Winscombe R.F.C.

Winscombe RFC
Full name	Winscombe Rugby Football Club
Union	Somerset RFU
Founded	1962;62 years ago
Location	Winscombe, Somerset, England
Ground(s)	Winscombe Recreation Ground (Capacity: 1,200)
League(s)	Regional 2 Severn
2023–24	8th
1st kit	2nd kit
Official website
	www.winscomberfc.co.uk

Last updated October 04, 2024

Winscombe RFC is an English amateur rugby club based in the village of Winscombe, Somerset. They play at the Winscombe War Memorial Recreation Ground, also known as the Rec. The club has three senior teams, a veterans side and over 400 children registered to play at mini and junior level, as well as a girls setups with U18s and U15s being past reigning National Champions.

History

The club was founded in 1962 by Dai Davies, Taff Watham, Pete Smart, J.A. Jacobs and C.W. Reid, initially with only one team.^[1] Originally the club played on Home Field, Woodborough Farm, now known as the Lynch Field, and changed in a nearby lean-to building, behind what was then called the Woodborough Hotel (now the Woodborough Inn). Only one wall of that building now remains, from the showers, and forms the lower wall of the car park behind the pub. The first game took place on 10 November 1963 against a representative XV from Clifton Rugby Football Club, with Winscombe winning by 26–12.^[1] The club's first try-scorer, Steve Bridges, eventually went on to become a long serving president, only retiring in 2010. A 2nd XV was added in 1963, and the 3rd XV played its first match in 1967.^[1]

In 1968 the club moved to Winscombe War Memorial Ground ( 51°18′35″N2°49′52″W / 51.3098°N 2.8312°W / 51.3098; -2.8312 (Winscombe War Memorial Ground) ), using a field leased from Sidcot School, now known as the Longfield pitches. They share the clubhouse with Winscombe cricket, hockey, and football clubs.^[2] In 2000 the club bought land for two additional pitches, and in 2007 these were named the Blomfield Pitches, in memory of the club's late treasurer, George Blomfield, who had campaigned tirelessly to raise money for the purchase. Further development of the club's facilities continues, with the latest stage being the floodlighting of the main Longfield pitch.^[3]

Honours

1st team

Somerset 2 champions (2): 1996–97, 2002–03
Somerset 1 champions (2): 2003–04, 2006–07
Bristol Combination Cyril Parsons Bowl winners: 2012–13
Tribute Somerset Premier champions: 2016–17

Ladies

National Girls U18 Champions 2016–17
National Girls U15 Champions 2016–17

Team colours

When founded the team played in an all-black strip, and was known as the Somerset All-Blacks, at least by their own players.^[1]

Senior teams

The number of teams fielded by the club at senior level has fluctuated between two and four, although most recently there have been consistent 1st, 2nd and 3rd XVs. In season 2007-8 the club's 2nd XV entered the Somerset league system, followed by the 3rd XV in 2008-9.^[4] For the 2010-11 season, the club will field a 1st XV in Somerset Premier, and a 2nd XV in Somerset 2 North. Due to the advancing age profile of the 3rd XV they have been reconstituted as a Veterans XV and now only play friendly matches, on request.

Mini and junior teams

The Mini and Junior section of the club was formed in 1981 by club stalwart Dave Howells and is now one of the largest Mini and Junior rugby sections in the south-west of England, with over 400 players registered.^[5] Players can start from Under 6, where although they are not permitted to play matches by RFU regulations, they are taught the basics of the game. The club fields teams at every age group from Under 6 to Under 17, and Colts (Under 19).

Ladies and girls rugby

Recently formed under the guidance of Gareth Waterfield, Winscombe now boast a thriving female rugby section The Winscombe Warriors. With teams at U18, U15 and U13 level. Although only formed in 2013 (at U15 level) they now have a great number of players (The Warrior Family) and have had players selected for representative and county rugby. The team were 2013 - 14 season South West Champions in their inaugural season and have now progressed to National Champions at U15 and U18 levels.

Rugby festivals

Winscombe RFC hosts three annual rugby festivals.

The Wyvern Cup, a mini rugby competition for Under 8s;
The North Somerset Schools Tag Tournament, for school years 3/4 and 5/6;
The Rhino Mendip Sevens, a rugby sevens competition for age groups U13, U14, and U15.^[6]

Related Research Articles

Reading R.F.C. is an English rugby union club, which runs a total of 21 sides across men's, women's, girls' and junior rugby and is based in the village of Sonning, on the outskirts of Reading. The 1st XV play in Regional 2 South Central. They additionally play Walking Rugby which is a more accessible version of the game

Winscombe is a large village in the North Somerset unitary district of Somerset, South West England, close to the settlements of Axbridge and Cheddar, on the western edge of the Mendip Hills, 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Weston-super-Mare and 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Bristol. The Parish of Winscombe and Sandford, centred on the Parish Church of Church of St James the Great, includes the villages/hamlets of Barton, Hale, Oakridge, Nye, Sidcot and Woodborough.

