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RGC 1404

{{Short description|Welsh rugby union club, based in Colwyn Bay}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox rugby team

| teamname = RGC 1404

| image = File:RGC 1404 club logo 2022.jpeg

| fullname = Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404

| union = WRU

| nickname = Gogs

| location = Colwyn Bay, Wales

| countryflag = Wales

| founded = {{start date and age|2008}}

| ground = Eirias Stadium

| capacity = 6,080

| chairman =

| president =

| rugby director = Josh Leach

| coach =

| captain = Afon Bagshaw

| appearances =

| top scorer =

| most tries =

| league = Super Rygbi Cymru

| season = 2023–24

| position = 11th (Welsh Premier Division)

| url = https://northwalesrugby.wales/

| pattern_la1 = _whiteborder |pattern_b1 = _whitethinlines |pattern_ra1 = _whiteborder |pattern_sh1 = _black_thinstripe_color |pattern_so1 = _color_3_stripes_white

| leftarm1 = 000000 |body1 = 000000 |rightarm1 = 000000 |shorts1 = FFFFFF |socks1 = 000000

| pattern_la2 = _whiteborder |pattern_b2 = _whitethinlines |pattern_ra2 = _whiteborder |pattern_sh2 = _black_thinstripe_color |pattern_so2 = _color_3_stripes_white

| leftarm2 = 007766 |body2 = 007766 |rightarm2 = 007766 |shorts2 = FFFFFF |socks2 = 007766

| first = Gilfach Goch 19–42 RGC 1404

| bigwin = RGC 1404 127–0 Tredegar

| bigloss = RGC 1404 19–88 Wales

}}

RGC 1404 (Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404), formerly "Gogledd Cymru" ({{IPA|cy|ˈgɔglɛð ˈkəmrɨ|lang}}, "North Wales"), is a rugby union team founded in 2008 and based in Colwyn Bay, Conwy. They currently play in the Super Rygbi Cymru; after winning Division 1 East at the first attempt in 2012–13, they spent three seasons in the Welsh Championship before earning promotion to the Premier Division in 2015–16. They finished fourth in their first season in the top flight, but also won the WRU Challenge Cup for the first time. They play at Eirias Stadium, which has a capacity of just over 6,000.

History

Although an amateur North Wales rugby representative side had existed for over 50 years, Gogledd Cymru was established by the North Wales Rugby Council, in February 2007, in response to the WRU approved strategic plan for the development of rugby union in the region. This aimed to achieve a north Wales side playing in the Welsh Premier Division by 2010–11{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/wru-plan-for-northern-development-team-923786.html |location=London |work=The Independent |title=WRU plan for northern development team |date=9 September 2008 }}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7562575.stm |publisher=BBC News|title=WRU considers north Wales region |date=15 August 2008 }} In their first season, Gogledd Cymru reached the final of the Welsh Counties Cup.

=2008–2011=

File:Owain Glyndwr Wall Plaque - geograph.org.uk - 379349.jpg

In December 2008, it was announced that the Eirias Stadium in Colwyn Bay was to be the home ground for Gogledd Cymru.{{cite web|url=http://www.northwalesweeklynews.co.uk/conwy-sport/conwy-county-sport/2008/12/11/rugby-wru-unveil-parc-eirias-as-home-of-north-wales-rugby-55243-22454535/|title=Rugby: WRU unveil Parc Eirias as home of North Wales rugby|last=Tim Channon|date=11 December 2008|publisher=Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales|accessdate=7 January 2013}}

In January 2010, the team was renamed RGC 1404: RGC is an initialism for Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (North Wales Rugby), and 1404 reflects the year that Owain Glyndŵr became Prince of Wales.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8442247.stm|title=BBC Sport – Rugby Union – North Wales summon Owain Glyndwr's spirit in revamp|date=6 January 2010|accessdate=16 October 2016}}

=2012–2013=

For the 2012–13 season, the team were entered into WRU Division One East, playing a full season of games against teams from South East Wales. RGC finished the season at the top of the table, earning promotion to the Welsh Championship for 2013–14.{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northwalesrugbyunion/news/coach-celebrates-950669.html|title=Coach Celebrates – News – Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC)|accessdate=16 October 2016}}

