RUGBY: Old Laurentians' centenary celebrations continue with games on The Close

Old Laurentians, celebrating 100 years of Rugby Football this season, are arranging a special day at The Close next month.

Old Laurentian RFC was formed in the 1919/20 season by old boys of Lawrence Sheriff School and played their first ever game against St Oswalds, Bilton.

Now, 100 years on, a series of events have been organised to celebrate the club’s centenary year and one of the highlights will be taking place on Sunday, March 15.

On that day the club will enjoy the rare privilege of playing on the hallowed turf of The Close at Rugby School where the game began nearly 200 years ago, when, as legend has it, William Webb Ellis ‘with a fine disregard for the rules of the game of football as played in his time first took the ball in his arms and ran with it’.

All playing sections of the club will be in action, from 10.30am onwards.

A team from each of the Mini and Junior sections of the club will be playing, with opponents yet to be confirmed, the Under 15 Girls will be playing a Warwickshire President’s team and the OLs Phoenix Ladies touch team will be up against a Midlands Ladies Touch League selection.

All this will culminate with an OLs 1st XV game against a Warwickshire President’s XV at 3pm.

It will be refereed by Craig Maxwell-Keys, one of England’s top officials and who is normally to be seen in charge of Premiership games. Running the line will be David Anderson, OL’s regular touch judge, and Carl Adams, a former OLs player of some distinction who is rapidly rising through the refereeing ranks to a national level.

A week earlier, on Sunday, March 8, a Club XV will be taking on a Rugby & District XV at Fenley Field, which has been the club’s home for 72 of its 100 years history.

The OLs XV will give a chance to the club’s regular 2nd and 3rd team players for a run out.