Okehampton RFC is an English rugby union club, formed in 1884 and based in Okehampton, Devon. The club has three senior men's teams (including veterans), a women's team, a colts team and multiple junior teams (u-7 to u-16) catering for boys and girls. Nicknamed the 'Okes' the club's colours are maroon and amber and they play home games at the Showground. The first team currently play in the Regional 2 South West, a league at tier 6 of the English rugby union system, having been relegated from Regional 1 South West at the end of the 2023–24 season.
History Early history Okehampton had a rugby team dating back as far as 1884, and by 1902 had registered with the Devon Rugby Football Union. The club moved grounds several times during the early days, starting at Northams Meadows in 1902, switching to North Road in 1912 and then Cowlands Field at Mill Road in the 1920s. The outbreak of World War II caused the club to close as many players went into the Armed Forces. After the war was over, the club's former ground, Cowlands Field, was sold for housing development, and they had to share with the local football side, Okehampton Argyle, at Simmonds Park. The club had initially suffered a shortage of senior players after the war but the local grammar school provided a stream of new players, while soldiers at the nearby army camp, some of whom would go on to become international players, were available from time to time.
The 1950s saw the club have a period of mixed fortunes. The introduction of rugby union in the secondary modern school would later pave the way for a colts team, while the men's senior team would go unbeaten between 1951 and 1953. By 1955 many of the players had retired and the club had several seasons of poor results but by 1958 they were back on track. By 1961 the club had moved away from Simmons Park to purchase its own ground at Oaklands, where it has remained ever since. This ground had a small grandstand, a bar, changing room facilities, as well as several school pitches across the road from the main ground, where colts and junior games could take place. With a new ground, Okehampton went from strength to strength winning the Devon County Havill Plate competition in 1979, the Devon Merit Table "B" in 1982–83 and the Devon Merit Table "A" in 1983–84.
League rugby On the advent of league rugby union in 1987, Okehampton were placed in the Western Counties league (tier 7 of the English league system) where they remained until 1996–97 when they gained promotion as champions to South West 2 West. Their stay in tier 6 (the highest level the club have reached) was short lived and they were relegated after just one season in the division. The club also punched well above its weight in the Devon Senior Cup, appearing as losing finalists against Plymouth Albion in 1988 and Barnstaple in 1997. After a period of relative stability the club would drop down the leagues, first being relegation from Tribute Western Counties West in 2002–03 and then being relegated from Tribute Cornwall/Devon in 2004–05 in what would be the club's worst spell in its league history so far.
From the worst spell in its modern history, Okehampton would regroup and enter one of its best. They won a league and cup double in the 2005–06, winning promotion from Devon League 1 and claiming the Devon RFU Junior Cup for the first time, defeating league rivals Cullompton 8–3 in the final. The 2008–09 season saw the club promoted from Tribute/Cornwall Devon in second place and the following season saw them win the inaugural Devon Intermediate Cup defeating Tiverton on the final. In 2016 the club returned to tier 6 by winning the Tribute Western Counties West league title.
In 2019 Okehampton reached the highest level in the club's league history when it won promotion to South West Premier (level 5) after finishing as the 2018–19 Tribute South West 1 West champions. They also made it a league and cup double when they won the inaugural Devon RFU Shield by beating Devonport Services in a closely contested final at the Showground.
Ground Okehampton RFC have been based at the Showground since 1961. The ground is situated on Glendale Road next to Okehampton Primary School in a pleasant residential area in the north-west of town, and consists of a club-house and attached stand, a main pitch and a secondary pitch just across the road for 2nd XV and junior fixtures. The ground is quite compact meaning that the capacity is limited to about 1,000 standing, plus another 120 seats in the grandstand, bringing total capacity to approximately 1,120. Parking is extremely limited in and around the ground, although if you do not mind a 5-10 minute walk (admittedly uphill) then there is plenty of parking in town.
Season summary Season League National Cup(s) County Cup(s) Competition/Level Position Points Competition Performance Competition Performance 1987–88 Western Counties (7) Devon Senior Cup Runners up 1988–89 Western Counties (7) Pilkington Cup 1st Round 1989–90 Western Counties (7) 1990–91 Western Counties (7) 1991–92 Western Counties (7) 1992–93 Western Counties (7) 1993–94 Western Counties (7) 1994–95 Western Counties (7) Pilkington Cup 1st Round 1995–96 Western Counties (7) 7th 9 1996–97 Western Counties West (7) 1st (promoted) 33 Devon Senior Cup Runners up 1997–98 South West 2 West (6) 12th (relegated) 4 Tetley's Bitter Cup 1st Round 1998–99 Western Counties West (7) 7th 16 1999–00 Western Counties West (7) 7th 17 2000–01 Western Counties West (7) 6th 17 2001–02 Western Counties West (7) 10th 13 2002–03 Western Counties West (7) 11th (relegated) 13 2003–04 Cornwall/Devon (8) 4th 25 Powergen Junior Vase 2nd Round 2004–05 Cornwall/Devon (8) 10th (relegated) 15 2005–06 Devon 1 1st (promoted) 40 Powergen Junior Vase Devon Junior Cup Winners 2006–07 Cornwall/Devon (8) 8th 20 EDF Energy Senior Vase 2nd Round 2007–08 Cornwall/Devon (8) 5th 24 EDF Energy Senior Vase 2008–09 Cornwall/Devon (8) 2nd (promoted) 34 2009–10 Western Counties West (7) 5th 34 Devon Intermediate Cup Winners 2010–11 Western Counties West (7) 5th 78 Devon Intermediate Cup Semi-finals 2011–12 Western Counties West (7) 5th 86 Devon Intermediate Cup Runners up 2012–13 Western Counties West (7) 6th 70 Devon Intermediate Cup 1st Round 2013–14 Western Counties West (7) 9th 54 Devon Intermediate Cup 1st Round 2014–15 Western Counties West (7) 7th 66 RFU Intermediate Cup 5th Round Devon Intermediate Cup Semi-finals 2015–16 Western Counties West (7) 1st (promoted) 108 RFU Intermediate Cup 3rd Round Devon Intermediate Cup Semi-finals 2016–17 South West 1 West (6) 8th 64 Devon Senior Cup Runners up 2017–18 South West 1 West (6) 5th 68 Devon Senior Cup 1st Round 2018–19 South West 1 West (6) 1st (promoted) 109 Devon Senior Shield Winners 2019–20 South West Premier (5) 4th 67.20 2020–21 South West Premier (5) Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. 2021–22 South West Premier (5) 14th 31 Green background stands for either league champions (with promotion) or cup winners. Blue background stands for promotion without winning league or losing cup finalists. Pink background stands for relegation.
Honours 1st team Havill Plate winners: 1979 Devon Merit Table "B" champions: 1982–83 Devon Merit Table "A" champions: 1983–84 Tribute Western Counties West champions (2): 1996–97, 2015–16 Devon Junior Cup winners: 2006 Devon League 1 champions: 2005–06 Devon Intermediate Cup winners: 2010 Tribute South West 1 West champions: 2018–19
Colts Devon Colts Cup: 1982
Notable former players Julian White – tighthead prop who played a couple of seasons at the club during his early career. Won 51 caps for England national rugby team as well as four caps for the British and Irish Lions.
Notes
See also Devon RFU
References
External links Okehampton RFC Devon RFU