2017-18 Season
The Grizzlies continue to go from strength to strength. Our best season ever was in 2015/16 when we won the League, Cup, Playoff finals, Promotion and the prestigious OA’s Team of the Year award. It was always going to be a tough ask to replicate those achievements, but last season ended up being a good one. We eventually finished 4th in a much tougher league, got to the semi-finals of the cup and gained promotion for the 2nd year running. We will be playing in HMMT 5 this year.
Commonly mistaken as the Vets Team at OA’s, the Grizzlies are made up of rugby players of all ages, our oldest playing member is 60 and our youngest is 17. Over the years we have fielded many father and son combos and we look forward to continuing this tradition as well as “blooding” in some Colts and welcoming some of the older members of the club who fancy a run out.
We love playing rugby but love the social aspects of being part of a rugby club as much. You’ll always find us after the match in the bar having a drink and a sing song. Team spirit and camaraderie is a big part of the Grizzlies and we welcome anyone who wants to play and be part of that.
This coming season will be another tough challenge but we look forward to resuming some rivalries with the likes of Bishops Stortford 5Xvs, Berkhamsted 1Xvs, Hertford 4Xvs, Fullerians 3XVs and Tabard 2Xvs
Management
Kim Watson
Captain
There are no fixtures currently available for this team.
Grizzlies
OMR
Grizzlies
Bishop’s Stortford
Grizzlies
Chesham
Grizzlies
Chess Valley
Grizzlies
Watford
Hemel Hempstead
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
Harpenden
Tabard
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
UCS Old Boys
Grizzlies
Chesham
Chesham
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
St Albans
Grizzlies
Watford
Berkhamsted
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
Unknown
Grizzlies
Chesham
Pinner
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
Saracens
Tabard
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
Harpenden
UCS Old Boys
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
Hampstead
Saracens
Grizzlies
Hemel Hempstead
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
Weston
Grizzlies
Tabard
Biggleswade
Grizzlies
Letchworth
Grizzlies
17 May 2022
OA's host 1st Herts Youth Cups since Lockdown
OA’s are delighted to confirm that they were able to organize and host the Herts Youth Cup finals and it was great that after 2 d
05 Apr 2022
Leicester Lions 35 Old Albanian 14
Statistics, as we know, can be made to prove anything. But one of the more interesting numbers emerging from this match was the num
Car Parking at Woollams 3rd to 14th April
The main car park at Woollams is being used by Netflix as a base location whilst they film at Chidwickbury during the above period.
04 Apr 2022
Early Kick Off for Guernsey Match
The match at home to Guernsey on Saturday 9th April will kick off at 2:00pm to fit in with their travel arrangements.
The pr
28 Mar 2022
Old Albanian 31 Esher 40
Old Albanian Head Coach Dan George, a participant for much of the second half, pronounced himself disappointed that the result had
15 Mar 2022
Barnstaple 12 Old Albanian 36
A five hour drive does not well prepare one for possibly the worst first half of rugby in recent memory. But the vicious wind which
06 Mar 2022
Old Albanian 14 Westcliff 18
Westcliff will probably say they have underperformed many times this season and this may account for their lowly league status. Thi
28 Feb 2022
Dings Crusaders 46 Old Albanian 41
Lets get the grumpy stuff out of the way first.
Too often Albanians approach a situation in a game with a certain amount of
21 Feb 2022
Old Albanian 7 Clifton 52
When a tight head prop scores a hattrick these days he receives congratulation rather than the opprobrium he would have encountered
15 Feb 2022
Rochford 27 Old Albanian 31
There is, these days, normally a surprise in store when watching OAs. This week onlookers watched a demonstration of, ultimately, w
08 Feb 2022
Bury St Edmunds 44 Old Albanian 43
There should be another statistic in the headline: namely the number of needless mistakes perpetrated by both sides last Saturday.
05 Feb 2022
Three Former Old Albanians Start for England
Former OAs Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe and Max Malins are all in the starting lineup for England in the Calcutta Cup match at Murrayfi
31 Jan 2022
Old Albanian 21 Redruth 28
Were it not for stubborn Albanian defence throughout Redruth would have amassed a cricket score at Woollams.
Were it not for
25 Jan 2022
Worthing 31 Old Albanian 7
The writing was probably on the wall in the first 5 minutes when the visitors butchered a credible attacking chance in the hosts’
23 Jan 2022
Herts Youth Cup - Results and Fixtures
All results and fixtures are on the Hertfordshire Web Site – https://hertsrugby.co.uk/herts-comps/#JBC
16 Jan 2022
Old Albanian 26 Hinckley 28
It was said at the prematch lunch that Hinckley like to give their opponents a handy lead before taking command; the match transpir
11 Jan 2022
M&J Lunch is Sold Out
With 140 tickets sold, Saturday’s lunch before the Hinckley game has sold out.
