Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.

Rugby team
teamname = Birmingham & Solihull Bees

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fullname = Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.
founded = 1989
ground = Sharmans Cross Road
location = Solihull, England
country

capacity = 3,500
coach = flagicon|EnglandRussell Earnshaw
captain = flagicon|IrelandRob Connolly
league = National Division Two
season = 2008-09
position = N/A
url = www.beesrugby.com
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pattern_la2=|pattern_b2= _thinblacksides|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=FFCC00|body2=FFCC00|rightarm2=FFCC00|shorts2=000000|socks2=000000

Birmingham and Solihull Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing Birmingham and Solihull. It was formed in 1989 by a merger of the original Birmingham and Solihull rugby clubs, which were both established over 60 years ago.

The club's original name was Birmingham and Solihull RFC, but in 2001 due to the club colours of black, white, red and gold, and the alliteration of the name, the club underwent a large scale rebranding, forming the moniker Bees Rugby. The team have since become known as the Bees (in the same way London Wasps were known as Wasps).

Birmingham Bees are remembered by many fans for their cup success of 2004, in which they caused the biggest upset in the professional rugby era by beating London Wasps 28-24 in the quarter final of the Powergen Cup overcoming odds of 250-1, known as "The Greatest Ever Sporting Upset", subsequently playing Newcastle Falcons in the semi final, live on BBC television. The club however hit rock bottom just two seasons later in 2005-06 when they finished last in National Division One but were saved from relegation because of league expansion.

In October 2006 it was announced that Bees were in the planning stage of building a £60 million super stadium at their training ground known as Portway just off the M42 in Solihull. It would be one of the nation's largest sports villages to rival anything built for the 2012 Olympics. Plans include a regional sports academy, education and conference centre, 12,000 capacity stadium, seven all-weather rugby pitches, archery and shooting ranges and a watersports lake.

In June 2007 Bees coach Steve Williams left the club with one year still left on his contact to become assistant manager at Magners League side Ulster. Williams a former Northampton and London Irish player won 29 caps for Wales.

The 07/08 season began under a split coaching structure in which two former England Sevens internationals had equal control over the squad. Ben Harvey will coached the backs and Russell Earnshaw was player/forwards coach. The coaching structure however was widely viewed as unsuccessful and former Bees scrum-half Harvey was sacked shortly before Christmas. On a temporary basis former Rotherham head coach Andre Bester was appointed to take charge of the side before being replaced by former Wales A coach Allan Lewis.

In November 2007 it was announced that Bees would sell their Sharmans Cross Road pitch and play at local football side Solihull Moors Damson Park as part of a groundshare arrangement.

On January 28th former Llanelli centre Allan Lewis was announced as the head coach of Bees. Lewis brought experience to the club after previously holding the role of head coach at Celtic Warriors, Moseley, Newport and Bridgend. Lewis had also worked with the Welsh national squad working as selector, backs coach and Wales A head coach at different times throughout his career. However by 17th April it was reported that Lewis would not remain at the club past the 2007 - 2008 season and would return to his post at Hartpury College.

Bees were relegated to National Division Two at the end of the 2007 - 2008 season finishing in 15th position.

Birmingham & Solihull Bees Internationals

* *Craig Chalmers ru|SCO
* *Nick Baxter ru7|ENG Sevens, Barbarians
* Mark Cornwell ruA|ENG
* Ryan Lamb ruA|ENG
* *Tim Walsh ru7|AUS Sevens
* *Rod Petty ru7|AUS Sevens, U19, U21
* Paul Knight ru|ENG Counties
* Dave Knight ru|ENG Counties
* *Will Matthews ru7|ENG Sevens, Younger Sevens
* *Tom Beim ru|ENG
* *Rob Hardwick ru|ENG
* *Luke Nabaro ru|FIJ U21's, A, Sevens
* *Hesse Fakatou ru|TON
* *Tu Tamarua ru|SAM and PIru
* *Ben Harvey ru7|ENG Sevens
* *Mark Linnett ru|ENG
* *Akapusi Qera ru|FIJ and ru|FIJ core squad
* *Brodie Henderson ru|CAN and ru7|CAN Sevens
* *Casey Dunning ru|CAN
* *Hotili Asi ru|TON
* *Rodney Mahe ru|TON
* Matt Larsen ru7|WAL U20's
* Tristan Davies ru7|WAL U21's
* Matt Nuthall ru7|WAL U18, 19, 21's
* Alex Davidson ru7|WAL U21 & Students & ru|ENG Counties
* Simon Martin ru|ENG U21's
* Alan Hubbleday ru|ENG U21's & Students
* Andy Gravil ru|ENG U18, 19's
* Ed Orgee ru|ENG Students
* *Jim Jenner ru|ENG Sevens and GB Sevens
* Jim Thorp ru|ENG U21's
* *Kevin Tkachuk ru|CAN
* Matt Long ru|ENG Students
* Rob Merritt ru|ENG Colts
* *Geoff Gregory ru|BAH Sevens
* Scott Read ru|ENG U21's
* Shaun Woof ru|ENG U21's
* *Leo Halavatau ru|TON
* Mike Hook ru7|WAL U21's
* Brendan Lynch ru|IRE U19
* Tom Court ru|IRE A and 1st XV Squad
* *Russell Earnshaw ru|ENG Sevens
* *Uche Odouza ru|ENG U18, 19, 21, Sevens
* Miles Benjamin ru|ENG U19, National Academy
* *Uakazuwaka Kazombiaze ru|NAM
* *Marika Vakacugu ru|FIJ
* *Aisea Havilli ru|TON
* Duncan White ru|ENG U16 Dev.
* Andrew Daish ru|WAL U18 Youth, U18 Schools, U19 Dev.

* indicates full cap or sevens

ee also