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Major Stanleys 2024



This year's matches will take place on Wednesday 4th December, kicking off at 11:30am for the Women*s Blues and 3:45pm for the Men*s Blues. The Loverose Way gate (down Jackdaw Lane) will open at 10:30am with both the Pavilion Bar and Marquee Bar opening at 11:00am. The pre-match luncheon is now sold out but general admission tickets are still available on our website and on the gate. With over 1,000 tickets already sold it is set to be a fantastic day, be sure to book your tickets now to be part of this stellar day in the Oxford Calendar.


Please note that admittance to the marquee this year is for marquee ticket holders only - remember to pick up your wristband on the gate.


Ticket prices are as follows:

  • Standing only (No marquee entry): £7.50

  • East Stand seat (No marquee entry): £15

  • East Stand seat (Marquee entry after 3:45pm): £40

  • The West Stand is reserved for attendees of the Corporate Luncheon; see below for more information


General entrance tickets are available here.



We would like to thank College and County and Horus Global for their continued partnership with OURFC and the Major Stanley's Day. Both companies are huge advocates of local Oxford sport and their support enables a fantastic game day experience for all players involved in the games.


Last Year's Matches:


The 2023 fixtures were brilliant examples of the Major Stanley's match and spirit. First up in the Women*s match, the crowd were treated to a high scoring affair, with both teams scoring freely and the Blues coming away with the win. You can read the full match report here and see the action shots here. In the Men's game, the unbeaten record of the OURFC Blues was extended to 20 years with a thrilling encounter ending 24-21 to the Blues. You can see all the match photos from that dramatic game here.


This Year's Matches:


We are delighted to welcome many recent Blues back for both the men*s and women*s matches this year. Alongside these recent Blues, the Major Stanley's teams will have a smattering of international and recent professionals who will no doubt be seeking two victories for the Major Stanley's XVs. Full team announcements will be in the match day programme available on the day.



Major Stanley:


Major RV Stanley was an Oxford local who took a keen interest in OURFC, becoming our representative on the RFU committee from 1907 to 1923. Whilst it is believed that Stanley first raised a side to play Oxford in 1894, the first official Stanley's Match did not feature on the fixture list until 1914 (though this was cancelled due to the war). The inaugural Stanley's match was eventually played in 1919, in which the future England greats and RFU Presidents, William Wavell Wakefield and Thomas Anthony Voyce, donned the white Stanley's shirt. Similar to the invitational team the Barbarians, the Stanley’s XV has included some of the biggest names in world rugby and it remains a great honour to be selected. 


Outside of rugby, little seems to be known about Major Stanley. He appears to have never attended the University or indeed played any rugby himself. However Stanley remains a household name amongst OURFC circles, largely due to his lifelong dedication to the club, where he served almost every role possible on the OURFC Committee. As a result he was fondly known as 'Uncle' by those who knew him. In 1957, Stanley died on the eve of the match and his team pulled off an impressive 19-9 victory in his honour.


Every year, it is tradition to invite the Cambridge side to watch the Stanley's match and the Oxford side to see the Steele-Bodger's game. This brings with it the dilemma of trying to hide our 'tricks' and star players from our Varsity opponents. In 1955, the Oxford Captain, Roy Allaway, declined Cambridge's invitation to watch the Steele-Bodger match, however, his opposite number, JW Clements, brought his team to watch the Stanley's match regardless. Before the match, Allaway and his squad decided not to conceal anything, but instead embrace the spirit of the Stanley's XV and play open and exciting rugby. That day, 44 points were scored, with one try coming from an interplay of passing which included every Oxford player and lasted 1 minute and 22 seconds. That year Oxford won the 74th Varsity Match by 9 points to 5.


In 2019, the Women*s Major Stanley’s Match was introduced to complete the day and this year's match will be the fifth encounter between the Dark Blues and the Women’s Major Stanley’s XV. Dr Clodagh Holmes, captain of this year's Major Stanley's side, has played in every single Major Stanley's match and we look forward to welcoming her back to Iffley Road for her second captaincy and first time in the white shirt after graduating this summer.



Guest Speakers for the Marquee lunch - Mike Tindall, MBE and Emily Scarratt, MBE:


Tickets are now closed for the pre-match luncheon. We are looking forward to welcoming two guest speakers: World Cup Winner, Mike Tindall, MBE and World Rugby Player of the Year and record England points scorer, Emily Scarratt, MBE.


We are delighted that our wine will be provided by The Rugby Wine Club,  our delicious food will once again be provided by Lamb Catering and our new 1,000 person capacity marquee will be provided by Signature Marquees. Finally, our evening entertainment will be provided by Piano Man, Ben Noke




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