Well done to all the M&J age groups
Canterbury 3 Old Albanian 12
Neither side took the obvious option of using the wind and slope to advantage in a match which should have been dominated by both e
06 Jan 2022
Herts Youth Cup Draw
Under 14 Cup
Chess Valley v Hemel
BS A v Harpenden A
Tring v OAs A
Hertford v Barnet A
Under 14
17 Dec 2021
Bury Match Postponed
Old Albanian’s game at Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 18th December has been postponed. It is yet another casualty of the covid
13 Dec 2021
Old Albanian 19 Barnes 35
As is often the case in OA’s roller-coaster season a good performance (as last week) is followed by something which leaves mu
06 Dec 2021
Guernsey 7 Old Albanian 38
Elliott McPhun scored two tries for the second week running as Old Albanian romped to a bonus point win in the Channel Islands. Unl
29 Nov 2021
Old Albanian 14 Leicester Lions 16
The wind blew straight from the Ural Mountains during this furiously contested match and both sides will wonder why they didn’
23 Nov 2021
Saints Double Header
Sunday at Woollams was certainly a day to remember. A day to both make and celebrate history, as OA Saints new and old came togethe
Esher 41 Old Albanian 21
Recent results, media reports and conversations with mutual opponents have indicated that the men from Surrey are, to say the least
14 Nov 2021
Old Albanian 45 Barnstaple 21
This was a match which put Albanians in a stronger position than they had enjoyed before. Yet it took a full hour of intense acti
01 Nov 2021
Westcliff 0 Old Albanian 89
Probably nobody likes to preside over a mismatch but the truth is you can only play what’s in front of you and most of what f
26 Oct 2021
Dings Match Report
Neither side seemed to have any particular game plan to take this pulsating match by the throat so
17 Oct 2021
Clifton 32 Old Albanian 33
Morgan Thompson’s one handed chargedown of Jack Lloyd’s third conversion attempt of the afternoon ultimately settled matters in
10 Oct 2021
Old Albanian 21 Rochford 22
A worthwhile journey from Essex for Rochford Hundred as fly half Sam Cappaert kicked a penalty in injury time from OAs’ thirty me
06 Oct 2021
Early Start for Memorial Lunch
Memorial Lunch (1215hrs for 1245hrs sit-down)
On Saturday It will be 565 days since the 23rd March 2020
04 Oct 2021
Redruth 22 Old Albanian 21
It’s a very long way to go only to return with a solitary bonus point but Albanians were just three minutes away from a famous vi
Parents in Sport Week
Old Albanian RFC supports the NSPCC Parents in Sport Week which runs from 4-10 October 2021.
For t
27 Sep 2021
Worthing Match Report
It does not do to be over confident or complacent in a sporting situation. It also does not help matters, when you are under the co
OA Network Event
The Old Albanian RFC is happy to recommence their network events with a talk given by Jim McNally entitled
‘
25 Sep 2021
25/09/2021 - Passing of George Brignall
The club is saddened to learn and share the news of George Brignall’s passing.
George passed away on September 6th aft
20 Sep 2021
Hinckley 26 Old Albanian 32
It would be kindest to the selection team to say there were several changes to the side this week as Albanians continued their succ
12 Sep 2021
Old Albanian 29 Canterbury 21
Naturally, after the sad events at Dry Leas last week, proceedings started with a minutes silence in memory of Henley’s David Hyd
06 Sep 2021
06/09/2021 - David Hyde
As many will now be aware following our 1st XV match on Saturday against Henley Hawks one of their players, David Hyde, collapsed.
Buddy an OA player season 2021/22
BUDDY AN OA PLAYER 2021/22
The new season is just around the corner and, with the help of our loyal support
Henly Hawks 19 Old Albanian 25
It should have been a joyous occasion for Old Albanian, the visitors to Dry Leas on a day perfect for the League re
03 Sep 2021
11/09/21 Canterbury & Bruce Millar Lunch
Bruce Millar will be the guest of honour at the lunch preceding our first home match of the season against Canterbury on Saturday 1
03/09/2021 - 2021/22 Squad Announcement
After 18 long months we’re delighted to be back to competitive matches, starting with a trip to Henley. Behind the scenes the
01 Sep 2021
Away to Henley
Our first league match of the season is on Saturday 4th September away to Henley. The kick off is 3pm.
Old Albanian 38pts Harpenden 14pts
A pleasant Autumn evening attended rugby’s return to Woollams after an absence of a season and a half and the two sides attended
13 Aug 2021
Harpenden match at Woollams on Friday August 27
Our final friendly before the season starts is at home to near neighbours Harpenden with the kick off at 7.30pm.
