Exeter College RFC - Dinner for Past and Present Members

Exeter College RFC held a reunion dinner open to all Exonians who had graced the rugby fields during their time at Oxford, as well as for current members, on the 3rd March, 2006. The evening was an unqualified success and much fun was had by all! It was particularly appreciated by those attending from the 1960s as the dinner marked the 40th anniversary of the 1965-66 team becoming League Champions - the whole of the original team turned up to commemorate their success, many coming from as far away as Australia and South Africa to be reunited with their old team mates. Groups from the '80s, '90s and '00s also came back for the event. A full list of those who attended is available to download here.

The evening took the following format:

6.00-6.30pm: Drinks with the Rector (in the Lodgings). The Rector welcomed all of the Old Members attending the event and emphasised the continuing importance of College sport for helping to forge these life-long friendships. She had the '60s boys worried when she mentioned that a current team had won Cuppers again - the punchline being that it was the women's team!

6.30-7.45pm: A chance to catch up. As the champagne ran out it was off to the bar for yet more pre-dinner drinks!

7.45pm: Formal photographs were taken on the steps in front of the Hall - not sure what the concert-goers in the Chapel thought of our booming rendition of 'Floreat Exon'!

8.15pm: Dinner in Hall. Dinner was followed by a speech from Mr Peter Walters who reminisced (again!) on the successes of the 1960s teams: 1963-4 Cuppers Final; 1964-5 Cuppers Final; 1965-6 League Champions! Then we all watched as the current Rugby Club exec handed over to their 2006-7 replacements with some rather punishing cocktails from some rather unorthodox drinking vessels (shoes, boots and hats)!

After Hall there was a scrum down on the front quad, just for old times sake - as far as I know there were no injuries and the revelries continued on into the night.

There is now an informal photo gallery of the event - if you have any images, do please email them to the Development Office. The formal photographs are available from studio-8, priced at £10 each (inc mount).

To order the photograph(s):

  • Go to www.studio-8.co.uk
  • Click on the grey 'Exeter College' button in the right hand column
  • Click on the pink text 'Exeter College Graduation Photos'
  • From here you should reach a page with a selection of photo galleries - click on 'Exeter Rugby Reunion 4th March'
  • Order forms and options are available on the previous page with the galleries list

The 'official companion' pamphlet to the event is also available to download here if you didn't manage to snaffle one on the night!

If you have any questions or suggestions for future events, please contact the Development Office.