| Full name | Matson Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Gloucestershire RFU | |
| Founded | 1957 | |
| Location | Matson, Gloucestershire, England | |
| League(s) | Regional 2 Severn | |
| 2022–23 | 1st (promoted to Regional 1 South West) | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
Matson Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Matson, Gloucestershire, England. The first XV currently plays in Regional 1 South West. As well as the first XV, the club operates a second XV and a third XV, Matson Colts and the full age range of junior sides.
The club was founded in September 1957 following the construction of a new council estate was built in the area, and most of the players came from this new area of Matson.
With the introduction of league rugby in 1987, Matson were placed in the Counties 1 Western North league, and they were the champions in the inaugural season. [1]
The club was promoted to Regional 1 South West in 2023, and therefore plays at tier 5 for the first time having moved between lower tiers throughout the history of organised league rugby in England.
The club has achieved many victories in county cup competitions, with its various teams winning county cups on 66 different occasions. The first XV has won the North Gloucestershire Combination Senior Cup 29 times. This included 12 consecutive wins between 1963 and 1974, with the exception of 1967–68, six consecutive victories between 1977 and 1982 and four more successive Senior Cup victories at the end of the 1980s. Also, the club's second XV has lifted the North Gloucestershire Combination Junior Cup 17 times and the third XV has won the North Gloucestershire Combination Glanville Cup on 20 occasions.
Old Patesians Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The club currently play in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North following their voluntary relegation from Regional 2 Severn. As well as the first XV, the club operate two other male teams, a junior programme, with teams starting from under-9, through to under-19 (Colts) level. The club runs a rugby league side under the name, Cheltenham Old Patesians, which play in the West of England Rugby League.
Paignton Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club, originally formed in 1873 and based in Paignton, Devon. They moved to Queens Park in 1902 and have played there ever since. Paignton Rugby Club is affiliated to the Devon RFU and currently compete in Counties 1 Western West – a league at level 7 of the English rugby union system – following their promotion from the Cornwall/Devon League at the end of the 2021–22 season. Many of the club's players have represented the club at county or national level. The club have won the Cornwall/Devon League on three occasions; more than any other club. They have a friendly rivalry with neighbours Torquay Athletic RFC.
Counties 1 Western West is an English rugby union league. Originally a single division called Western Counties, in 1996 the division split into two regional leagues called Western Counties North and Western Counties West. Western Counties West was renamed Counties 1 Western West prior to the 2022–23 season and is currently a seventh tier league for clubs based in the south-west of England; mainly Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South West. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually two or three to either Counties 2 Cornwall, Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset, depending on location.
Regional 2 South West, is an English, level six, rugby union league for clubs based in the south-west of England; i.e. Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. It is one of twelve leagues at this level in England. When league rugby started in 1986 it was known as South West 2, but in 1996 the division was split into two leagues — South West 1 West and South West 1 East. South West 1 West was renamed Regional 2 South West prior to the 2022–23 season. The champions are promoted to Regional 1 South West and the bottom two sides are relegated, depending on location, to either Counties 1 Western West, Counties 1 Western North or Counties 1 Southern South.
Counties 1 Western North is an English rugby union league. Originally a single division called Western Counties, in 1996 the division split into two regional leagues called Western Counties North and Western Counties West. Western Counties North was renamed Counties 1 Western North prior to the 2022–23 season and is currently a seventh tier league for clubs based in the south-west of England; mainly Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset. The champions are promoted to South West 1 West and the runner-up plays the second team in Western Counties West, with the winning team gaining promotion. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually two or three to Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier. Although 2nd XV rugby is part of the Somerset regional league system, only 1st XV teams are allowed in Tribute Western Counties North. Since 2021/22 2nd xv teams have been allowed in Counties 1 Tribute Western North but under current RFU Rules they are unable to be promoted beyond here.
The Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union is the union responsible for rugby union in the county of Gloucestershire, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union. Formed in 1878, it has won the county championship on numerous occasions.
