Bournemouth, Sport | Posted on November 2nd, 2026 | return to news

Jeff Mostyn aims to help Bournemouth rugby club emulate AFCB

Bournemouth Rugby has ambitions to follow in the footsteps of the town’s football team.

He sits alongside owner Matt Barker and other businesspeople on the Bournemouth Rugby Club’s new Corporate Development Board. The club has ambitions to reach the second tier, the Championship, and even the Gallagher PREM where leading clubs such as Bath and Leicester play.

The new committee, which includes Nick Douch of Dorset’s Douch Family Funeral Directors, as secretary, has been created to ensure the club’s long-term financial sustainability.

With no major rugby club anywhere near Bournemouth, Bournemouth Rugby Club, whose first team are known as The Lions, are based in a beneficial geographical location for fan and player development.

Currently the Lions are in the fifth tier of the game in England, playing in Regional South 1, following last year’s promotion. And with some superb performances this season, already defeating several leading teams, confidence is high.

Jeff Mostyn said: “I was invited on a couple of occasions last season to watch Bournemouth rugby as a guest, and it was my first experience of rugby. I loved the atmosphere, camaraderie and passion both from the supporters and in hospitality.

“Following the last game of the season club president Simon Hawtry-Coombs invited me to meet the club owner Matt Barker. Matt asked if I would consider joining the club as an Honorary Chairman, to add my wisdom and expertise to the strategic board to strengthen the club’s desire to follow in the footsteps of AFC Bournemouth.

“It was difficult to turn down the offer of helping raise the profile of a club with huge ambitions. If I can assist the club to achieve its ambitions it would give a huge amount of satisfaction. Matt understands my first love will always be with the Cherries, but having achieved the near impossible once with AFC Bournemouth, who’s to say it can’t happen again? It would be wonderful if one day we could hear the Lions Roar all around Dorset and beyond.”

Owner Matt Barker said: “We have tried to bring in acumen and influence from around the town and the committee is a valuable advice panel.

“It’s about our financial future, our home at Chapel Gate and improving links with the university which owns the ground.

“We need a long-term strategy and financial sustainability. The history of The Lions has been one of promotion followed by relegation as there has never been the foundation to support consolidation after promotion, we aim to change that.

“It is great to have Jeff Mostyn on board, he is incredibly enthusiastic. At his first game with us, I had to stop him from having a word with the ref about the number of handballs.”