Bangor RFC
Encyclopedia
Bangor Rugby Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Rygbi Bangor) is a Welsh
rugby union
team based in Bangor
, North Wales
. Bangor RFC is a founding member of the Welsh Rugby Union
and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets
. The club fields a Seniors, Youth, Juniors and Ladies teams.
, Charles Allen and Godfrey Darbishire
. In 1881 Bangor RFC sent representatives to the Castle Hotel in Neath
where they were one of the clubs that formed the Welsh Rugby Union
. That same year Bangor RFC player Godfrey Darbishire played in the very first Welsh international against England.
All competitive rugby ceased in Wales after the outbreak of World War I
, and Bangor RFC disbanded. Although rugby was played after the War it wasn't until 1929 that Bangor RFC reformed and played in the North Wales Rugby Union league.
in the hope the club could restructure itself so that the team could come back as a more competitive organisation. Epic fail on this front.
The previous two seasons had seen Bangor fail to win a single league match and results have followed this trend even after the restructure. If anything, results have got worse. As anticipated, Bangor RFC have returned to the WRU league structure in 2008/09, and having linked up with Bangor University Men's Rugby Union Squad, having just won their first game against Rhosllanerchrugog in four years - although it should be noted that this was against Rhosllanerchugog under 14s (themselves missing several key players who had been promoted to the u15s).
'The team is currently in a transitional period' has been installed as the new club motto for the 2k11/12 season.
The club now runs a first and second team for the first time in many years. They hope to win some games. They're also planning on discovering the lost city of Atlantis.
Bangor kick off the new season up against their superiors from over the water, Clwb Rygbi Porthaethwy / Menai Bridge RFC. It is likely to be another heavy defeat, possibly going into triple figures.
(2 caps) Godfrey Darbishire
(1 cap) Sir Hugh Corbet Vincent
(1 cap)
Rugby union in Wales
Rugby union is the national sport of Wales and is considered a large part of national culture. Rugby is thought to have reached Wales in the 1850s, with the national body, the Welsh Rugby Union being formed in 1881...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team based in Bangor
Bangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
, North Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Bangor RFC is a founding member of the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
. The club fields a Seniors, Youth, Juniors and Ladies teams.
History
Bangor RFC was formed in 1876, with three players in the team who would eventually represent their country, Hugh VincentHugh Vincent
Sir Hugh Corbet Vincent was a Welsh rugby union and association football player. He played club rugby for Bangor RFC and club football for Bangor City F.C. as well as a single international for the Wales national rugby union team...
, Charles Allen and Godfrey Darbishire
Godfrey Darbishire
Godfrey Darbishire FRGS was an English-born rugby union forward who represented Bangor at club level and played international rugby for Wales, gaining one cap in the country's very first international rugby match....
. In 1881 Bangor RFC sent representatives to the Castle Hotel in Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
where they were one of the clubs that formed the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
. That same year Bangor RFC player Godfrey Darbishire played in the very first Welsh international against England.
All competitive rugby ceased in Wales after the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and Bangor RFC disbanded. Although rugby was played after the War it wasn't until 1929 that Bangor RFC reformed and played in the North Wales Rugby Union league.
Present day
During the 2007/08 season Bangor RFC withdrew from the WRU Division Five EastWRU Division Five East
The Welsh Rugby Union Division Five East is a rugby union league in Wales.- Competition:There are 11 clubs in the WRU Division Five East...
in the hope the club could restructure itself so that the team could come back as a more competitive organisation. Epic fail on this front.
The previous two seasons had seen Bangor fail to win a single league match and results have followed this trend even after the restructure. If anything, results have got worse. As anticipated, Bangor RFC have returned to the WRU league structure in 2008/09, and having linked up with Bangor University Men's Rugby Union Squad, having just won their first game against Rhosllanerchrugog in four years - although it should be noted that this was against Rhosllanerchugog under 14s (themselves missing several key players who had been promoted to the u15s).
'The team is currently in a transitional period' has been installed as the new club motto for the 2k11/12 season.
The club now runs a first and second team for the first time in many years. They hope to win some games. They're also planning on discovering the lost city of Atlantis.
Bangor kick off the new season up against their superiors from over the water, Clwb Rygbi Porthaethwy / Menai Bridge RFC. It is likely to be another heavy defeat, possibly going into triple figures.
Players of note
Charles Peter AllenCharles Peter Allen
Charles Peter Allen MP was an English Liberal politician who represented Stroud from 1900-1914. His professional career was as a solicitor and newspaper journalist...
(2 caps) Godfrey Darbishire
Godfrey Darbishire
Godfrey Darbishire FRGS was an English-born rugby union forward who represented Bangor at club level and played international rugby for Wales, gaining one cap in the country's very first international rugby match....
(1 cap) Sir Hugh Corbet Vincent
Hugh Vincent
Sir Hugh Corbet Vincent was a Welsh rugby union and association football player. He played club rugby for Bangor RFC and club football for Bangor City F.C. as well as a single international for the Wales national rugby union team...
(1 cap)