Gosport and Fareham R.F.C. is a Rugby Union club located in Gosport in Hampshire, England, with home games and training taking place at Gosport Park on Dolphin Crescent. The men's first XV currently play in London 3 South West following their relegation from London 2 South West at the end of the 2018–19 season. The men's second XV will play in Hampshire Premier from the 2018–19 season.

Annan Rugby Football Club are a rugby union side based in Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The men's side play in West Division One, the women's side play in Scottish Womens National One.

Abergavenny Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club team based in Abergavenny. Today, Abergavenny RFC plays in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Two East league and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.

North Walsham R.F.C. is a rugby union club representing the market town of North Walsham in Norfolk. Between 1990 and 2008 the club competed in National Division Three South, making it Norfolk's only national League rugby team, but the team was relegated to London Division One for the 2008–09 season after a defeat against Lydney on 19 April 2008. They currently play in National League 2 East.

Somerset Premier is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of Somerset as well as some teams based in Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.

Skerries RFC is an Irish rugby team based in Skerries, Dublin in the province of Leinster. They play in Division 2B of the All-Ireland League.

Wicklow RFC is an Irish rugby team based in Wicklow, Leinster, playing in Division 1A of the Leinster League. Apart from the First XV, the club also fields a Second XV, Third XV, U19, U17, U15, U14, U13. Senior women 1st XV play in the AIL the top league in the country and 2nd team in Division 4a Leinster league. Girls U18, U16 and U14s sides and a mini-rugby section.

Chess Valley RFC is a rugby union club originally from Rickmansworth but now based in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire. It is a member of the Hertfordshire Football Union and the Rugby Football Union. It is a community club and fields adult Men's, Youth and Minis sides

Hackney Rugby Football Club is a rugby club based in Hackney, London, England. Hackney RFC has five senior teams, Junior teams from U12 to U18’s and minis from 6 to aged 11. The senior teams are currently playing in London 2 North West after gaining promotion from London 3 North West as champions in the 2016-17 season.

The Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club (CCIAC) is a sports club based in the northeast of Calgary, Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broughton Park RUFC</span> Rugby team

Broughton Park FC, is one of the oldest rugby union clubs in England and was established in 1882, just one year after the Lancashire County Rugby Football Union was founded and eleven years after the formation of the national Rugby Football Union. The first XV played in North 1 West, a sixth level league in the English league system following their promotion as champions of South Lancs/Cheshire 1 at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Southport Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Southport, Merseyside, now playing their home matches at Waterloo Road in Hillside. The club participates in North 2 West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rochdale RUFC</span> Rugby team

Rochdale Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union non-professional team and RFU accredited club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combe Down RFC</span> English rugby team

Combe Down Rugby Club is an English Rugby Union Club found in Combe Down, Bath. Founded in 1896 the club currently play home fixtures at Holly's Corner. The club currently has two teams; the 1st XV who play in Southern Counties South following their promotion as champions of Dorset & Wilts 1 North at the end of 2018-19 season, and the 2nd XV play who play in Dorset & Wilts 2 North.

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.

Somerset 2 North is an English rugby union league which sits at the tenth level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 2 South. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 2, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.

Somerset 2 South is an English rugby union league which sits at the tenth level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 2 North. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 2, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.

Josh Gray is an English rugby union player for Hartpury University R.F.C. in the RFU Championship. Gray can play across the back-row.

References

1 2 3 4 The Jubilee Years; The History of the First 25 Years of Winscombe Rugby Football Club, Ed. Averis, E., Clevedon Printing Company, 1987, p5.
↑ Tucker, Margaret (2004). The Book of Winscombe: A Changing Mendip Community. Halsgrove. ISBN 978-1-84114-344-6.
↑ "Morrison to switch on Winscombe's new lights". Rugby Football Union. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
↑ "The History of Winscombe 3rds". Winscombe RFC. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
↑ "Mini & Junior". Winscombe RFC. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
↑ "Rhino Mendip Sevens". Rhino Rugby. Retrieved 11 June 2010.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[averis-1] 1 2 3 4 The Jubilee Years; The History of the First 25 Years of Winscombe Rugby Football Club, Ed. Averis, E., Clevedon Printing Company, 1987, p5.

[2] Tucker, Margaret (2004). The Book of Winscombe: A Changing Mendip Community. Halsgrove. ISBN 978-1-84114-344-6.

[3] "Morrison to switch on Winscombe's new lights". Rugby Football Union. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.

[4] "The History of Winscombe 3rds". Winscombe RFC. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2011.

[5] "Mini & Junior". Winscombe RFC. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2011.

[6] "Rhino Mendip Sevens". Rhino Rugby. Retrieved 11 June 2010.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]