Royal Wootton Bassett RFC
{{Short description|English rugby union club, based in Wiltshire}}
{{primary sources|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby team
| teamname = Royal Wootton Bassett
| image =
| imagesize =
| union = Dorset and Wilts Rugby Football Union
| fullname = Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Football Club
| nickname =
| shortname =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1971}}
| region =
| location = Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, England
| ground = Ballard's Ash Sports Ground{{cite web |title=Royal Wottoon Bassett RFC |url=https://www.rwbrfc.club/contacts |website=Royal Wottoon Bassett RFC |access-date=31 May 2023}}
| capacity = 5,000
| chairman =
| ceo =
| president =
| captain =
| top scorer =
| caps =
| coach =
| url = https://www.rwbrfc.club
| league = Regional 1 South West
| season = 2024–25
| position = 8th
}}
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.{{YouTube|h=RoyalWoottonBassettRugbyClub|Royal Wootton Bassett RFC}} The 1st XV play at the fifth level of the English rugby union system, participating in Regional 1 South West, following promotion from Regional 2 Severn in season 2023–24.
History
Royal Wootton Bassett was formed in 1971 and when league rugby was introduced in 1987, they were placed in Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1. They stayed in that division until they gained their first promotion in 1993.{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=Stephen|last2=Griffiths|first2=John|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94|date=1993|publisher=Headline Book Publishing Ltd|location=London|isbn=0-7472-7891-1|pages=157–160|edition=22nd}}
In 2016, the club was promoted to South West 1 East.{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/south-west-division/2015-2016/group/19717|title=2015–16 South-West Division|website=England Rugby|publisher=RFU|access-date=1 May 2017}} They played in that division until the COVID-19 cancelled season in 2020, after which they were promoted to tier 5 as best runners-up.{{cite web|title=Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20|url=https://www.englandrugby.com/dxdam/1d/1d602337-7f0c-401d-89b3-4ea9b38fecb6/Levels%205%20-%207.pdf|website=England Rugby|access-date=25 April 2020}} They remained at that level for three seasons when they finished second from bottom in Regional 1 South Central,{{cite web |title=Regional 1 South Central |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=261&division=39099&season=2022-2023#table|website=Rugby England |access-date=13 July 2023}} resulting in relegation back to tier 6.
Honours
- Regional 2 Severn champions: 2023–24{{cite news|url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/sport/24166839.royal-wootton-bassett-clinch-title-chippenham-victory/|title=Royal Wootton Bassett clinch title with Chippenham victory|work=Gazette and Herald|first=George|last=Loughlin|date=6 March 2024|access-date=12 March 2024}}
- Southern Counties South champions: 2015–16
- Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 champions: 1992–93
=Royal Wootton Basset II XV=
=Royal Wootton Bassett III XV=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.rwbrfc.club Official club website]
{{Rugby union in England}}
Category:Rugby union teams in England
Category:Rugby union in Wiltshire
Category:Royal Wootton Bassett