Truro RFC

Truro RFC
Full nameTruro Rugby Football Club
UnionCornwall RFU
Founded1885; 139 years ago (1885)
LocationTruro, Cornwall, England
Ground(s)St Clements Hill (Capacity: 2,000)
League(s)Regional 2 South West
2023–246th
Team kit
Official website
www.pitchero.com/clubs/trurorfc

Truro RFC is a Cornish rugby union club based in the city of Truro and was formed in 1885.[1] The club's colours are blue and gold and they operate two senior men's teams, a women's team, a colts side and various mini/junior teams (ages 7–16).[2] The men's first team currently play in Regional 2 South West – a league at level 6 in the English rugby union system.

View of club house at St Clements Hill, home of Truro RFC
Alternative view of St Clements Hill showing the south-east bank

History

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Truro RFC are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in Cornwall having been founded in 1885.[1] Despite being one of the senior clubs in the county the club has only started to experience success in recent times. With the advent of the Courage National Leagues in 1987, Truro were placed in Western Counties - ranked at tier 7 of the English rugby union league system. They remained in this division until 1991 when they were relegated to Courage Cornwall/Devon having finished bottom of the league standings.[3] After seven relatively unremarkable seasons in Cornwall/Devon, Truro finally won the first league title in the club's history, finishing 4 points clear of second placed Crediton who were also promoted.[4] This league title was the beginning of the club's most successful period so far as they went on to achieve three successive promotions, winning Western Counties West in 1999 and then South West 2 West (winning 21 out of 22 games) to reach South West Division 1, which at tier 5 is the highest level Truro have played.[5][6][7]

In 2001 after just one year in South West Division 1 Truro were relegated to South West 2 West.[8] They bounced back the following year by winning a league and cup double. First they won the Cornwall Cup 27–20 against Penryn at the Recreation Ground - remarkably the first time the club had reached the final of the competition let alone won it.[9] They then overcame promotion rivals, Berry Hill, to claim the league title after a very close contest which saw the two sides finishing on 37 points apiece but Truro going up as champions due to better for/against record.[10] In 2004 the club were relegated once more from South West Division 1 in bottom place, after two seasons in the division.[11] They would also reach the final of the Cornwall Cup that year, losing 0–22 to Redruth at the Recreation Ground in Camborne.[12] The demotion at the end of the 2003–04 season would be the first of three relegation's in four years as Truro went down from South West 2 West in 2006 and then from Western Counties West in 2007.[13][14]

In 2017 the club won the South West section of the RFU Intermediate Cup, advancing through to the national semi-finals where they met the London & South East champions, Charlton Park. Unfortunately, Truro were unable to qualify for the final at Twickenham Stadium as they lost heavily away to the London side.[15][16] In 2019 Truro were relegated from Western Counties West on the last weekend of the 2018–19 season, finishing 13th out of 14. After just one season, Truro returned to Western Counties West, where despite the COVID-19 crisis they had done enough to be crowned league champions of Cornwall/Devon.

Ground

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St Clements Hill is in south-east Truro at the top of the road that gives it its name, about 35–40 minutes' walk from the train station (be warned it is hilly). St Clements Hill consists of a club-house, main pitch and a secondary pitch for 2nd XV and junior fixtures, and there is plenty of parking available in and around the ground. The main pitch does not have a stand or any covered areas, although there is a tiered bank that surrounds the pitch on two sides offering a good view of the action for spectators. Due to the bank overall capacity at the ground is around 2,000, all of which is standing.

