Richmond
Richmond are a men's rugby club founded in 1861 who play in the Champ Rugby (Championship) (Tier 2). Their home ground is The Athletic Ground, which holds 4,500.
Last updated May 2026
Key facts
| Founded | 1861 |
|---|---|
| League | Champ Rugby (Championship) |
| Tier | Tier 2 |
| Home ground | Richmond Athletic Ground (The Athletic Ground) |
| Capacity | 4,500 |
| Nearest station | Richmond |
| Local derby | Blackheath |
| Marquee fixture | Annual fixture versus Blackheath since 1864 |
| Matchday pub | Clubhouse bar at Richmond Athletic Ground |
| Official website | https://www.richmondfc.co.uk/ |
Club history
Richmond FC was formed in 1861 and is the second-oldest rugby club in England as well as one of the founder members of the RFU in 1871.
The Richmond v Blackheath fixture first played on 2 January 1864 is the oldest continuous rugby fixture in the world.
Richmond hosted the first ever floodlit rugby match in 1878 and took part in the inaugural match at Twickenham Stadium in 1909.
The club entered administration in 1999 during the early Premiership era and after a sabbatical season rebuilt from level nine of the pyramid winning 83 consecutive league games en route.
Recent seasons
Richmond won the 2024-25 National League 1 title to secure promotion to the 2025-26 Champ Rugby.
Richmond clinched the National League 1 title on 5 April 2025 with a win over Rams and a Rotherham defeat the following day.
Richmond finished the 2024-25 National League 1 season with 20 wins from 24 games and the title secured with two games to spare.
Richmond joined the expanded 14-team Champ Rugby alongside Worcester Warriors for the 2025-26 season.
Notable players
Club legends
- Jamie Heaslip
- Henry Paul
- Ben Gollings
- Brian Moore
Current squad
- Alex Schwarz
- Luke Spring
- Jimmy Litchfield
- Callum Grieve
- Chris Freeman
Turning Richmond footage into insight
Every match Richmond play holds a goldmine of detail. Framesports turns rugby footage into the analytics that actually matter and data that builds smarter game plans, collected by analysts and checked by humans. See how it works on the Framesports features page.
Frequently asked questions
When were Richmond founded?
Richmond were founded in 1861.
Where do Richmond play?
Richmond play at The Athletic Ground, which holds 4,500. The nearest station is Richmond.
What league do Richmond play in?
Richmond compete in the Champ Rugby (Championship), tier 2 of English rugby's league structure.
Who are Richmond's local rivals?
Richmond's local derby is against Blackheath.
Other Champ Rugby (Championship) clubs
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