Weston-super-Mare RFC
Full name | Weston-super-Mare Rugby Football Club |
---|---|
Union | Rugby Football Union |
Founded | 1875 |
Ground(s) | Recreation Ground, Drove Road (Capacity: 2,000) |
Chairman | Tony Russell |
President | John Brentnall |
League(s) | Tribute South West 1 West |
2015–16 | 4th |
Official website | |
www |
Weston-super-Mare Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. The club runs five senior teams, including a colts and veterans side and the full range of junior teams with the exception of an under-14s side.[1] The first XV play Tribute South West 1 West, a level six league in the English rugby union system, the second XV (United) play in the Tribute Somerset Premier and the third XV (Athletic) play in Tribute Somerset 2 North.
History
The club was formed in 1875 and played their early games on what is now a supermarket car park before moving to their present ground at Drove Road in 1880. The Great Depression saw people from Wales arriving in the town , played rugby for Weston and became one of the top clubs in the country at that time however in recent times they are the second best team in the seaside town due to Hornets being in a higher league then them. Currently they are known as the Real Madrid of the south west, due to high spending on players even though they are yet to gain promotion back to national league rugby.[2]
Honours
1st Team:[3]
- Somerset Cup winners (9): 1978–79, 1980–81, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11. Runner-up on five occasions
- Southwest Division One runner-up: 1988–89
- National League 2 South runner-up: 1995–96
- South West Division 1 champions: 2001–02
- Somerset Division 3 South champions: 2008–09
- Somerset Division 1 runner-up: 2010–11
2nd Team:
- Tribute Somerset 2 South champions: 2008–09
3rd Team:
- Tribute Somerset 3 South champions: 2008–09
International players
Eight former players have gone on to win international caps.[4]
- 1882–84 EL Strong
- 1885–91 WH Thomas
- 1939 RE Price
- 1967–73 Peter Larter
- 1970 GF Redmond
- 1984–97 Nigel Redman
- 2010 Dan Tuohy
- 2011 Jack Cuthbert