Full name | Penryn Rugby Football Club | |
---|---|---|
Union | Cornwall RFU | |
Nickname(s) | The Borough | |
Founded | 1872 | |
Location | Penryn, Cornwall, England | |
Ground(s) | Memorial Ground, (Capacity: 4,000 (200 seats) [1] [2] ) | |
Chairman | Matthew Gray | |
President | Tim Nicholls | |
Captain(s) | Andrew Seviour | |
League(s) | Counties 1 Western West | |
2023–24 | 6th | |
| ||
Official website | ||
www |
Penyrn RFC is a Cornish rugby union club based in the town of Penryn, and is the oldest club side in the county having been formed in 1872. [3] The club currently has two senior men's teams (the seconds are known as the Saracens) as well as a ladies team, colts, and multiple mini/youth sides (male and female). Nicknamed "The Borough" the club's colours are black and red. [4] The men's first team play in Counties 1 Western West - a league at level 7 of the English rugby union system - having been promoted from Cornwall/Devon as champions at the end of the 2018–19 season. They enjoy a rivalry with neighbours, Falmouth RFC.
Formed in 1872, Penryn are the oldest club side in Cornwall. [3] The 1960s and 1970s were the glory days for the club as they dominated domestic rugby. This period of dominance began during the 1964–65 season when the club claimed a hat-trick of titles including the South West Merit Table, the Cornwall Knock-out Cup and the Cornwall Sevens Cup. [5] In 1968 they claimed the inaugural Cornwall Cup when they defeated Redruth 5–0 at the Recreation Ground in nearby Falmouth. [6] Between 1968 and 1975, Penryn appeared in six finals, winning the cup five times which included sharing the 1970 cup after a 7–7 draw with St Ives (who also enjoyed great success during the early years of the cup). [7] The glory days would not last forever and the 1975 final victory over Penzance & Newlyn would be the club's fifth and last Cornwall Cup title, as they began to be overtaken by other clubs in the region such as Redruth and Camborne. [8]
The advent of the Courage leagues in 1987–88 saw Penryn placed in Courage Cornwall/Devon, a regional league ranked at tier 8 of the new league system. Penryn started league rugby well, winning successive league titles in 1989 and 1990 and gaining promotion to South West 2. [9] [10] In 1992 the club gained a third promotion in five seasons when they went up to South West Division 1 – which at tier 5 is the highest league ranking the club have achieved in its history. [11] Early success in the league was counteracted with relegation in 1993 after just one season in South West Division 1. [12] The club would stabilize in South West 2 for the rest of the 1990s but as they moved into the millennium they were relegated to Western Counties West in 2001. [13] Two years later Penryn had one of their best seasons of recent memory as they won all 22 league games in Western Counties West on the way to claiming the title and promotion, scoring over 1,000 points in the process. [14] The club retained momentum the following season as they finished second in South West 2 West, qualifying for a promotion play-off which they won 23–19, away to South West 2 East runner-up Swanage and Wareham. [15] [16]
The 2005–06 season saw Penryn in South West Division 1 which at tier 5 was the highest league ranking they had achieved since 1993. Although Penryn were competitive in the division, taking place in a furious relegation battle, they ended up going down on points difference (for/against) in 10th place, despite being tied on league points with relegation rivals, Clevedon and Oxford Harlequins. [17] As is sometimes the case with a relegated team, Penryn struggled the following season and went down for the second year running, after a poor league campaign that saw only 2 wins. [18] The slump was halted in 2009 when Penryn won the Tribute Cornwall/Devon title, following up with a second promotion in 2011 when they won Tribute Western Counties West. [19] [20] Life in Tribute South West 1 West was short lived, however, and Penryn were relegated at the end of the 2011-12 season. [21] The 2015–16 season was a disappointing one for the club as they were relegated from Tribute Western Counties West, falling back down to Tribute Cornwall/Devon. They did have a chance of silverware at the end of the season but lost heavily to a very strong Camborne in the final of the Cornwall Cup held at Tregorrick Park in St Austell. [22] [23] The club finished their first season back in Cornwall/Devon League in fifth place at the end of the 2016–17 season after relegation from Western Counties West.
At the end of the 2018–19 season Penryn were promoted as champions of Cornwall/Devon back into Western Counties West.
