Weston-super-Mare RFC
{{Short description|English rugby union team, based in Somerset}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby team
| teamname = Weston-super-Mare
| image = Weston-super-Mare_RFC.png
| imagesize = 200px
| union = Somerset RFU
| fullname = Weston-super-Mare Rugby Football Club
| nickname =
| shortname =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1875}}
| location = Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England
| region =
| ground = Recreation Ground, Drove Road
| capacity = 3,000
| chairman = Barry Sparks
| president = John Brentnall
| captain = Tom Sugg
| top scorer = Robbie Hazzard
| caps = Chris brown (431)
| coach = Darren Crompton, Dan Lomax
| url = http://www.westonrugby.co.uk/
| league = Regional 1 South West
| season = 2023–24
| position = 12th (relegated to Regional 2 Severn
}}
Weston-super-Mare Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. The club runs five senior teams, including a colts and veterans side and the full range of junior teams [http://www.westonrugby.co.uk/ Club website home page] The first XV play in Regional 2 Severn, a level six league in the English rugby union system, following their relegation from Regional 1 South West in 2024.
The second XV (United) play in the Tribute Somerset Premier and the third XV (Athletic) play in Tribute Somerset 2 North.{{cite web|title=Tribute Somerset Premier 2016-2017|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/south-west-division/2016-2017/group/21219#/table|website=English Rugby|publisher=RFU|access-date=2 June 2017}}{{cite web|title=Tribute Somerset 2 North 2016-2017|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/south-west-division/2016-2017/group/21203#/table|website=English Rugby|publisher=RFU|access-date=2 June 2017}}
History
The club was formed in 1875 and played their early games on what is now a supermarket car park before moving to their present ground at Drove Road in 1880. The Great Depression saw people from Wales arriving in the town, played rugby for Weston and became one of the top clubs in the country at that time. Recently they have had a resurgence in player attendance, overall improvement in facilities and a thriving social scene which has equated to success on the field.
Weston-super-Mare are one of two rugby clubs in the town, the other being Hornets RFC.
Ground
The club are based at the Recreation Ground in the centre of town, having played there since 1880. Access to the ground is good, being just off the A370 and across the road from Weston-super-Mare railway station.{{cite web |title=Directions |url=https://www.westonrugby.co.uk/about |publisher=Weston-super-Mare RFC |accessdate=16 November 2024}} Facilities include a club house, on site parking, with a seated grandstand and covered terracing on both sides of the main pitch. There are also several full size rugby pitches on adjutant land. The ground capacity has been historically listed as 6,000 and early games have been reported of 4,000 spectators attending, but a figure of 3,000 is more realistic with modern crowd safety measures in mind.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.westonrugby.co.uk/information/weston-super-mare-rfc-history |publisher=Weston-super-Mare RFC |accessdate=16 November 2024}}
In 2021 talks began with the club, North Somerset Council and Atlas HIVE to redevelop the ground, which include a new club house, gym, 260 seat grandstand and upgraded parking facilities, as well a health centre and 182 apartments surrounded the ground. In 2022 planning permission was given and an plan for redevelopment to be completed by 2028.{{cite web |title=Weston-super-Mare RFC development plans to progress in 2023 |url=https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/23901870.weston-super-mare-rfc-development-plans-progress-2023/ |publisher=Weston Mercury |date=4 November 2023}}{{cite web |title=Current Proposals |url=https://www.westonsupermarerfcdevelopment.co.uk/the-proposal#:~:text=The%20club%20re%2Ddevelopment%20includes,a%20gym%20and%20physio%20facilities. |publisher=Atlas HIVE |accessdate=16 November 2024}}
Honours
1st team:
- Somerset Senior Cup winners (11): 1979, 1981, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017
- South West 1 champions: 2001–02
- Somerset Division 3 South champions: 2008–09
- South West 1 West champions: 2016–17
- Bristol Combination Cup winners: 2019[http://www.westonrugby.co.uk/a/honours-9860.html Club website - senior honours]
2nd team:
- Somerset 2 South champions: 2008–09
3rd team:
- Somerset 3 South champions: 2008–09
4th team:
- Somerset 3 South champions: 2016–17
International players
Eight former players have gone on to win international caps.[http://www.westonrugby.co.uk/a/honours-9860.html?page=4 Club website - Honours: International honours]
- {{flagicon|ENG}} 1882–84 E L Strong
- {{flagicon|Wales}} 1885–91 W H Thomas
- {{flagicon|Wales}} (RL) 1935 George Bennett
- {{flagicon|Wales}} 1939 R E Price
- {{flagicon|ENG}} 1967–73 Peter Larter
- {{flagicon|ENG}} 1970 G F Redmond
- {{flagicon|ENG}} 1984–97 Nigel Redman
- {{flagicon|Ireland}} 2010 Dan Tuohy
- {{flagicon|Scotland}} 2011 Jack Cuthbert
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.westonrugby.co.uk/ Official club website]
{{Rugby union in England}}
Category:Rugby union teams in England
Category:Rugby clubs established in 1875