugby in mixed sex teams. We have girls playing in all of our age groups, and are committed to promoting girls in Age Grade Rugby. From under 12 and upwards, the teams are split according to single sex age bands.

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 260 players and parents travelled together to watch Bath Rugby versus Saracens at The Rec. 

• Display matches at community events.

• Attendance at rugby tournaments including Old Reds and Bradford-on-Avon.

• 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 Thursday 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 26/27.

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

For season 26/27 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 2026/27 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

We are an ambitious club with strong player numbers in all age groups. Many of our age groups field more than one team for matches.