There is no
12 Aug 2021
Rosslyn Park Cancelled
The friendly match at Rosslyn Park on Saturday 14th August has been cancelled due to an outbreak of covid in the OAs squad. Five pl
09 Aug 2021
OAs away to Rosslyn Park 14/8/21
OAs first XV continue their preparations for the new season with a trip to National 1 side Rosslyn Park on Saturday.
The Kick
02 Aug 2021
Watch the Lions Series Decider
The deciding test in the series will be shown in the clubhouse on Saturday 7th August. The kick-off is at 5.00 pm but the bar and f
02/08/2021 - TJs Game Cancelled
Unfortunately the preseason game against Tonbridge Juddians, due to have been held on the 7th August has been cancelled.
16 Jul 2021
16/07/21 - Return of Rugby to Woollams
The first weekend of league action for the 2021/22 season will be 4th September with the 1st XV taking a trip to Henley, to see the
05 Jul 2021
2021/22 - Pre-Season Underway
With all the caution and apprehension of stepping on a zebra crossing on a busy road, knowing it should be safe for us to move full
01 Jul 2021
01/07/2021 - TJs Up First in Preseason
OAs 1st XV will kick off the preseason fixtures for the 21-22 season with a match away at Tonbridge Juddians on 7th August.
09 Mar 2021
10/03/2021 - Michael Kenningham Funeral
Following the sad passing of Michael Kenningham his family would like us to pass on arrangements for his funeral, which will take p
19 Oct 2020
2020/21 Season Preview
By mid-October in most seasons we’d be 6 weeks into league campaigns, seeing the benefit of pre-season and getting ready for
Gladiators 2019/20 Review
The OA Gladiators are proud and happy to have achieved a second consecutive League Championship having backed-up last year’s
01 Jul 2020
01/07/2020 - Calorie Challenge
In mid-June what started out as being a few members of the Men’s 1st XV having a bit of friendly competition snowballed into
14 May 2020
14/05/2020 - Ali Mills
It is with great sadness that the Club announces the passing of Ali Mills, a man whose stature belied a great heart and a giant per
16 Mar 2020
16/03/2020 - CORONAVIRUS STATMENT
With the situation relating to Coronavirus worsening by the day, we wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the situation at OAs.
03 Mar 2020
Old Albanian RFC – Net World Sports Donation
“We’d like to thank the guys at Net World Sports for their recent donation of 4 tackle Shields to Old
Albanian RF
30 Jan 2020
OA players recognised by England and NCA Rugby
It has been a very positive January for the men’s first XV, with three victories and only a narrow defeat against Taunton pre
04 Jan 2020
29/01/2020 - OA's Thompsons Takeover Evening
Wednesday 29th January 2020 is the date for our next Takeover evening at Thompsons’ Restaurant in St Albans.
In its 3r
20 Dec 2019
21/12/2019 - 1st XV vs Leicester Lions POSTPONED
Unfortunately due to the recent heavy rain the 1st XV match vs Leicester Lions on Saturday 21st December has been postponed until t
07 Oct 2019
Anne Azzopardi
Funeral Service St Saviours Church 25 Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4DF, 1pm 24-Oct-2019
A reception following the service
23 Jun 2019
Grizzlies 20th Anniversary Lunch
Dear Brethren of the Ancient Order, *Ursus Arctos Horribilis
You are cordially invited to attend the first (**and last) twen
08 Jun 2019
Trevor Hickey
The club sadly has to announce the passing of Trevor Hickey.
10 May 2019
10/05/2019 - AGM Update
Many thanks to those of you that attended this year's AGM last night. Here's a quick update from the meeting...
01 May 2019
Join OAs for 2019/20
Are you looking for a Rugby Club for 2019/20 and beyond? Join OAs today!
22 Apr 2019
22/04/2019 - Thank You
As we reach the end of a fantastic season that for some started way back in July of last year we wanted
10 Apr 2019
10/04/2019 - Nigel Seale
With great sadness, OARFC has to advise that Nigel Seale died at his home in Henley early this morning with Jenny & his Family
08 Apr 2019
13/04/2019 - James Pavitt Memorial Match
Many of you will be aware of the sad passing of James Pavitt earlier this year.
Pav played for the 1st XV back in our days i
07 Apr 2019
07/04/2019 - Juniors Complete Clean Sweep
A weekend of fantastic news got even better on Sunday with the news that the Under 16s secured a narrow win over Saracens to secure
25 Feb 2019
25/02/2019 - Junior Saints Update
The Junior Saints sides are continuing to go from strength to strength this year with a number of the girls stepping up to county l
15 Feb 2019
15/02/2019 - Summer Ball Tickets on sale
Tickets for the Summer Ball on sale now.
02 Feb 2019
02/02/2019 - Matches Postponed
Unfortunately, matches today have been postponed, but the Former Players Lunch and 6 Nations Games are still on at Woollams.