=2013–2014=

RGC's first season in the Welsh Championship saw them spend much of the season in second place to a dominant Ebbw Vale only to drop to third in the last game by losing to Cardiff Met 36–24.{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northwalesrugbyunion/s/fixtures-results-76105.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101235232/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northwalesrugbyunion/s/fixtures-results-76105.html|archive-date=1 November 2012|title=RGC Senior - Fixtures & Results - Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC)}} RGC players Afon Bagshaw, Harri Evans and Ollie Cracknell were selected and played in the Wales side for the 2014 U20 Six Nations, with the home games hosted at RGC's Eirias Stadium.

Players

=Current squad=

Squad for 2016–17{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northwalesrugbyunion/s/the-team-76105.html |title=Official Website Team Info |publisher=RGC 1404 |accessdate=11 January 2013 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northwalesrugbyunion/news/team-announced-1053650.html |title=Official Website Team Announcement |publisher=RGC 1404 |accessdate=11 January 2013 }}

border="0" cellpadding="2"
valign="top"

|

{{rugby squad start}}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=FB |name=Afon Bagshaw }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=WG |name=Rhys Williams }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=WG |name=Carwyn Ap Myrddin }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=WG |name=Richard Hopkins }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=WG |name=Aron Evans }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=WG |name=Sam Jones }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=CE |name=Danny Cross }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=CE |name=Tom Hughes }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=RSA |pos=CE |name=Tiaan Loots }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=CE |name=Harri Evans }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=CE |name=Tom Seddon }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=FH |name=Armani Roberts }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=NZL |pos=FH |name=Jacob Botica }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=SH |name=Josh Leach }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=SH |name=Alex Schwarz }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=SH |name=Cameron Davies }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=SH |name=Efan Jones }}

{{rugby squad mid}}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=PR |name=Phil John }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=PR |name=Tom Hughes }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=PR |name=Joe Simpson }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=PR |name=Jed Kerkin }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=PR |name=Sam Wainwright }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=HK |name=Evan Yardley }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=HK |name=Rhys Williams }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=LK |name=Maredydd Francis |other=c }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=LK |name=Henri Williams }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=LK |name=Robin Williams }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=FL |name=Andrew Williams }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=N8 |name=Huw Worthington }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=FL |name=Mei Parry }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=FL |name=Will Bryan }}

{{rugby squad player |nat=WAL |pos=FL |name=Tim Grey }}

{{rugby squad end}}

Notable former players

:See :Category:RGC 1404 players

On 6 November 2021, hooker Bradley Roberts became the first former RGC 1404 player to win a senior cap for Wales, though previously both Olly Cracknell and Rhun Williams had been named in senior Wales squads,{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-cast-who-actually-hardest-14010150|title = The Wales reject who has carried more ball than anyone in PRO14|date = 8 December 2017}}[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40015635 Williams withdraws from Wales squad] and James Lang had been capped by Scotland.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/1005690691152797696|title=Scottish Rugby on Twitter}}

Several other players who played senior rugby for RGC 1404 have gone on to play top level European professional rugby in the Pro 14 or English Premiership, and a number of players have played for Wales at U20 level whilst with RGC.