Season | League | National Cup(s) | County Cup(s) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Competition/Level | Position | Points | Competition | Performance | Competition | Performance | ||||||||
1987–88 | Cornwall/Devon (8) | 3rd | 17 | |||||||||||
1988–89 | Cornwall/Devon (8) | 1st (promoted) | 18 | |||||||||||
1989–90 | Western Counties (7) | 1st (promoted) [24] | ||||||||||||
1990–91 | South West 2 (6) | |||||||||||||
1991–92 | South West 2 (6) | 3rd (promoted) [25] | ||||||||||||
1992–93 | South West 1 (5) | 13th (relegated) [26] | ||||||||||||
1993–94 | South West 2 West (6) | |||||||||||||
1994–95 | South West 2 West (6) | |||||||||||||
1995–96 | South West 2 West (6) | 4th | 14 | |||||||||||
1996–97 | South West 2 West (6) | 6th [27] | 22 | |||||||||||
1997–98 | South West 2 West (6) | 11th [28] | 8 | |||||||||||
1998–99 | South West 2 West (6) | 11th [29] | 15 | |||||||||||
1999–00 | South West 2 West (6) | 8th [30] | 16 | |||||||||||
2000–01 | South West 2 West (6) | 12th (relegated) [31] | 6 | NPI Intermediate Cup | 6th Round [32] | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round [33] | |||||||
2001–02 | Western Counties West (7) | 2nd (lost playoff) [34] | 38 | RFU Intermediate Cup | 4th Round [35] | Cornwall Cup | Runners up | |||||||
2002–03 | Western Counties West (7) | 1st (promoted) [36] | 44 | Powergen Cup | 1st Round | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round [37] [38] | |||||||
2003–04 | South West 2 West (6) | 2nd (promoted via playoff) [39] | 31 | Powergen Intermediate Cup | 3rd Round [40] [41] | Cornwall Cup | Semi-finals [42] | |||||||
2004–05 | South West 1 (5) | 7th | 20 | Powergen Cup | 1st Round | Cornwall Cup | Runners up | |||||||
2005–06 | South West 1 (5) | 10th (relegated) [43] | 14 | Powergen Trophy | 2nd Round [44] | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round [45] | |||||||
2006–07 | South West 2 West (6) | 11th (relegated) [46] | 1 | RFU Intermediate Cup | 1st Round [47] | Cornwall Cup | 1st Round [48] | |||||||
2007–08 | Western Counties West (7) | 12th (relegated) [49] | 0 | EDF Energy Senior Vase | 2nd Round [50] | Cornwall Cup | 1st Round [51] | |||||||
2008–09 | Cornwall/Devon (8) | 1st (promoted) [52] | 36 | EDF Energy Senior Vase | 1st Round [53] | |||||||||
2009–10 | Western Counties West (7) | 6th [54] | 29 | Cornwall Cup | 1st Round [55] | |||||||||
2010–11 | Western Counties West (7) | 1st (promoted) [56] | 103 [a 1] | Cornwall Cup | Semi-finals [57] | |||||||||
2011–12 | South West 1 West (6) | 12th (relegated) [58] | 45 | |||||||||||
2012–13 | Western Counties West (7) | 5th [59] | 79 | |||||||||||
2013–14 | Western Counties West (7) | 6th [60] | 65 | RFU Intermediate Cup | 4th Round [61] | |||||||||
2014–15 | Western Counties West (7) | 11th [62] | 40 | RFU Intermediate Cup | 4th Round [63] [64] | Cornwall Cup | Semi-finals [65] | |||||||
2015–16 | Western Counties West (7) | 13th (relegated) [66] | 38 | Cornwall Cup | Runners up | |||||||||
2016–17 | Cornwall Devon (8) | 5th [67] | 71 | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round [68] [69] | |||||||||
2017–18 | Cornwall Devon (8) | 3rd [70] | 108 | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round [71] [72] | |||||||||
2018–19 | Cornwall Devon (8) | 1st (promoted) [73] | 113 | RFU Senior Vase | Semi-finals (SW) [74] | Cornwall Cup | Quarter-finals [75] [76] | |||||||
2019–20 | Western Counties West (7) | 6th | 74.10 [a 2] | Cornwall Cup | ||||||||||
2020–21 | Western Counties West (7) | |||||||||||||
Green background stands for either league champions (with promotion) or cup winners. Blue background stands for promotion without winning league or losing cup finalists. Pink background stands for relegation. |
Devonport Services Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Plymouth, Devon. The club was originally called United Services Devonport and had their first recorded match back in 1904. Devonport Services play their homes games at the Rectory Field and their strip and club colours are dark blue and red. They are currently competing in National League 2 West, a tier 4 league of the English rugby union league system, following their promotion from Regional 1 South West at the end of the 2023–24 season.
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.
Helston RFC is a rugby union club in Cornwall which has been in existence since 1965. They currently play in Counties 2 Cornwall, following relegation from Cornwall League 1 in 2018–19. In season 1995–96 side they reached the final of the RFU Pilkington Shield, and are one of only three Cornish club sides to have played in a competitive final at Twickenham.
Falmouth Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the town of Falmouth, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom, playing in Counties 2 Cornwall at the eighth tier of the English league system, following relegation from Counties 1 Western West at the end of the 2023–24 season. The club play at the Recreation Ground. They enjoy a rivalry with close neighbours, Penryn.
