Our Journey

1946-1990

The history of this wonderful club dates back to 1946 as shown by the Gloucestershire RFU (GRFU) handbooks. It was established by doctors post-war to play rugby representing the local Bristol Hospitals.

The club was originally based in Brislington, at 'Brislington House' which was a training Nurse's home bought by the Royal United Hospital in Bath in 1951. The home was subsequently sold off and turned into a care home in the 1980s and now is private flats, known as 'Long Fox Manor'. The grounds were sold off to St. Brendan's School and the club moved to the Downs in the 1980s.

In the 1970s, the club began to accept Medical, Dentistry and Veterinary students into the fold and thus began the club as it is now known.

Throughout the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s the club was feared amongst the combination, as many of the amateur doctors also played for Bristol RFC. A great rivalry was formed between the United Bristol Hospitals RFC and the University of Bristol RFC, with many a great match being played. The club trained early morning on the Downs before the University Sports Complex was built at Coombe Dingle.

Hymn Book of the Late Tony John, 1st XV Captain from 1972-1973

1990-2007

In the late 1990s, according to the Black Bag (the medical student magazine) the club moved to the University Complex a Coombe Dingle. The National Association of Medical Schools (NAMS) cup started in 1994 and the UBH have been a member since its founding, with rivalries against Southampton, Cardiff, Leicester and Oxford dating as far back as this.

For about 10 years from 1995-2005 the club took part in the University's intramural league, being champions in almost every season. However in 2007, the club decided to join the local Bristol and Gloucester Merit leagues in order to further the amount of rugby played as well as become more integrated into the rugby playing community in the South West.

2007-2017

NAMS success continued, with the club winning the plate competition in the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. Further to this, the club recorded one of its rare club doubles against Southampton University Hospitals RFC and Cardiff Medicals RFC in 2013.

After many successful seasons in the Merit league (2010 being a particular achievement, remaining undefeated), in 2017 the club decided to join the RFU accredited leagues, becoming the newest members of the Gloucester 3 league, with the intention of gaining promotion and breaking into the Gloucester rugby scene. The club also continues to be a part of the South-West NAMS cup division, with the intention of winning the cup for the first time in Club History on the horizon.

NAMS Plate Winners 2011-2012

Winning UBH Team vs The Moose in 2012

2017-2022

In 2017-18, UBHRFC expanded to include Veterinary and Dentistry students and re-opened its doors to doctors for the first time in 25 years. With a regular 2nd XV now playing eight fixtures, membership tripled to 60. On the pitch, it was a landmark year: Gloucester 3 was won with only one loss, the club lifted the NAMS Plate for the first time since 2012, and reclaimed the Ottie Uden Memorial Cup from Nantes on its 30th anniversary - a match played in honour of Ottie, a much-loved friend of the club who tragically passed away in 2017.

The following season brought new challenges in the Gloucester 2 South league, a Bristol-based division with shorter travel but stiffer opposition. While results were mixed, the squad found its feet, and by the end of the next campaign had earned a well-deserved promotion to Gloucester 1 South, continuing to climb through the local ranks.

The 2020+1-2022 season was disrupted by Covid-19 but still proved one of the club’s most memorable. A strong league start and a Varsity win under the lights at Fortress Dingle built momentum heading into NAMS. A hard-fought draw with Peninsula and a thrilling semi-final win over Swansea set up a final against Leicester, where UBHRFC were crowned NAMS Plate champions once again in their first final appearance since 2018.

NAMS Plate Winners 2017-2018

NAMS Plate Winners 2020+1-2022

2022-2025

The 2022-23 season saw the club defend that Plate title in dominant fashion. After a gritty win in the rain away at Swansea and hard battles against Peninsula and Cardiff, the team powered past Swansea again in the semis before dismantling Norwich in the final. Back-to-back silverware and growing confidence meant all eyes were now on the following year's NAMS Cup.

The 2023-24 season marked a historic leap. With a large and talented intake, both 1st and 2nd XVs had standout campaigns. The 1st XV topped their NAMS group with wins over Southampton, Peninsula, and Swansea before narrowly losing to Cardiff in Varsity. Both squads progressed through tough knockout fixtures, including an extra-time thriller against Leeds and a dramatic late win over Cardiff, to reach their respective finals. The 2s narrowly lost to Cardiff, but the 1s triumphed over Birmingham to claim the NAMS Cup and cement UBHRFC as the best medical school rugby side in the country.

The 2024-25 season picked up where things left off. Both teams advanced confidently through their NAMS groups, despite the 1st XV suffering a narrow Varsity defeat to Cardiff. In the knockouts, the 2nd XV powered through Sheffield and edged past Nottingham in a semi-final nail-biter, while the 1st XV made it through Peninsula before suffering heartbreak against Cardiff in a semi-final decided by a last-minute penalty. But spirits remained high, and the whole club travelled to London to cheer on the 2s who brought home the club’s first ever 2nd XV NAMS Cup with a dominant win over Warwick. With many stalwarts moving on and a new generation ready to step up, the club looks ahead to another exciting year of rugby, friendship, and growth.