22 Jan 2019
27/03/2019 - Evening at Thompsons
Following the success of our first “Thompsons Takeover” event, we’re delighted to announce we will be holding ano
06 Jan 2019
06/01/2019 - Buddy an OA
After a sound first half of the season we enter 2019 in a well deserved 6th position in what we knew would be a hugely competitive
30 Nov 2018
30/11/2018 - Bobble Hats
Our 2018 Bobble Hats are in, order yours now!
28 Nov 2018
28/11/2018 - U12s & U13s Schools Festival
OAs u12 and u13 age groups were proud to host a rugby festival under lights on Wednesday 28th November for over 150 senior schools
13 Nov 2018
13/11/2018 - Peter Baines' Memorial
A memorial service for Peter Baines will be held later this month, please find the details here.
07 Nov 2018
30/10/2018 - James Pavitt Funeral
It’s with great sadness that the club announces the passing of former player James Pavitt....
05 Nov 2018
05/11/2018 - Saints Under 15 Update
So far this season building on the work from the last year or two we’ve got a squad of 19 players with around half from last
05/11/2018 - OAs represented at Saracens EPDG
OAs have had two representatives play as part of the Under 16 EPDG side run by Saracens in a match against the EPDG side from Worce
26 Oct 2018
03/11/2018 - OA Sport Fireworks
On the 3rd November, Woollams will host the annual OA Sport Fireworks!
23 Oct 2018
20/10/2018 - Under 13s at Saracens
OAs U13 had a a big night on Saturday evening at the Sarries 1st Heineken Cup home game of the season v Lyon . A big group of
18 Oct 2018
18/10/2018 IHS Markit Sponsorship Renewed
Old Albanian RFC are delighted to confirm the extension of our relationship with IHS Markit as the club's main sponsor.
15 Oct 2018
17/10/2018 - St Albans vs St Columba's
We’re excited to announce the hosting of a fixture between St Albans School and St Columba’s College at Old Albanian RF
09 Oct 2018
09/10/2018 - Kigali Sharks win National League
For 13 years, spearheaded by Darren Ead, Old Albanians have been doing what we can to support rugby in Rwanda, primarily by providi
02 Oct 2018
England vs Japan Ticket Competition
We’re running a competition for a pair of tickets to the England vs Japan Autumn International on Saturday 17th November, KO
24 Sep 2018
Under 13s Update
OAs u13s enter the new world of Junior rugby with a hat trick of wins….
OAs fledgling u13s started the new season with
07 Sep 2018
Memorial Service for Tom Howard
Tom’s family would like to extend an invite to any and all members of the Old Albanian family who knew Tom to join them to ce
05 Sep 2018
Old Albanians Launch the OAs Academy
Over the last 10-15 years, OAs has risen up to the National Leagues, grown the junior section of the club to nearly 1,000 players a
04 Sep 2018
Join us for lunch ahead of Bury St Edmunds
After a 59-5 victory over newly promoted Guernsey, alongside a good showing in a tough triple-header vs Hemel Hempstead, we now mo
01 Sep 2018
01/09/2018 - Club Communications
With the season now underway we wanted to provide the club with an update around communications.
During the off season we
28 Aug 2018
Join us for the first league match of the season
Saturday 1st September sees Old Albanian’s 1st XV kick off their bid for an immediate return to National League One with a ho
23 Aug 2018
2018 Old Albanian RFC AGM
On the evening of Wednesday 22nd August, the club held it’s Annual General Meeting.
Thank you to all those who were ab
07 Aug 2018
2018 Club AGM
The Club will hold the 2018 AGM on Wednesday 22nd August at 8pm at Woollams.
Any fully paid-up adult member of the Club may
03 Aug 2018
1st XV Pre-Season Update
We have been delighted with how the first few weeks of pre-season have gone, with excellent quality and application in what we are
25 Jun 2018
Gladiators 2018 Preview
It’s only worth summarising a season’s rugby, if, through the haze of knocks and the odd beer, you can remember what it
15 Jun 2018
1st XV Squad for 2018/19
As we get ready for the start of pre-season we can now confirm the make up of our 1st XV Squad for 2018/19.
13 Jun 2018
OAs website & social media for 2018/19 launched!
Building on the great work of John Cooper and a host of others in delivering a new website during the course of the 2017/18 season
05 Jun 2018
OA Tens Summer Tournament
This Summer OA RFC is hosting a club Ten-aside Rugby Tournament for current and ex players, we’re putting out an early call for p
19 May 2018
Under 12s provide Sarries Guard of Honour
OAs U12’s joined Saracens ahead of their big Aviva Premiership final clash v Wasps at Allianz Park on Saturday 19 May 2018. The
18 May 2018
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