Tommy was seriously injured as a result of a road traffic collision on Christmas morning. The medical staff at the John Radcliffe hospital worked tirelessly to help him and we are grateful for their care and service. Tommy passed away during the early hours of Wednesday 18th January.

There are no words to express the sadness that we feel at Pritch’s passing. He was a huge part of the club here during a seminal part in our history and we all feel his loss tremendously.

Our hearts go out to his family, and to his friends and former teammates.

Pritch had an enduring love for history, which culminated with the award of a Doctorate from the University of Leeds, and he was recognised as an expert on the life of Disraeli and 19th Century British History.

Whilst studying for his PHD Tommy joined and played for Moortown Rugby Club, where he made over 32 appearances during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

In 2021 Tommy returned to Oxford, and joined Oxford Quins where he had been a part of the U18 academy before going off to Uni. He made 18 appearances in a Quins shirt over the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, playing a hugely important role in helping the club to achieve promotion for both the 1st and 2nd XV, and in so doing it feels that he has woven a part of himself into the fabric of the shirt.

In 2023 Pitch returned to his childhood club, Oxford RFC, where he made 10 appearances this season, and linked up once again with his many friends and team mates there.

Pritch loved to scrummage, his love of the nause, combined with his great strength, meant that he was a force to be reckoned with, and it is no surprise that in 60 matches, he achieved a career win ratio of 85%.

Away from the rugby pitch Tommy loved cricket, golf, darts, and we will perhaps remember him most of all for being one of the warmest and most hospitable men any of us have had the good fortune to encounter. As Landlord of the Fox in Boars Hill Pritch embodied the role of a jovial pub landlord, so much so that it became his nickname here “the landlord”.

It is still hard to accept that he is gone. We still see him now, pint in hand, holding court, entertaining everyone with a warm welcome and an anecdote. He was one of the best.

Stu Wells
Director of Rugby