Brixham RFC

English rugby union club, based in Devon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brixham Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based at Astley Park in Brixham, Devon. The club runs three senior teams,colts and a women’s team known as The Sirens and the full range of junior teams.[1] The first XV currently plays in Regional 1 South West, a level five league in the English rugby union system.

Astley Park, home of Brixham Rugby Club
Full nameBrixham Rugby Football Club
NicknameThe Fishermen
Founded1875; 151 years ago (1875)
Quick facts Full name, Union ...
Brixham
Full nameBrixham Rugby Football Club
UnionDevon RFU
NicknameThe Fishermen
Founded1875; 151 years ago (1875)
LocationBrixham, Devon, England
GroundAstley Park (Capacity: 1,800 (300 stand))
ChairmanChris Forster
PresidentKeith Gardner
CoachAdam Thomas
CaptainJordan Watson
LeagueRegional 1 South West
2024–252nd
Team kit
Official website
www.brixhamrfc.co.uk
Close

History

Brixham RFC was formed in 1875, as reported in Alcock’s Football Annual 1876 edition, and became one of the founder members of the Devon RFU. In 1896 the club moved to its present ground, having previously played at Furzeham Green. Between 1924 and 1934 the club won the Devon Cup twice and were runners-up on four other occasions. When club rugby was introduced in 1987 the club was placed in the sixth tier league; South West 2.

At the end of 1989 Brixham achieved promotion into South West 1 where they would remain for the following eight seasons until they were relegated at the end of the 1996–97 season. During this period they also enjoyed several runs in the old Pilkington Cup, with the best performance coming in 1988–89 when they reached the third round, losing at home to Gloucester in front of almost 3,000 supporters.[2] The club would remain at level 6 for fifteen seasons until they finally got promoted back into level 5 by winning South West 1 West at the end of the 2011–12 season. This promotion would also see the club become one of the premier sides in the county, finally winning the Devon RFU Senior Cup in 2015 (the first victory since 1932) and then again in 2017.[3]

Ground

Astley Park is situated on Rea Barn Road in Brixham, opposite the police station and near to Brixham College. The ground consists of a club-house/stand alongside the main pitch, and there are also several other pitches on adjoining land for second XV and junior rugby. The stand sits atop the club-house and has seating/standing capacity for up to 300, while there is standing space for around 1,500 supporters pitch side, bringing the total capacity to approximately 1,800. There is limited parking in and around the ground.

Season summary

More information Season, League ...
Season League National Cup(s) County Cup(s)
Competition/Level Position Points Competition Performance Competition Performance
1987–88South West 2 (6)
1988–89South West 2 (6)2nd (promoted)Pilkington Cup3rd Round
1989–90South West 1 (5)
1990–91South West 1 (5)Pilkington Cup1st Round
1991–92South West 1 (5)
1992–93South West 1 (5)Pilkington Cup1st Round
1993–94South West 1 (6)[a 1]Pilkington Cup2nd Round
1994–95South West 1 (6)
1995–96South West 1 (6)Pilkington Cup1st Round
1996–97South West 1 (5)[a 2]11th (relegated)[4]12
1997–98South West 2 West (6)6th[5]22
1998–99South West 2 West (6)3rd[6]28
1999–00South West 2 West (6)2nd[7]36
2000–01South West 2 West (6)5th[8]24
2001–02South West 2 West (6)3rd[9]31
2002–03South West 2 West (6)5th[10]28
2003–04South West 2 West (6)4th[11]26Powergen Intermediate Cup6th Round[12][13]Devon Senior CupRunners up
2004–05South West 2 West (6)7th[14]18Powergen CupQualifying Round[15]
2005–06South West 2 West (6)3rd[16]32Powergen Intermediate Cup[17]
2006–07South West 2 West (6)2nd (lost playoff)[18]32EDF Energy Intermediate Cup1st Round[19][20]
2007–08South West 2 West (6)8th[21]19EDF Energy Intermediate Cup2nd Round[22][23]
2008–09South West 2 West (6)7th[24]19EDF Energy Intermediate Cup1st Round[25][26]
2009–10South West 1 West (6)[a 3]3rd[27]39Devon Senior CupRunners up
2010–11South West 1 West (6)3rd[28]99[a 4]
2011–12South West 1 West (6)1st (promoted)[29]100Devon Senior CupRunners up
2012–13National 3 South West (5)[a 5]7th[30]77Devon Senior Cup1st Round[31]
2013–14National 3 South West (5)7th[32]68Devon Senior CupSemi-finals[33]
2014–15National 3 South West (5)5th[34]84Devon Senior CupWinners
2015–16National 3 South West (5)4th[35]77Devon Senior CupRunners up
2016–17National 3 South West (5)7th[36]71Devon Senior CupWinners
2017–18South West Premier (5)[a 6]10th[37]65Devon Senior CupSemi-finals[38]
2018–19South West Premier (5)8th[39]71Devon Senior Cup5th[40]
2019–20South West Premier (5)5th63.60[a 7]Devon Senior Cup
2020–21South West Premier (5)Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22South West Premier (5)7th60
2022–23South West Premier (5)3rd71
Green background stands for either league champions (with promotion) or cup winners. Blue background stands for promotion without winning league or losing cup finalists. Pink background stands for relegation.
Close

Honours

See also

Notes

  1. RFU restructuring of the English rugby union system for the 1993–94 season due to the creation Courage League Division 5 meant that South West 1 became a tier 6 league.
  2. The cancellation of Courage League Division 5 at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that South West 1 once again became a tier 5 league.
  3. RFU restructuring of the English rugby union system for the 2009–10 season meant that South West 2 West was renamed as South West 1 West.
  4. The 2010–11 season would see the introduction of bonus points into lower league English rugby union (tier 6 and below).
  5. The last time Brixham had been in this division it had been known as South West 1.
  6. National League 3 South West was renamed as South West Premier for the 2017–18 season.
  7. The season was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom with Brixham sitting in 5th, having played 20 games and gained 53 points. The remaining games were calculated on a 'best playing record formula', with Brixham remaining in 5th place with 63.30 points.[41]
  8. One of Brixham's Devon Junior Cup wins (1934) was won by the reserve side.

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI