Redruth R.F.C.

Rugby team
teamname = Redruth RFC


fullname = Redruth Rugby Club
founded = 1875
ground = The Recreation Ground
location = Redruth, United Kingdom
country

capacity = 12,000 (600 Seated)
DOR = flagicon|ENG David Penberthy
coach = Nigel Hambly
league = National League 2

Redruth RFC is a Rugby Union team from Cornwall.

Early Reds

Redruth RFC was founded in 1875 when two local men returned from college to their homes in West Cornwall bringing with them the new fangled game of rugby football. Considering the popularity of the game in Cornwall today it is strange to think, in those far off days, that hardly anyone in Redruth would have seen a rugby ball. The game was, in the main, confined to universities and public schools. However, something in the ethos appealed to men who mined for tin deep underneath the Cornish soil.

The new players quickly learned and soon had their own field, courtesy of a local brewery. The fact that there was a granite post in the middle of it did not seem strange to anyone.

The club prospers

The club swiftly prospered and, by the turn of the century, was the most successful in Cornwall, a position they were to hold for much of the twentieth century. The twenties and thirties saw major success and the chance to play the cream of the game as top class sides welcomed the opportunity to come to Cornwall and play some rugby. In the fifties the club arguably had its most successful era to date.

The Recreation Ground

Redruth moved to the Recreation Ground in the 1930s. Before rugby clubs moved into soccer stadia or increased the capacity of their traditional homes, the Recreation Ground was the third largest rugby ground in England. Hellfire Corner is at the popular end of the ground and, according to opposing teams, was worth ten points to the home team. The ground was where Cornwall defeated Durham in 1908 to win the County Championship for the first time.

League success

The coming of the leagues saved Cornish rugby. Financial pressures had stopped the top sides coming on friendly tours and the league system helped bring new opposition into Cornwall. When the leagues started Redruth were in the provincial league of South-West 1, which they won at the first attempt. Redruth then started an upward climb winning the old League Four South in 1991 and gradually gaining promotion. In 2005 the club reached its highest ever place by winning promotion into National Division Two, level three of the league structure. In so doing the Reds regained the league status they last held in 1996-97. A successful first season back at the higher level, saw their position consolidated as they started the 2006-07 season, which they were to finish in 4th position in the division.

Success, though, comes at a price. The nearest fixtures for the 2007/08 season will be at Stourbridge and Henley. Redruth have no one person providing funding and are helped by an 'army' of volunteers to raise the funding necessary to keep the club 'on the road'.

David 'Bert' Penberthy is the present Director of Rugby, having played over 700 club games for the Reds. Another former player, Nigel Hambly, is the Head Coach having started his coaching career with Redruth Colts.

Representative Honours

The Barbarians W Abrahams - 2 appearances against Newport and Cardiff (1962) A Hawken - 2 appearances against the Combined Services (2002 and 2004) C 'Bonzo' Johns - 2 appearances against Newport and Cardiff (1962) R Keast - 1 appearance against Newport (1992) T Pryor - 2 appearances against Newport, Penarth and East Midlands (1978) L Semmens - 2 appearances against newport and Cardiff (1948) H Stevens - 1 appaearnce against East Midlands (1960)

The current league positions of the English game are summarised here.

Trivia

David Penberthy has played over 700 games for the club.

In 1969 The Recreation Ground hosted Cornwall when they played Lancashire in the County Championship Final. Some estimatesput the attendance as high as 26,000. Dave Penberthy was a ball boy at this game.

In 2007-2008 Redruth and Blaydon will have the longest trip in the RFU National League. It beats the Mounts Bay and North Walsham trip by some 40 miles (Comparative source AA Routefinder).

Colts

The Redruth Rugby Club has a thriving colts section run by the coach Simon Blake. The team has consistently finished highly in the national colts competion. The colts follow the first team in being one of the best teams in Cornwall regularly beating the local competion.

External links

[http://www.redruthrfc.com Redruth RFC Web Site]