Iffley Road rugby football ground

Iffley Road rugby football ground is a playing-field in Oxford, England. It is the home of Oxford University Rugby Football Club and between 2013 and 2016 was the home of semi-professional Oxford Rugby League. It is close to the Roger Bannister running track.

Iffley Road
Iffley Road Rugby Football Ground
Former namesThe New Football Ground
LocationIffley Road, Oxford, England
Coordinates51.7446°N 1.2419°W / 51.7446; -1.2419
OwnerOxford University
Capacity5,500[1]
SurfaceGrass
Tenants

History

The land was originally bought in 1876 and was used as a cricket ground until Oxford University Cricket Club moved to the Parks in 1881.

Oxford Union RFC bought the field from Christ Church in the 1890s for £1,000. It was called the New Football Ground, and the cricket pavilion continued to be used by the new owners. Oxford University A.F.C. shared the facilities until they moved to a neighbouring field in 1921.

Rugby union

Iffley Road is the home ground of the Oxford University Rugby Football Club.[2] Many matches against international teams have been played at Iffley Road. Oxford University has played there against South Africa six times (1906, 1912, 1931, 1951, 1960 and 1969), New Zealand 5 times (1905, 1924, 1935, 1953 and 1963) and Australia 8 times (1908, 1927, 1947, 1957, 1966, 1975, 1981 and 2001). In 2013 and 2014, the University played Russia.

Other games include Canada vs Maori All Blacks [3] in 2012 and England under-16s vs Wales under-16s.[4]

Rugby league

Rugby league was first played at Iffley Road in 2008 when the University of Oxford played Oxford Brookes. Semi-professional rugby league arrived in 2013 when Oxford Rugby League entered Championship 1 based at Iffley Road,[5] commemorated by the draw for the 3rd round of the 2013 Challenge Cup being held there.[6] Oxford RL moved to Tilsley Park, Abingdon in the 2016 season,[7] but folded a year later.

References
  1. "Hats off to the Wallabies". BBC Sport. 5 November 2001.
  2. Lowe, Edward (19 January 2013). "New rugby league side arrives at Iffley". Cherwell. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  3. Mezzetti, Ed (22 November 2012). "RUGBY UNION: Maori All Blacks face Canada". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  4. Mezzetti, Ed (11 April 2013). "RUGBY UNION: Pearson's England call". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  5. "Rugby league: Oxford to be admitted to Championship One". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  6. Mezzetti, Ed (14 March 2013). "RUGBY LEAGUE: Oxford handed Halifax tie". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  7. "RUGBY LEAGUE: Oxford new ground confirmed". Oxford Rugby League. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
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