| Full name | Colwyn Bay Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Seahorses | |
| Founded | 1923 | |
| Location | Colwyn Bay, Wales | |
| Ground(s) | Brookfield Drive | |
| President | Geoff Taylor | |
| League(s) | WRU Division 2 North | |
| 2018-19 | 10th [1] | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
Colwyn Bay Rugby Football Club (Welsh : Clwb Rygbi Bae Colwyn) is a rugby union team from the town of Colwyn Bay, North Wales. Colwyn Bay RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for RGC 1404. [2]
The first record of a match played in Colwyn Bay took place on the Rhos Preparatory School ground on New Year's Day, 1923, when the opponents were a Chester XV. There were frequent changes in playing locations and changing rooms and consequently the game did not prosper after the promising start of the first few seasons.
One success at that time was Wilf Wooler, a Club member who went on to represent Sale RFC, Cambridge University, Cardiff RFC and then Wales, starring in the 1935 Welsh victory over the All Blacks. In 1936 it was decided that the Club could not continue and players who were keen joined Rhyl and District RFC, who were also recipients of the goal posts. The princely bank balance of £15 was handed to the North Wales Rugby Union.
In 1953 rugby football became more firmly established in North Wales and a meeting was called at the Queens Hotel, Old Colwyn, at which 12 people attended. Led by a very active Secretary, Tom Bellis, aided by Rydal School (now Rydal Penrhos) masters and old players of the school, the foundations were laid for today's successful club. A settled "home" was a long time coming but the local Council were most helpful in 1965 in providing us with a pitch at Glan-y-Don, Old Colwyn, and cow sheds which were part of Glan-y-Don Home Farm. The cowsheds were converted into adequate changing rooms and a licensed bar was also applied for and set up.
Unfortunately, there was a further hitch in the late 1960s when the new Police H.Q. required part of the field and the Highway Authority acquired the other half of the pitch for the slip road from the A55 Expressway to Old Colwyn. The council came to our rescue once more and provided us with a long lease on our present ground at Brookfield Drive, which was donated, to the council by the late Victor Wilde for recreational purposes.
The ground consists of three flat adjoining pitches, training area, car park and Clubhouse. In September, 1975, the present Club House was officially opened by Mike Roberts, a Club member, Welsh International and a British Lion, and additional facilities of a lounge bar and gymnasium have been added since.
The early nineties saw Colwyn Bay Rugby win the north Wales Championship twice prior to promotion to the National Leagues. Colwyn Bay Rugby currently fields a 1st XV that play in WRU Division Two (North). We also run second XV, Women's and Youth XV's as well as a vibrant and growing Mini & Junior Section.
In 2008, Colwyn Bay were losing finalist against Ruthin in the North Wales Cup. [3]
Wilfred Wooller (18 caps) [4] Mike Roberts - Wales (8 caps) British Lions, London Welsh, Rachel C Taylor (45 caps) Wales Women
Colwyn Bay is a town, community and seaside resort in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales overlooking the Irish Sea. It lies within the historic county of Denbighshire. Eight neighbouring communities are incorporated within its postal district. Established as its own separate parish in 1844 with just a small grouping of homes and farms where the community of Old Colwyn stands today, Colwyn Bay has expanded to become the second-largest community and business centre in the north of Wales as well as the 14th largest in the whole of Wales with the urban statistical area, including Old Colwyn, Rhos-on-Sea, and Mochdre and Penrhyn Bay, having a population of 34,284 at the 2011 census.
Rydal Penrhos School is a private day school in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. It is the only Methodist school in the independent sector in Wales. It is located on multiple sites around the town with a site in the neighbouring village of Rhos-on-Sea where it keeps its watersports equipment for easy access to the beach.
Wilfred Wooller was a Welsh sportsman, cricket administrator, and journalist.
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Eirias Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as Stadiwm CSM, is a multi-purpose stadium that is part of the outdoor complex of the Eirias Events Centre in Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, Wales. It is home to the Principality Premiership team, RGC 1404 and RFL League 1 team North Wales Crusaders. The stadium had been used for sporting events, until its redevelopment in 2011, where it now can host international televised events.
