LONG-FORGOTTEN ties between one of England's oldest rugby clubs and a city school are being remade, 106 years after they faced each other on the pitch.

Groundsmen from St Edward's School lent their expertise to a group of parents at Oxford Rugby Football Club after they raised £25,000 for a big refurbishment.

The "tired" looking clubhouse in New Hinksey Lane has now received an overhaul and St Edward's is set to rekindle its relationship with the club.

Groundsman Paul Hodges, who watched as workers arrived on Wednesday, July 27, said: "By coincidence I'm a volunteer for Oxford Rugby Club and work for St Edward's.

"The clubhouse was going into disrepair – completely knackered – and so they are bringing tractors in to revamp it."

A group of about 16 parents raised £12,500 between them to get started on repairs, which was then matched by the Rugby Football Union.

In honour of their historic first match, which saw St Edward's beat the then-Oxfordshire Nomads 27-8, groundsmen from St Edward's lent their expertise to the project.

The clubhouse now boasts a new wooden floor, a freshly-painted bar and new furniture, with the overgrown grass outside finally brought under control.

Former Under-8s coach Andrew Lloyd said: "This is an ongoing project but we have re-established the connection with St Edward's. They have been fabulously supportive and this is a partnership they were keen to have. It's one of the things that is really pushing the club in the right direction."

It is hoped the move will encourage more 'minis' and 'juniors' to join the club's existing 200, who Mr Lloyd said were "the lifeblood of the club".

He added: "It's not just about big burly rugby players on a Saturday afternoon, but mums and dads; we are trying to cater for everyone.

"With St Edward's it's possible it will be a two-way street; we might get some players from there but some of our players might go there, if they're lucky enough."

In 2009 the two teams held a 100th anniversary match. They have otherwise not had regular contact but could establish an annual event in the future.

St Edward's will also sponsor Oxford RFC for the next year and help provide kit, as well as funds for further redevelopment.

Bursar Stephen Withers Green said: "Oxford is full of institutions, many of which are associated with the university and some with the town - we rediscovered in our 150th year that we were contemporaries of the Oxford Times. Another institution with which we have a long connection is Oxford RFC.

"We are absolutely delighted to renew the connection and we look forward to working with the club over the coming year."