The Oldest Rugby Union Club in the World: Founding and Facts

Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Rugby Football Club (GKT) is recognised as the oldest rugby union club in the sport’s history. GKT was first formed as Guy’s Hospital Football Club in 1843. The club’s founding members were the medics of the Guy’s Hospital, located in the London borough of Southwark. GKT is 141 years old and going strong. 

Clubs were also set up at St Thomas’ Hospital in 1864 and King’s College in 1869. All three clubs competed in the United Hospital Cup and were founding members of the Rugby Football Union in 1871 when representatives from 22 different university colleges, schools and local clubs met in London to agree on the first common set of rules for the game for the game that originated at Rugby School in 1823.

In 1999, Guy’s Hospital RFC combined with St Thomas’s Hospital Rugby Football Club and King’s College Hospital Rugby Football Club to form GKT. The foundation date of Guy’s Hospital Rugby Club is officially accepted by both the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Guinness World Records, making Guy’s officially the oldest rugby club in the world. 

Records and Evidence Prove Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Rugby Football Club is the Oldest Rugby Union club in the World

Controversy surrounded the validity of the oldest rugby union clubs in the world. However, Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Rugby Football Club are accepted as the longest-running rugby club based on evidence in the form of a card outlining the club’s fixtures in their 40th season from 1883/84. Further accepted evidence is the testimony of J.N.C. Davies-Colley, who joined the club in 1865. Mr Davies-Colley stated the club was formed in 1843 and that he knew members who had played in the 1850s.

Despite this, several rugby union clubs still claim to be the oldest, but they all lack hard evidence. There are clubs with a longer documented history because they have contemporary documentary evidence. The oldest is Dublin University Football Club, which also plays rugby. The club was formed at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, in 1854. Blackheath Football Club, founded in 1858, claims to be the oldest rugby club. 

However, evidence proves Guy’s Hospital Football Club began playing in Blackheath before Blackheath FC was formed. Furthermore, Barnes Rugby Football Club (originally called the Barnes Club) refutes Guy’s, Trinity’s, and Blackheath’s claims. Barnes RFC maintains they were founded in 1839. However, there is no contemporary documentation or proof. Every rugby club claiming to be older has little evidence. If they do, it is circumstantial and not compelling.

Guy’s Hospital Rugby Football Club: International Players

Guy’s Hospital RFC has produced many international players. They have produced 35 players who went on to represent national rugby teams. The players represented six different nations, but mostly the England rugby team. Several players also played for Scotland and Wales. Two members went on to play Tests for Ireland. 

Furthermore, two players represented South Africa, and one member played for Denmark. Eleven players were also selected for British and Irish Lions (B&IL) tours to Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The club’s last Lions representatives were Whalley Stranack and Martin Tweed on a Rugby Football Union combined British tour to Argentina in 1910. 

Guy’s Hospital’s most recent international is C Deschamps. He made his debut for Denmark in 2018 and is still active. The club’s last home union Test cap was John Novak. Novak played three times for England in the 1970 Five Nations Championship. He scored three points.