Walsall RFC
Full name | Walsall Rugby Football Club Ltd | |
---|---|---|
Union | Staffordshire RU | |
Founded | 1922 | |
Location | Walsall, West Midlands, England | |
Ground(s) | Broadway Ground (Capacity: 1,150 (150 stand)[1]) | |
Chairman | Timothy Smith | |
President | Timothy Smith | |
League(s) | Regional 2 West Midlands | |
2022–23 | 2nd | |
| ||
Official website | ||
walsallrfcltd |
Walsall Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Walsall in the West Midlands, playing home games at the Broadway Ground, Delves Road. The club operates four senior men's teams, a colts side as well as a full range of junior teams (ages 6–17). The men's 1st XV currently plays in Regional 2 West Midlands (Level 6).
History
Walsall RFC was formed in 1922.[2] Historically part of Staffordshire they were first members of the North Midlands Rugby Football Union before joining the Staffordshire Rugby Union as it became established in the 1960s.[3][4] In the 1970s and early 1980s Walsall would become one of the most successful clubs in Staffordshire rugby, winning the inaugural Staffordshire Senior Cup during the 1976–77 season and would go on to win the cup 5 times in the first 10 years of the competition.[5]
The advent of league rugby in 1987–88 saw Walsall placed in
Having spent the greater part of the past decade in the national leagues, the
Although Walsall started the 21st century well, winning three Staffordshire Senior Cup titles in a row between 2000 and 2003 (11 wins overall), they were unable to make a return to the national leagues, with the 2001–02 season being the closet when they made the promotion playoffs but were ultimately well beaten by northern side Hull Ionians.[7] In more recent times the club has struggled with two relegations in 2006–07 and 2015–16 seeing them falling to their lowest ever league position playing in tier 7 (Midlands 2 West (North)).[8][9]
Honours
- Amsterdam Sevens winners (2): 1972, 1973
- Midlands Junior Cup winners: 1976
- Staffordshire Senior Cup winners (11): 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003
- Midlands 1champions: 1988–89
- Courage League Division 5 North champions: 1994–95
See also
References
- ^ "Club's stand ruined by arsonists". Express & Star. 21 March 2008.
- ^ "History of Walsall RFC". Walsall RFC. 8 May 2017.
- ^ "History". North Midlands RFU. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ "STAFFORDSHIRE RUGBY HISTORY". Staffordshire RU. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ "Previous Winners". Staffordshire RU. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ "Rugby clubs face relegation over foot and mouth". The Daily Telegraph. 19 June 2001.
- ^ "Rugby Union: Errors end Walsall's hopes of rapid return; Hull Ionians 35 Walsall 22". The Birmingham Post. 13 May 2002.
- ^ "Midlands 1 2006–07". England Rugby. 24 April 2007.
- ^ "Midlands 1 West 2015–16". England Rugby. 30 April 2016.