Helensburgh RFC

Helensburgh RFC

Full name	Helensburgh Rugby Football Club
Union	Scottish Rugby Union
Founded	1963
Location	Helensburgh, Scotland
Ground(s)	Ardencaple
President	Euan Ramsay
Coach(es)	G.Mathieson & B.MacDonald
Captain(s)	Warren Smith
League(s)	West Division Two
2019–20	West Division Two, 9th of 10
Team kit

Helensburgh RFC is a rugby union side based in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. They play their home games at Ardencaple. ^[1]

History

The club was founded in 1963 and celebrated its golden jubilee in 2013. ^[2] The event attracted 400 guests from around the world for a celebratory dinner. ^[3]

Trivia

The Helensburgh rugby team made the news in 2004 when their 1st XV all became fathers in the space of 5 years; all of them together having 15 sons; enough for a new 1st XV. ^[4]

The Princess Royal visited Helensburgh RFC in 2012 and opened a new stand at the ground. ^[5]

Helensburgh Sevens

The club run the Helensburgh Sevens tournament. ^{[6] [7]}

Other Sevens

The Royal Navy host their Northern Sevens at Ardencaple. Helensburgh are allowed to participate as ground owners; however they can not represent the Royal Navy in subsequent matches. ^[8] The Helensburgh side reached the final in 2017. ^[9]

Honours

1971–72 Helensburgh 7s Festival Winners - Russell Davidson Trophy

1972–73 Glasgow District Rugby Union (GDRU) Winners - First formal GDRU Leagues formed - Divisions 1 to 5.

1976–77 Promoted to National League Division 7 - Leagues had been reformed after formation of the SRU (National League Divisions 1 to 7) in season 1973–74 with Helensburgh assigned Division 1.

1977–78 Dunbartonshire Cup Winners

1979–80 Helensburgh 7s Tournament Winners

1987–88 Helensburgh Over 30s Tournament Winners

1987–88 GDRU Division 2 Winners - Promoted to Division 1

1987–88 Dumbartonshire Cup Winners

1994–95 GDRU Division 2 Winners - Promoted to Division 1.

1995–96 GDRU Division 1 Winners - Promoted to National League 7 via 4 way District winners play-offs (Helensburgh, Carnoustie, Orkney, Heriot Watt Uni)

1996–97 National League Division 7 Runners Up - Promoted to NL 6

1997–98 National League Division 7 Runners up - Promoted to NL 5

1998–99 National Div 5 Winners - Promoted to NL 4

1999–00 Oban 7s Winners

1999–00 Strathendrick 7s Winners

2000–01 Loch Lomond 7s Winners

2001–02 SRU National League Team of the Year presented at Murrayfield.

2001–02 National Div 4 Winners - Promoted to NL 3

2001–02 SRU National League Player of the Year - Kieran Verryt (Winger)

2004–05 Clydebank 10s Winners

2010–11 Clydebank 10s Winners

2011–12 SRU National Bowl Winners - Played at Murryfield

2011–12 West Regional Bowl Winners

2011–12 West Region League Division 2 Winners - SRU League reorganisation with Burgh assigned to West League 2

2023–24 West Region League Division 3 Runners Up - Promoted to Division 2

References

1. "Contact - Helensburgh Rugby Club". www.helensburghcrfc.co.uk/.
2. "Helensburgh Heritage Trust". helensburgh-heritage.co.uk.
3. "Club scene: Helensburgh celebrate their 50th with hope of many happy returns". HeraldScotland. 17 September 2013.
4. "Throwback Thursday: Helensburgh Rugby Club's dads won 2004 'generation game'". Helensburgh Advertiser. 6 June 2019.
5. "Helensburgh Rugby Club". www.lordlieutenantdunbartonshire.co.uk.
6. "Helensburgh Sevens". 10 June 2019.
7. "Rugby: Helensburgh sevens tournament to take place this weekend". 26 May 2022.
8. "Royal Navy Northern Region Sevens". 30 June 2019.
9. "News in brief: Lifeboat in action, National Theatre of Scotland, rugby sevens". 11 May 2017.