Season summary

[edit]
Season League National Cup(s) County Cup(s)
Competition/Level Position Points Competition Performance Competition Performance
1987–88 Western Counties (7)[17]
1988–89 Western Counties (7)[18]
1989–90 Western Counties (7)[18]
1990–91 Western Counties (7) (relegated)
1991–92 Cornwall/Devon (8)
1992–93 Cornwall/Devon (8)
1993–94 Cornwall/Devon (8)
1994–95 Cornwall/Devon (8)
1995–96 Cornwall/Devon (8)
1996–97 Cornwall/Devon (8)
1997–98 Cornwall/Devon (8) 1st (promoted)[19] 30
1998–99 Western Counties West (7) 1st (promoted)[20] 26
1999–00 South West 2 West (6) 1st (promoted)[21] 42
2000–01 South West 1 (5) 10th (relegated)[22] 17 Tetley's Bitter Cup 1st Round Cornwall Cup Semi-finals[23]
2001–02 South West 2 West (6) 1st (promoted)[24] 37 Cornwall Cup Winners
2002–03 South West 1 (5) 7th[25] 19 Powergen Cup Qualifying Round[26] Cornwall Cup 1st Round[27]
2003–04 South West 1 (5) 12th (relegated)[28] 8 Powergen Intermediate Cup 1st Round[29][30] Cornwall Cup Runners up
2004–05 South West 2 West (6) 5th[31] 26 Powergen Cup Preliminary Round[32] Cornwall Cup 3rd Round[33][34]
2005–06 South West 2 West (6) 10th (relegated)[35] 14 Powergen Intermediate Cup 5th Round[36][37] Cornwall Cup 3rd Round[38][39]
2006–07 Western Counties West (7) 12th (relegated)[40] 0 EDF Energy Senior Vase 2nd Round[41][42]
2007–08 Cornwall/Devon (8) 4th[43] 30 Cornwall Cup Semi-finals[44]
2008–09 Cornwall/Devon (8) 3rd (promoted)[45] 32 EDF Energy Senior Vase 4th Round[46][47]
2009–10 Western Counties West (7) 4th[48] 36 Cornwall Cup Semi-finals[49]
2010–11 Western Counties West (7) 10th[50] 51[a 1]
2011–12 Western Counties West (7) 6th[51] 79 Cornwall Cup 2nd Round[52]
2012–13 Western Counties West (7) 10th[53] 52 Cornwall Cup Quarter-finals[54][55]
2013–14 Western Counties West (7) 5th[56] 90 Cornwall Cup Quarter-finals[57]
2014–15 Western Counties West (7) 4th[58] 78 Cornwall Cup Semi-finals[59]
2015–16 Western Counties West (7) 3rd[60] 85 Cornwall Cup 1st Round[61]
2016–17 Western Counties West (7) 4th[62] 72 RFU Intermediate Cup Semi-finals[15][16] Cornwall Cup Semi-finals[63]
2017–18 Western Counties West (7) 8th[64] 53 Cornwall Cup 1st Round[65]
2018–19 Western Counties West (7) 13th (relegated)[66] 42 Cornwall Cup Quarter-finals[67]
2019–20 Cornwall/Devon (8) 1st (promoted) 102.67[a 2] Cornwall Cup Cancelled due to the COVID pandemic
2020–21 Western Counties West (7) Postponed due to the COVID pandemic Cornwall Cup
2021–22 Western Counties West (7) 2nd (promoted) 92 Cornwall Cup Quarter-finals
2022–23 Regional 2 South West (6) 3rd 75 Cornwall Cup
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.

Honours

[edit]

Notable former players

[edit]