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 can be one, two or three, to either Counties 2 Cornwall, Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset, depending on location.
Wadebridge Camels RFC is a rugby union club based in Wadebridge, Cornwall which has been in existence since 1955. They play at Molesworth Field.
Cornwall/Devon League was an English level eight, rugby union league for clubs principally based in Cornwall and Devon. Following the reorganisation of the English rugby union leagues in 2022, the league was replaced by two level eight leagues based in Cornwall and Devon. The Pirates Amateurs won the last competition in season 2021–22 and were promoted to Counties 1 Western West
Camelford Rugby Football Club are an English and Cornish rugby union club that are based in the town of Camelford in north-east Cornwall and were founded in 2008. They currently operate a men's team that play in Cornwall League 2 - a league that is ranked at tier 10 of the English rugby union system.
Veor Rugby Football Club is a Cornish and English rugby union football club based in Camborne, Cornwall. The club, founded in 1966, play in amber and black at the Holmans Sports Centre. They are one of two teams in the town, along with neighbours, Camborne RFC. They currently play in Counties 2 Cornwall – a league at level 8 of the English rugby union system – following their promotion as champions of Cornwall 1 at the end of the 2018–19 season.
Devon League 1 is an English level eight rugby union league for clubs based in Devon. The champions are promoted to Cornwall/Devon and the runner-up plays the second team from Cornwall League 1, with the winning team gaining promotion. Up until the end of the 2017–18 season, teams were relegated to Devon League 2 but since that league has been abolished there is currently no relegation.
Exmouth Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team based at the Imperial Recreation Ground in Exmouth, Devon. The club runs four senior teams and a ladies side as well as the full range of junior boys teams and girls teams at three age levels. The first XV plays in the Regional 1 South West, the fifth tier of the English rugby union league system.
Newton Abbot Rugby Club is an English rugby union team based the town of Kingsteignton, just outside of Newton Abbot in Devon. The club runs two senior teams and a ladies side as well as the full range of junior teams. The first XV play in Regional 2 South West, a level six league in the English rugby union system, following their relegation from South West Premier at the end of the 2018–19 season.
The CRFU Cornwall Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out cup club competition organised by the Cornwall Rugby Football Union first played for in 1896 but only regularly since 1969. It is open for teams based in Cornwall that are ranked below the national leagues but above the Cornish regional divisions. Tier 9 to 10 clubs have their own competition in the Cornish Clubs Cup.
Okehampton RFC is an English rugby union club, formed in 1884 and based in Okehampton, Devon. The club has three senior men's teams, a colts team and multiple junior teams. Nicknamed the 'Okes' the club's colours are maroon and gold and they play home games at the Showground. The first team currently play in the Regional 2 South West, a league at tier 6 of the English rugby union system, having being relegated from Regional 1 South West at the end of the 2023–24 season.
Torquay Athletic RFC is an English rugby union team formed in 1875 that is based in Torquay, Devon. The club operates 4 senior men's teams as well as youth and mini teams, with the men's first team currently playing in Tribute Cornwall/Devon following their relegation from Tribute Western Counties West at the end of the 2017–18 season. Nicknamed the "Tics", the first team's kit is black and white hoops and they play home games at the Recreation Ground. They have a local rivalry with Paignton RFC.
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.
Bude RFC is a Cornish rugby union club based in the town of Bude and was formed in 1966. The club colours are maroon and blue and they have two senior men's teams, a colts side and multiple junior/mini teams. The men's first team play in Counties 1 Western West.
St Austell RFC is a Cornish rugby union club based in the town of St Austell and was founded in 1963. The club run three senior men's teams as well as ladies side, a colts and multiple junior/mini sides. The club's kit is red and white hoops and the first team currently play in Regional 1 South West with home games at Tregorrick Park.
Truro RFC is a Cornish rugby union club based in the city of Truro and was formed in 1885. The club's colours are blue and gold and they operate two senior men's teams, a women's team, a colts side and various mini/junior teams. The men's first team currently play in Regional 2 South West – a league at level 6 in the English rugby union system.
St Ives Rugby Football Club is a Cornish rugby union club that are based in the town of St Ives and play home games at the Recreation Ground, just off Alexandra Road. The club operate a senior men's side as well as several min and junior teams. Following their withdrawal from the level 6 South West 1 West at the start of the 2019–20 season, the club continued to play friendlies for the remainder of the season. The club were readmitted to the league structure for the 2020–21 season, returning to competitive rugby in Cornwall League 2, at level 10, the lowest level St Ives RFC have played in. The season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. St Ives were then promoted as unbeaten champions at the first attempt in the 2021–22 season and currently play in Counties 1 Western West. The club play a traditional Boxing Day fixture against neighbours Hayle RFC.