Oxfordshire Rugby Football Union

The Oxfordshire RFU was first formed during the 1931–32 season with L.C. Gower being the first ever president. There is little of note of the county's early history although a county cup competition was introduced for local clubs during the 1970s. In 2003 the men's senior team reached the final of the County Championship Shield (now Plate) losing 8–27 to Northumberland at Twickenham Stadium. In 2006 they made Twickenham for second time, this time in the final of the County Championship Plate (now Shield), losing 17–21 to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire. In 2017 the county made it third time lucky in the 2017 County Championship Shield final, edging Sussex by virtue of tries scored after the game finished 29–29. == Oxfordshire senior men's county side==

The Oxfordshire seniors men's team currently play in Division 2 of the County Championship. Honours: • County Championship Division 3 winners: 2017, 2022, • County Championship Division 2 winners: 2024 ==Affiliated clubs==

There are currently 17 clubs affiliated with the Oxfordshire RFU, with teams at both senior and junior level. • Abingdon RUFC • Banbury RUFC • Bicester RUFC • Chinnor RFC • Chipping Norton RUFC • Didcot RUFC • Faringdon RUFC • Gosford All Blacks RFC • Grove RFC • Harwell RFC • Henley Hawks RFC • Littlemore RFC • Oxford RFC • Oxford Harlequins RFC • Wallingford RFC • Wheatley RUFC • Witney RUFC == County club competitions ==

The Oxfordshire RFU currently helps run the following club competitions: Leagues Since 2000–01 the league system in this region is combined between three rugby football unions – Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Prior to this Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire had run a combined league, while Berkshire had been grouped with Dorset & Wilts. Currently there are several divisions for first teams in the region including: Level 2 • RFU Championship Level 3 • National League 1 Level 4 • National League 2 East • National League 2 West Level 5 • Regional 1 South Central • Regional 1 South West • Regional 1 Midlands Level 6 • Regional 2 Thames • Regional 2 South Central • Regional 2 South West • Regional 2 Severn Level 7 • Counties 1 Southern North • Counties 1 Southern South Level 8 • Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North • Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South Level 9 • Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North • Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South Level 10 • Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North • Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South Leagues breakdown Cups • Oxfordshire RFU County Cup – introduced in 1970, for local clubs at tiers 6–7 of the English rugby union system as well as 2nd teams for local clubs in higher divisions (tiers 3–4) • Oxfordshire RFU County Shield ==See also==