A
brief history
Key
Dates
The
Cheltenham System
1905 Cheltenham V New Zealand
A
brief history of Cheltenham Rugby Football Club (1889
- 2003)
William
Webb Ellis first picked up the ball and ran with it
at Rugby School in 1823 and the union football game
then slowly spread through the public schools, until
Cheltenham College introduced it there in 1844.
Cheltenham
Town established a Town rugby club 114 years ago in
1889, via the influence of the College and a number
of exceptional administrators, many of whom had received
military rank after long service in India and the
Colonies. Additionally strong links were forged with
local businessmen and traders, and the Borough Council
especially took an active interest in the Clubs affairs.
The
Welsh connection was another major factor in the Clubs
development; many players from the valley's moved
to Cheltenham in search of jobs and hence strengthened
the Town XVs
Ultimately
this lead to Cheltenham building up one of the finest
fixture lists in England and Wales, earning the reputation
as a "First-Class Club".
The Club produced two full international players:
L. W. Haywood (1910)
T. W. Price (1950)
And one Wales International
E. Gwynn-Davies (1930)
The
Cheltenham RFC President in the 1970s was the British
Lions player WPC Davies, who appeared on many
occasions in Cheltenham colours (and whom many will
remember as sharing the Lions midfield pairing with
JG Butterfield). England International Roger Hosen,
whilst a teacher at Cheltenham College, donned a Cheltenham
Jersey several times.
Six
players have represented the Barbarians and over 150
players the full Gloucestershire XV. Many Town administrators
have held office, as high as President, for our County
stronghold.
Cheltenhams
encouragement of youth rugby is unequalled with many
young players appearing in both England colours and
also the Home Unions and other World countries. Selection
for England has occurred at 21 level, Colts Age-group
and the schools (15-19 age-groups)
In
recent years and since its revolutionary inception
in 1960, the success of the Town colts age-group (under
19s) has been unparalleled and has often been described
as "The Jewel in the Crown" of the Cheltenham club.
Created by former Cheltenham player Norman Rees
and Pat Todd 43 years ago, the Colts achieved
huge representation at National Boys Club level (76
players), Gloucestershire Boys Clubs (119 players),
Gloucestershire Colts (100 players) and Gloucestershire
Under 18s.
At
England level, four Colts have worn the Red Rose,
as did eight Colts for England Schools (under 18s).
The most outstanding players to have won recognition
after graduating from the Colts are prop Phil Blakeway
(British Lions, England, Barbarians), lock John
Fidler (England, Barbarians), flanker Bernard
Capaldi (England reserve, Barbarians) and currently
Peter Buxton (England A, Gloucester)
Since
moving to the new ground in 1981, Mike Edwards and
John Woodward took over the reins and helped make
the colts a formidable group within national rugby
circles.
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Key
Dates in Cheltenham RFC History
1889
- Bill Sawyer rode through the Town streets on his
penny farthing bicycle proclaiming the birth of Cheltenham
Rugby Football Club.
1895
- Within 6 years, Cheltenham rose to become one of
the leading sides in the West of England with matches
against Bath, Gloucester, Bristol, Leicester, Cardiff
and Newport.
1899
- After playing on pitches around the town, including
Montpelier and Pitville (rear of the Pump Rooms) Cheltenham
took posession of their new 'Athletic Ground' in the
centre of Town (albion STreet. They remained there
for 82 years.
1903
- Cheltenham became members of the RUgby Football
Union - Happy 100th !!
1905
- On December 6th, Cheltenham played the mighty 'All
Blacks' in front of 8000 spectators, losing only 18
- 0, whereas both Gloucester and Bath succumbed by
over 40 points. Another red letter day for the club.
1909
- Cheltenham first encounter with the famous Barbarians.
This acted as the forerunner to the visitors tour
to Wales until 1914.
1910
- The Town produced its first International player
when L W Hayward played in the centre for England
against Ireland at the new Twickenham headquarters.
1930
- Completion of Cheltenham best ever season. Unbeaten
in their 24 consecutive home matches and undefeated
by any English side (Played 35, Won 30, Drew 2, Lost
3).
1960
- Cheltenhams phenomenal service to youth rugby begins
with the formation of the Colts XV.
1974
- he Town becomes one of the first Clubs in the country
toform a Mini & Junior section, which still flourishes
today.
1976
- The 1st XV did not win a match for 19 months - an
unenviable feat that made an entry into the Guiness
Book of Records !
1981
- In september, Cheltenham moved to a brand new sports
complex at the Prince of Wales Stadium, where they
played the world famous Harlequins to celebrate the
occasion.
1990
- The Club formed a Ladies XV which today plays in
the National Leagues. This brought the number of Club
teams to a staggering count of 18 sides.
1995
The Professional era of leagues began with Cheltenham
ceded to National League Division 4 (South).
2000
- Former Town player, Chris White, became one of the
first professional referees and has since then officiated
at many World / IRB Cup matches.
2003
- The club begin to investigate the possibility of
moving to a purpose built 'Centre of Excellence' by
teaming up with developers for a £4 million state-of-the-art
stadium in Swindon Village.
2006
- Cheltenham are relegated into South West 2 East
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"Rugby
fact" The Cheltenham System
It
took a long time to come to an agreement on the methods
of scoring. For many years no points were awarded
for what we now call a try, but was then called a
touchdown or ' rouge.'
The
crossing of the line was merely the opportunity for
a 'try' at goal and conversion by kicking the ball
between the posts was the thing that counted. In the
first match between England and Scotland, played in
Edinburgh in 1871, the Scots won by a goal and a try
to a try.
This
method of reckoning, as you may imagine, was bound
to displease many people, especially those who had
struggled with heart and soul to cross the enemy's
line.
There
was a period during the seventies and eighties when
three touch-downs or rouges counted as one try and
three tries made one goal. This seemed a miserly reward
for so mighty a labour, even though in 1875 it was
conceded that if there were no goals or if the number
of goals scored was equal, any tries scored could
be counted as a decider.
A
dozen years passed before a further change was made
and the Rugby Football Union adopted what was known
as the Cheltenham system, from the rules then
in use at Cheltenham College. The try came into its
own at last and, although it only counted one point,
it did count. Three tries were reckoned equal to one
goal.
There
were still more changes in the nineties and it was
not until 1905, the year of the visit of the first
All Blacks, that scoring was fixed almost as we have
it today, with five points for a goal from a try;
four points from a dropped goal and three points for
a goal from a penalty or a mark.
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Cheltenham
V New Zealand 1905
|
Athletic
and Recreation Ground Cheltenham, England Wednesday,
6 December 1905
Fulltime:
New Zealand 18, Cheltenham 0
Halftime: New Zealand 15, Cheltenham 0
Conditions: Weather fine, ground good
Attendance: 12000
|
|
|
Scorers:
Tries:
Conversions:
|
New
Zealand
H.
Abbot(3),
F.
Roberts
E.
Harper(3)
|
Cheltenham
|
More
details about this game
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