Gloucester Premier is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of Gloucestershire and Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.
Gloucester 1 is an English rugby union league which sits at the ninth level of league rugby union in England for teams based primarily in the county of Gloucestershire but also on occasion teams from Bristol. Promoted clubs move into Gloucester Premier and relegated clubs drop into either Gloucester 2 North or Gloucester 2 South depending on location. Each year clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
Gloucester 2 North and Gloucester 2 South are English rugby union leagues which sits at the tenth level of league rugby union in England for teams primarily based in Gloucestershire as well as some teams from Bristol. Promoted clubs move into Gloucester 1 and since the discontinuation of Gloucester 3 at the end of the 2017–18 season there is currently no relegation. Up until 2017-18 Gloucester 2 was a single division but has since been split into two regional divisions.
Coney Hill Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Gloucester, Gloucestershire. The club run three senior teams and three junior teams — under-17s, under-16s and under-12s. The first currently play in Western Counties North - a level seven league in the English rugby union system - following their relegation from South West 1 West at the end of the 2018-19 season.
Old Centralians Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based at Saintbridge Sports Center in Gloucester. The club operates three senior sides with the first XV playing in Regional 2 Severn, a level six league in the English rugby union league system. The club was founded in 1937 as Old Centralians but changed its name in 1970/80's to Saintbridge Former Pupils before reverting to Old Centralians during the 1990s.
Bideford RFC is an English Rugby union team formed in 1926. The club is based in Bideford, Devon and operates four senior men's teams, as well as multiple youth, ladies and mini teams. The first team, the Chiefs play in Counties 1 Western West following their relegation from Tribute South West 1 West at the end of the 2017–18 season. The club has a longstanding rivalry with its neighbour, Barnstaple, and the traditional Boxing Day fixture between the two sides often attracts crowds in excess of a thousand supporters. Bideford plays home games at King George's Field.
The Stroud and District Combination Senior Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organized by the Stroud and District Combination - one of the five bodies that make up the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1974-75 season, with the inaugural winners being the Royal Agricultural College and is the most important rugby union competition in Stroud District, ahead of the Junior Cup and Bill Adams Cup. With only 9 member clubs the combination is one of the smallest in Gloucestershire.
The North Gloucestershire Combination Senior Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the North Gloucestershire Combination – one of the five bodies that make up the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1903–04 season, with the inaugural winners being Berkley and is the most important rugby union competition in north Gloucestershire, ahead of the Junior Cup and Glanville Cup.
The North Gloucestershire Combination Junior Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the North Gloucestershire Combination – one of the five bodies that make up the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1913–14 season, with the inaugural winners being St. Marks 'A' and is the second most important rugby union cup competition in north Gloucestershire, ahead of the Glanville Cup but behind the Senior Cup.
The North Gloucestershire Combination Glanville Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the North Gloucestershire Combination – one of the five bodies that make up the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1975–76 season, with the inaugural winners being Gordon League 'B', and is the third most important rugby union cup competition in north Gloucestershire, behind the Senior Cup and Junior Cup.
The North Gloucestershire Combination is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the city of Gloucester and surrounding area in the county of Gloucestershire, England. The combination is responsible for organising clubs and cup competitions in the city of Gloucester and surrounding area, but is ultimately part of the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union, which has overall control over rugby union in the county. Although there is no senior men's team, there are North Combination junior sides (under-16), as well as a vets team.
Berry Hill Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club located in Coleford, Gloucestershire. The first XV currently plays in Gloucester Premier, an eighth tier league in the English rugby union system. The club also operates two additional senior sides and a junior section for ages 6 to 17.
Somerset 1 is an English rugby union league which sits at the ninth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of Somerset as well as some teams based in Bristol. 1st, 2nd and even 3rd XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club.
Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club located in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. The club operates four senior teams, two under-18s sides, girls rugby teams and a minis and junior section. The 1st XV plays at the sixth level of the English rugby union system, participating in Regional 2 Severn, following relegation from Regional 1 South Central.
