Dunstablians
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| Full name | Dunstablians Rugby Union Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | RFU |
| Nickname(s) | The Dees |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Location | Houghton Regis, England |
| Ground(s) | Bidwell Park |
| Official website | |
| www |
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Dunstablians Rugby Union Football Club are a Bedfordshire based rugby union team who play their rugby in Midlands 3 East (South), a sixth tier league in the English rugby union system. Their ground is located just outside nearby Houghton Regis and is commonly known as Bidwell Park. The club runs four Senior teams and a full mini, junior and academy programme of teams. Numerous local rivalries are shared, most notably with Luton Rugby Club.
In 1927, members of Dunstable Grammar School formed a rugby section, based at Fensomes Field in Leagrave, Luton. Unfortunately, the number of regular players dwindled, forcing the closure of the club after only three seasons.
In 1948, another group of former pupils made a new start, securing a ground at French's Avenue in Dunstable and later moving to Skimpot Lane in Luton. In 1954 ground in Bullpond Lane, Dunstable was leased. The event was marked with a match against an East Midlands invitation XV. It was eventually decided that a new ground at Bidwell Hill in Houghton Regis should be purchased, with the bulk of the financing raised through the sale of the Bullpond Lane site for housing development.
In September 1985, the club opened the current clubhouse by hosting an International XV that included six past England Captains.
The club has seen several promotions in the past. Highlights include the near perfect 1999/00 season which delivered victory in all competitions entered. Along with league, county and East Midlands cup success, the team became National Intermediate Cup Champions at Twickenham.
A successful period followed; Dunstablians retained the county cup in 2000/01 and added the Colts cup to the collection. They lifted the county cup again in 2005. During 2006/07 Dunstablians also secured the Bedfordshire county cup, defeating Bedford Athletic in the process. They then returned to Twickenham for their second Intermediate Cup Final losing 36–46 to Cornish side Mounts Bay and finished third in Midlands League 1 (RFU Level 5), their highest ever league placing.
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