Coaching staff

=Head coaches=

class="wikitable"
NameTenure
{{flagicon|WAL}} Jon Aby2007–2009{{cite web |url=http://gogleddcymru.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00Z&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00Z&max-results=1|title=Jon Aby|publisher=gogleddcymru|accessdate=11 January 2013}}
{{flagicon|WAL}} Clive Griffiths2009–2011{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8398425.stm |title=Clive Griffiths to coach north Wales' Gogledd Cymru |website=BBC Sport |date=7 December 2009 |accessdate=16 December 2024 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/6751470/Clive-Griffiths-appointed-head-coach-of-new-North-Wales-rugby-development-scheme.html|title=Clive Griffiths appointment |work=The Telegraph|accessdate=11 January 2013|location=London|first=Graham|last=Clutton|date=7 December 2009}}
{{flagicon|WAL}} Chris Horsman2012–2014{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-22551296 |title=North Wales rugby side RGC 1404 win Championship place|website=BBC Sport |accessdate=11 January 2013}}
{{flagicon|ENG}} Damian McGrath2012–2014
{{flagicon|WAL}} Phil Davies2015–2016{{cite news |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/rgcs-interim-head-coach-phil-9021103 |title=RGC's interim head coach Phil Davies excited by potential of fledgling region|work=Daily Post|accessdate=10 April 2015}}
{{flagicon|WAL}} Mark Jones2016–2019{{cite web|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/club/37017.php|title=Mark Jones appointed as RGC head coach|accessdate=16 October 2016}}{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Thomas |title=Former Welsh international Mark Jones steps down as coach of Premiership club RGC |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/former-welsh-international-mark-jones-16299399 |work=Wales Online |publisher=Media Wales |date=19 May 2019 |accessdate=5 August 2022 }}
{{flagicon|WAL}} Ceri Jones2021–2024{{cite news |first=Graeme |last=Gillespie |title=Jones appointed as new RGC head coach |url=https://community.wru.wales/2021/09/02/jones-appointed-as-new-rgc-head-coach/ |website=wru.co.uk |publisher=Welsh Rugby Union |date=2 September 2021 |accessdate=5 August 2022 }}{{cite news |first=Graeme |last=Gillespie |title=RGC head coach Jones to depart at end of season |url=https://community.wru.wales/2024/03/18/rgc-set-to-search-for-new-head-coach-as-ceri-jones-departs-to-explore-new-opportunities/ |publisher=Welsh Rugby Union |date=18 March 2024 |accessdate=6 July 2024 }}
{{flagicon|WAL}} Josh Leach2024–present{{cite news |title=RGC appoint Josh Leach as Director of Rugby |url=https://northwalesrugby.wales/news/rgc-appoint-josh-leach-as-director-of-rugby/ |publisher=Rygbi Gogledd Cymru |date=2 July 2024 |accessdate=6 July 2024 }}

Results and statistics

=WRU Leagues=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
width="60"|Season

!width="40"|Division

!width="40"|Played

!width="40"|Won

!width="40"|Drawn

!width="40"|Lost

!width="40"|PF

!width="40"|PA

!width="40"|PD

!width="40"|TF

!width="40"|TA

!width="40"|Try BP

!width="40"|Losing BP

!width="40"|Points

!width="40"|Position

2012–13Div 1 East

|22

1903801277+52411930152931st
2013–14Championship

|26

1709745419+32411349132833rd
2014–15Championship

|26

15011848434+41412555167834th
2015–16Championship

|26

1907928460+46813355155964th
rowspan="2"|2016–17Premiership

|15

1014429281+148523251484th
Premiership Tier 1

|7

403176162+14221731204th
rowspan="2"|2017–18Premiership (West)

|14

1112375294+81424151521st
Premiership (Phase 2)

|15

915513328+185683984584th
2018–19Premiership

|30

14115859650+209121831611858th
2019–20Premiership

|17

818409381+28545054437th
colspan="15"|The 2019–20 season was cancelled early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021–22Premiership

|11

605286244+42383461314th
2022–23Premiership

|22

11011576476+100745895587th
2023–24Premiership

|24

7017518651−1336689674111th

Honours

  • WRU Division One East: 2012–13{{cite web |url=http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/club/swalecleagues/tables.php?includeref=1999&season=2012-2013&stage=1E |title=WRU Division 1 East 2012–2013 |publisher=WRU |year=2013 |accessdate=1 January 2013 }}
  • WRU National Cup: 2016–17

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://rgc1404.mywru.co.uk/ RGC Website]
  • [http://www.northwalesrugby.co.uk/ North Wales Rugby website]
  • [http://www.rgcsc.co.uk RGC Supporters Club]

{{Welsh Premier Division}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rgc 1404}}

Category:Rugby union teams in Wales

Category:Sport in Conwy County Borough

Category:Colwyn Bay

Category:2008 establishments in Wales

Category:Rugby clubs established in 2008