Notes

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  1. ^ The 2010–11 season would see the introduction of bonus points into lower league English rugby union (tier 6 and below).
  2. ^ The season was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom with Truro sitting in 1st, having played 20 games and gained 85 points. The remaining games were calculated on a 'best playing record formula', with Truro remaining in 1st place with 102.67 points and gaining promotion as league champions.[68]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "TRURO RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB" (PDF). Truro RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Teams". Truro RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  3. ^ Williams, T. and Mitchell, B. (1991) Courage Clubs Championship Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991-92. Taunton: Tony Williams.
  4. ^ "Final League Tables 1997–98". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Final League Tables 1998–99". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  6. ^ "South West 2 West 1999–2000". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  7. ^ Mc Cormack, Stephen (2001). The Official RFU Club Directory 2001–2002 (14th ed.). Harpender: Queen Anne Press. pp. 624–630. ISBN 1-85291-640-0.
  8. ^ Mc Cormack, Stephen (2001). The Official RFU Club Directory 2001–2002 (14th ed.). Harpender: Queen Anne Press. pp. 624–630. ISBN 1-85291-640-0.
  9. ^ "Trelawny's Army: Memorable Matches". Trelawny's Army. 22 March 2015.
  10. ^ "South West 2 West 2001–2002". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  11. ^ "South West 1, 2003–2004". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  12. ^ "Redruth retain Skinners Brewery Cornwall Cup". Redruth Rugby. 20 April 2004.
  13. ^ "South West 2 West 2005–2006". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Final League Tables, 2007–2008". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Charlton Park 48 – 27 Truro". Charlton Park RFC. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Rugby Review : Truro & Saltash progress to National Cup semis". Cornish Stuff. 21 March 2017.
  17. ^ Stephen Jones, ed. (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89. London: Rothmans Publications Ltd.
  18. ^ a b Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1873057024.
  19. ^ "Final League Tables 1997–98". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Final League Tables 1998–99". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  21. ^ "South West 2 West 1999–2000". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  22. ^ "South West 1 2000–2001". England Rugby. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  23. ^ "Truro power way into cup semi-finals". South West Farmer. 28 February 2001.
  24. ^ "South West 2 West 2001–2002". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  25. ^ "South West 1, 2002–2003". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  26. ^ "Powergen Cup 02/03". Statbunker. 30 August 2002.
  27. ^ "Truro in cup shock". South West Farmer. 3 January 2003.
  28. ^ "South West 1, 2003–2004". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  29. ^ "Truro in cup upset". South West Farmer. 25 September 2003.
  30. ^ "Powergen Draws". ESPN. 12 July 2003.
  31. ^ "South West 2 West 2004–2005". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  32. ^ "Powergen Cup 04/05". Statbunker. 3 September 2004.
  33. ^ "Reds through to semi-final". South West Farmer. 6 January 2005.
  34. ^ "KO cup walkover for Truro". South West Farmer. 2 December 2004.
  35. ^ "South West 2 West 2005–2006". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  36. ^ "Stephens' men face 500-mile round trip in semis bid". Morley Advertiser. 31 January 2006.
  37. ^ "Sport in Brief". The Telegraph. 30 November 2005.
  38. ^ "Hayle pull off chock cup win". South West Farmer. 1 March 2006.
  39. ^ "THE SENIOR LEAGUES 2005-2006". Trelawny's Army. 2 January 2006.
  40. ^ "Final League Tables 2006–2007". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  41. ^ "Truro vase exit". South West Farmer. 1 November 2006.
  42. ^ "Demolition derby". Tavistock Times Gazette. 27 October 2006.
  43. ^ "Final League Tables 2007–2008". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  44. ^ "Truro through to semi-finals". South West Farmer. 13 February 2008.
  45. ^ "Final League Tables 2008–2009". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  46. ^ "EDF Energy cup draws". Yorkshire Post. 25 November 2008.
  47. ^ "Cullompton clinch Senior edf Energy Vase Cup - match report now in". Somerset County Gazette. 11 May 2009.
  48. ^ "Final League Tables, 2009–2010". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  49. ^ "St Ives book their place in semi-finals at Falmouth's expense". South West Farmer. 3 March 2010.
  50. ^ "Final League Tables, 2010–2011". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  51. ^ "Final League Tables 2011–2012". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  52. ^ "Camborne vs. Truro". Truro RFC (Pitchero). 5 November 2011.
  53. ^ "Final League Tables 2012–2013". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  54. ^ "Camborne v Truro". Camborne RFC (Pitchero). 10 November 2012.
  55. ^ "TRIBUTE CORNWALL CUP DRAW 2012/2013". Camborne RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  56. ^ "Final League Tables, 2013–2014". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  57. ^ "Spluttering Saints still too strong for Truro". St Austell RFC (Pitchero). 16 November 2013.
  58. ^ "Tribute Western Counties West 2014–2015". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  59. ^ "RUGBY: Camborne make third Cornwall Cup Final in a row". South West Farmer. 17 March 2015.
  60. ^ "Tribute Western Counties West 2015–2016". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  61. ^ "Tribute Cornwall Cup 1/4 Finals Draw". St Ives SW RFC. 5 October 2015.
  62. ^ "Tribute Western Counties West 2016–2017". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  63. ^ "Camels 42 pts v Truro 31 pts". Wadebridge Camels RFC (Pitchero). 26 March 2017.
  64. ^ "Tribute Western Counties West 2017–2018". England Rugby. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  65. ^ "By George, the Saints are through to the next round!". St Austell RFC (Pitchero). 14 October 2017.
  66. ^ "Tribute Western Counties West 2018–2019". England Rugby. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  67. ^ "Full Cornish Fixtures & Results 2018-19". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  68. ^ "RFU confirms league positions". England Rugby. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  69. ^ "Cornwall name team for opening Bill Beaumont Cup match". Cornwall Live. 8 April 2014.
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