The Story of Old Georgians RFC
Old Georgians Rugby Football Club was founded with a simple belief: rugby should bring people together and create something that lasts long after the final whistle.
What began as an idea between friends has grown into a thriving amateur rugby club in Surrey, built on competitive rugby, strong friendships and a genuine sense of community. From the beginning, the club has been shaped by the people involved in it: players who were willing to organise fixtures, recruit teammates, sort the kit, run the club and build something worth being part of.
Today Old Georgians continues to grow, but the spirit that created the club remains the same: good rugby, good people and Saturdays that feel worth protecting.
The Founding of the Club | 2010
Old Georgians RFC was founded by a group of mates from St. Georges College. After finishing university and playing cricket and hockey to a decent level, during the summer of 2010 Alex Willis and Ciaran Pillay decided to create a rugby club. They both wanted to continue playing team sports but ideally together. Rugby was the unifying passion.
First port of call was to get a fellow OG onboard – Neil Sweeney. With his connections in Surrey Rugby and their combined vision and energy, they turned the idea of a club into a functioning team.
What quickly became clear was that the club offered something special: a place where players could compete seriously on the pitch while enjoying the camaraderie and social side that make amateur rugby so valuable.
Finding Our Feet in the Leagues | 2011-2013
Old Georgians began life in the Surrey Conference League, the very first rung of the Surrey Rugby ladder, playing eleven fixtures in that inaugural season.
It was a year that was as much about proving the club’s foundations as it was about results – demonstrating to ourselves, and to the league, that OGs could sustain a team, fulfil every fixture and build something that would last.
A memorable moment from that first campaign came when Ciaran scored the first ever try for the modern OGRFC at Reeds Weybridge, a small but significant milestone in the club’s story.
By the end of the season the effort had paid off, and with the campaign deemed a success, Old Georgians were welcomed into the Surrey Merit League for the following year.
The Promotion Years | 2013-2018
From those early seasons, Old Georgians began steadily working their way up through the Surrey rugby leagues. The club initially played in development competitions and arranged friendlies to establish credibility and prove it could operate consistently before entering the formal league structure in Surrey 4.
From there, momentum quickly built. Over the following seasons the club achieved five promotions in seven years, a remarkable rise that reflected both the growing strength of the squad and the commitment of those running the club.
During this period OGs began to establish its identity – competitive on the pitch, welcoming and community-driven off it – while continuing to attract new players, including recent school leavers who would go on to become the stalwarts of the club.
In 2019, Ben Johnston was appointed head coach, strengthening the connection between the school and the club while helping drive an ambition close to his heart: keeping people playing rugby and enjoying the game for as long as possible.
Throughout it all, the spirit of the club has remained the same – players buying into the idea of building something together and, as many have come to call it, loving the OGs dream.
The London Leagues Years | 2018-2022
The club’s rise continued as Old Georgians progressed from Surrey 1 into the London South West 3 league, marking another major step forward in the club’s journey. Along the way there were unforgettable moments, including an incredible away trip to Bognor Regis, where OGs secured promotion through a hard-fought playoff victory.
The team found itself travelling across the South West for big fixtures, with memorable away days in places as far away as Portsmouth, playing at a level many involved with the club had once thought might be out of reach.
Those seasons also brought exciting cup runs and a number of standout performances that remain fond memories for players and supporters alike.
A particularly special milestone came with the club’s 10-year anniversary celebration at Ealing, when for the first time two OGs teams played back-to-back matches. The second side featured several returning club stalwarts, and both teams delivered outstanding performances to secure convincing victories.
The day was made even more memorable with a strong turnout of OGs supporters in the stands and a fantastic post-match social hosted by Sir Mike Gooley, bringing the whole club together to celebrate how far it had come.
Post-COVID Years | 2022-2024
Like many grassroots clubs, Old Georgians faced difficulties in the aftermath of Covid. At one stage the future of the club looked uncertain and there were serious conversations about folding altogether.
Player numbers had dropped dramatically – around 80% of the squad from the final pre-Covid match had stepped away from rugby, and much of the momentum and spirit the club had built over the years seemed to have disappeared overnight.
For a time it felt as though the club might have reached the end of its journey. Instead, a last-minute change of heart led to a decision to rebuild. With the support of the RFU and Surrey Rugby, OGs were given a lifeline in the form of an invitation to drop down into Counties 4 and start again, allowing the club the chance to regroup and rebuild its playing base.
What followed was a period of determination and hard work, as the remaining players and a committed group of volunteers set about recruiting new teammates and rediscovering the spirit that had always defined the club. The process wasn’t easy, but the club kept battling and without that opportunity from Surrey Rugby, the unwavering support of Trailfinders, and the dedication of those who refused to let OGs disappear, the club would not be here today.
Rebuild to HQ | 2024-2026
After rebuilding from that difficult period, Old Georgians secured promotion after just one season in Counties 4, moving back up into Counties 3, where the club now finds itself in a positive place – competing well while continuing to strengthen its infrastructure and long-term sustainability.
One of the most remarkable chapters in the club’s history came in 2025, when OGs achieved the extraordinary feat of playing at Twickenham in the 2024/25 Papa John’s Community Cup Final. For many connected to the club, it was a moment that captured everything Old Georgians stands for: an incredible achievement on the pitch and a chance for past and present members to come together and celebrate the journey of the club.
While some of the after-effects of Covid still linger, a wave of new and passionate Old Georgians has brought renewed energy and optimism about the future. The club is actively rebuilding the player pathway with St George’s College, while also strengthening connections beyond the school to welcome players from across the wider community.
At the same time, OGs is focused on developing the next generation of leaders both on and off the pitch. The ambition is clear: to ensure Old Georgians RFC continues to grow not just as a rugby team, but as a true community, a place where lifelong friendships are formed, where players, supporters and families come together, and where generations can return years later to reconnect, reminisce and remain part of something bigger than the game itself.
The Club Today & Beyond
Today Old Georgians RFC remains a club shaped by the people who play for it and support it.
Founders, long-serving players, new recruits and volunteers all contribute to the culture that defines the club. Each season brings new players pulling on the shirt for the first time and new chapters in the club’s story.
What began as an idea between a group of OGs has grown into a rugby club known for its competitive spirit, welcoming culture and strong sense of community.
Like any rugby club, the history of Old Georgians is not defined by a single season or result. It is written week by week and with every new season, the story of Old Georgians RFC continues.