ONE of the oldest rugby clubs in Berkshire have changed their name ahead of the new season.

The National Two South side formerly known as Redingensians will now be called Rams RFC to identify with the nickname they adopted more than eight years ago.

The club was founded as Old Redingensians in 1924 by former pupils of Reading School. It dropped Old in 1969 after opening to all-comers the previous year.

Rams have had a stellar 20 years advancing four league levels to now compete in National Two, and chairman Andy Lynch (pictured), who has been with the club for more than 40 years, drove the change earlier this summer.

He said: “As an ex-pupil of Reading School, ex-1st XV captain and current chairman, this was a decision that I agonised long and hard over.

“Apart from the fact the Rams brand works very well, and it is much easier for youngsters to say Rams than Redingensians, the clincher for me was at the end of my father’s funeral in February.

“The celebrant could not pronounce the name of our club when inviting attendees back for the wake, and I think dad was telling me something that day and my mind was finally made up.”

The name Rams was originally adopted to reflect the club’s connection with Reading, the animal featuring in the town’s coat of arms and representative of its links with the wool trade.

Seb Reynolds’ side begin their campaign at home to Canterbury this Saturday (2.30pm), seeking to improve on last season’s best-ever third-place finish.