Winscombe RFC
Encyclopedia
Winscombe RFC is an English
amateur rugby
club that is based in the village of Winscombe
. They play in the Tribute Somerset Premier
league. For a small Somerset
village the club is large, with three senior teams and over 300 children registered to play at mini and junior level.
Founded in 1962, Winscombe Rugby Football Club is one of the newest clubs in the south-west of England. They play at the Winscombe War Memorial
Recreation Ground, also known as the Rec.
, with Winscombe winning by 26 to 12. The club's first try-scorer, Steve Bridges, eventually went on to become a long serving president, only retiring in 2010. A 2nd XV was added in 1963, and the 3rd XV played its first match in 1967.
In 1968 the club moved to Winscombe War Memorial Ground (51.3098°N 2.8312°E), using a field leased from Sidcot School
, now known as the Longfield pitches. They share the clubhouse with Winscombe cricket
, hockey
and football clubs. In 2000 the club bought land for two additional pitches, and in 2007 these were named the Blomfield Pitches, in memory of the club's late treasurer, George Blomfield, who had campaigned tirelessly to raise money for the purchase. Further development of the club's facilities continues, with the latest stage being the floodlighting of the main Longfield pitch.
The 3rd XV have adopted a number of secondary mottos, initially Usque ad Mortem Bibendum, then Deorsum Undique, and most recently, Every week I spend 80 minutes with a 57 year-old hooker.
and Junior section of the club was formed in 1981 and is now one of the largest Mini and Junior rugby sections in the south-west of England, with over 300 players registered. Players can start from Under 6, where although they are not permitted to play matches by RFU
regulations, they are taught the basics of the game in a fun and friendly environment. The club fields teams at every age group from Under 7 to Under 17, and Colts (Under 19).
Winscombe RFC hosts three annual rugby festivals.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
amateur rugby
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...
club that is based in the village of Winscombe
Winscombe
Winscombe is a village in North Somerset, England, close to the settlements of Axbridge and Cheddar, on the western edge of the Mendip Hills, south-east of Weston-super-Mare and south-west of Bristol...
. They play in the Tribute Somerset Premier
Tribute Somerset Premier
English Rugby Union South West Division - Tribute Somerset Premier is an English Rugby Union League.Tribute Somerset Premier is made up of teams from the English county of Somerset.- Current Standings :- Standings 2009/10 :*1 Bristol Harlequins 40...
league. For a small Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
village the club is large, with three senior teams and over 300 children registered to play at mini and junior level.
Founded in 1962, Winscombe Rugby Football Club is one of the newest clubs in the south-west of England. They play at the Winscombe War Memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
Recreation Ground, also known as the Rec.
History
The club was founded in 1962 by Dai Davies, Taff Watham, Pete Smart, J.A. Jacobs and C.W. Reid, initially with only one team. Originally the club played on Home Field, Woodborough Farm, now known as the Lynch Field, and would change up the road in a lean-to building constructed behind what was then called the Woodborough Hotel (now the Woodborough Inn). Only one wall of that building now remains, from the showers, and forms the lower wall of the car park behind the pub. The first game took place on 10 November 1963 against a representative XV from Clifton Rugby Football ClubClifton Rugby Football Club
Clifton Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club founded in Clifton, Bristol, England. Over the years the club's home games have been played in a variety of locations in northern Bristol, though never in Clifton itself; since 1976 they have been based at the southern end of Cribbs Causeway.Clifton...
, with Winscombe winning by 26 to 12. The club's first try-scorer, Steve Bridges, eventually went on to become a long serving president, only retiring in 2010. A 2nd XV was added in 1963, and the 3rd XV played its first match in 1967.
In 1968 the club moved to Winscombe War Memorial Ground (51.3098°N 2.8312°E), using a field leased from Sidcot School
Sidcot School
Sidcot School is a British co-educational independent school for boarding and day pupils, associated with the Religious Society of Friends. It is one of seven Quaker schools in England....
, now known as the Longfield pitches. They share the clubhouse with Winscombe cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
and football clubs. In 2000 the club bought land for two additional pitches, and in 2007 these were named the Blomfield Pitches, in memory of the club's late treasurer, George Blomfield, who had campaigned tirelessly to raise money for the purchase. Further development of the club's facilities continues, with the latest stage being the floodlighting of the main Longfield pitch.
Club Mottos
The Club Motto is Friendship through Rugby, reflecting an ethos that is committed to inclusion and friendship rather than winning at all costs.The 3rd XV have adopted a number of secondary mottos, initially Usque ad Mortem Bibendum, then Deorsum Undique, and most recently, Every week I spend 80 minutes with a 57 year-old hooker.
Team Colours
When founded the team played in an all-black strip, and was known as the Somerset All-Blacks, at least by their own players.Current Senior Teams
The number of teams fielded by the club at senior level has fluctuated between two and four, although most recently there have been consistent 1st, 2nd and 3rd XVs. In season 2007-8 the club's 2nd XV entered the Somerset league system, followed by the 3rd XV in 2008-9. For the 2010-11 season, the club will field a 1st XV in Somerset Premier, and a 2nd XV in Somerset 2 North. Due to the advancing age profile of the 3rd XV they have been reconstituted as a Veterans XV and now only play friendly matches, on request.Mini and Junior Teams
The MiniMini rugby
Mini rugby also known as New Image Rugby is a form of rugby union designed to introduce the sport to children. It uses a smaller ball and pitch than standard rugby, and has nine players a side....
and Junior section of the club was formed in 1981 and is now one of the largest Mini and Junior rugby sections in the south-west of England, with over 300 players registered. Players can start from Under 6, where although they are not permitted to play matches by RFU
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
regulations, they are taught the basics of the game in a fun and friendly environment. The club fields teams at every age group from Under 7 to Under 17, and Colts (Under 19).
Winscombe RFC hosts three annual rugby festivals.
- The Wyvern Cup, a mini rugbyMini rugbyMini rugby also known as New Image Rugby is a form of rugby union designed to introduce the sport to children. It uses a smaller ball and pitch than standard rugby, and has nine players a side....
competition for Under 8s; - The North Somerset Schools Tag Tournament, for school years 3/4 and 5/6;
- The Rhino Mendip Sevens, a rugby sevensRugby sevensRugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
competition for age groups U13, U14, and U15.