In 1891/2 Derby played 7 games winning 6 losing 1. One of the victories was against Nottingham and the press report told of a somewhat vigorous encounter. It’s likely that Derby had been playing for a number of seasons before 1891 but this year of 1891 is the earliest we know of any written evidence.

Post World War II, Rugby Football re-commenced at Derby in February 1946 under the banner of Derby Tigers RFC.

In the season 1949/50 at a meeting at the Derbyshire Club, Irongate here in Derby between five members of Derby Tigers and five members of the pre-war Derby RFC. The name was changed to Derby RFC "for the betterment of Rugby Football, both in Derby and Derbyshire." The club at this time were playing on Markeaton Park. Both teams colours are reflected in the present club tie. 

In late 1950 the club decided on a move to Kedleston Road and leased the present field from Mr Clarke-Maxwell, an eminent Derby surgeon, for a modest sum per annum. The club purchased a sectional building from R.A.F. Wymeswold in Leicestershire at a cost of £75. The building was transported in sections, on lorries, to Kedleston Road. The club members, then numbering around 135, started digging the trenches for the foundations. Many of the bricks were second hand and the cement had to be chipped off them. In 1952 the club moved to the new ground and on September 11th Mr W.C. Ramsey, Treasurer and Vice-President of the Rugby Football Union performed the opening ceremony. In the early 60's Blackwell Colliery R.F.C. disbanded and donated their funds to Derbyshire Rugby Clubs. This funded an annex to the club area called the Blackwell Room, long since dismantled.

Finally in 1980, under the direction of Eddie Hilyer, the lounge was added to the complex at a cost of £20 000.

Players - Past and Present

Prominent players in the 1980’s have been Stuart Hamilton who went on to play for then mighty Coventry and Roger Lucas at Nottingham. Recently, ex-mini scrum-half Alan Dickens is now at Sale. Another ex-colt, prop forward Peter Hennessey is currently at Bedford. Sean Jennings played 533 1st XV games and scored a phenomenal 3,882 points in his time (it's highly unlikely that this record will ever be broken, it's an absolute massive amount of points). Campbell Wigley is third in the all-time points scoring table with well over 700 first team points. Colin Cornfield is now second in the appearance table with 434 appearances for the Club and he has scored 673 points with most of them scored from the wing.     

Teams     

We run six senior sides - 1st XV, 2nd XV, Development XV, 3rd XV, Veterans XV and a Colts XV. We also have a very active Minis & Juniors section within the Club with teams in every age group starting from Under 7's right through to Under 17's. 

Successes 

2002/03 - Derby were runners up in Midlands Two West, both the 1st XV and the 2nd XV lifted the Derbyshire Cup in their respective Competitions and the 1st XV were runners up in the NLD Three Counties Cup. 

Our Minis & Juniors had many successes throughout 2002/03 - U9's being both the Derby Festival winners and also the Sutton Coldfield Festival winners. Our U10's were Derby Festival winners. Our U9's, 10's & 12's all travelled to Twickenham having reached the Finals Day of the Gullivers National Tournament. Our U10's were also NLD Festival winners. Our U15's were NLD Cup Champions.  Our U17's topped the Derbyshire League. 

We've had players from both Seniors and Juniors being picked to play at County level during 2002/03 with our U15's having had 21 players selected to play at County level !!! 

1995/96 - In 1995/6 Derby won the Three Counties Cup and the Derbyshire Cup.

Social Aspects of the Club 

Not only do we play Rugby but there's also lots of fun events as well, just take a look at the Past Events page - we've had Gig nights, Sponsored Wake Surfing, James Bond Evenings, U13's & 14's on tour in Ireland, Seniors on tour in Antwerp. We've also had within the past season the official opening of Haslams by HRH The Duke of Gloucester.