Penryn RFC

Penyrn RFC is a Cornish rugby union club based in the town of Penryn, and is the oldest club side in the county having been formed in 1872.[3] The club currently has 2 senior men's teams (the seconds are known as the Saracens) as well as a ladies team, colts, and multiple mini/youth sides (male and female). Nicknamed "The Borough" the club's colours are black and red.[4] The men's first team play in Western Counties West - a league at level 7 of the English rugby union system - having been promoted from Cornwall/Devon as champions at the end of the 2018–19 season. They enjoy a rivalry with neighbours, Falmouth RFC.

The Memorial Ground, home of Penryn RFC
Penryn RFC
Full namePenryn Rugby Football Club
UnionCornwall RFU
Nickname(s)The Borough
Founded1872 (1872)
LocationPenryn, Cornwall, England
Ground(s)Memorial Ground, (Capacity: 4,000 (200 seats)[1][2])
ChairmanStephen Long
PresidentSteve Booth
League(s)Western Counties West
2019–206th
Team kit
Official website
www.penrynrugby.com

History

Cornish dominance

Formed in 1872, Penryn are the oldest club side in Cornwall.[3] The 1960s and 1970s were the glory days for the club as they dominated domestic rugby. This period of dominance began during the 1964–65 season when the club claimed a hat-trick of titles including the South West Merit Table, the Cornwall Knock-out Cup and the Cornwall Sevens Cup.[5] In 1968 they claimed the inaugural Cornwall Cup when they defeated Redruth 5–0 at the Recreation Ground in nearby Falmouth.[6] Between 1968 and 1975, Penryn appeared in six finals, winning the cup five times which included sharing the 1970 cup after a 7–7 draw with St Ives (who also enjoyed great success during the early years of the cup).[7] At the time Penryn were so good that they were picked to face the British and Irish Lions in 1973 (and are still the only English club side to do so), losing 10–38 to the Lions at the Memorial Ground.[8] The glory days would not last forever and the 1975 final victory over Penzance & Newlyn would be the club's fifth and last Cornwall Cup title, as they began to be overtaken by other clubs in the region such as Redruth and Camborne.[9]

League rugby

The advent of the Courage leagues in 1987–88 saw Penryn placed in Courage Cornwall/Devon, a regional league ranked at tier 8 of the new league system. Penryn started league rugby well, winning successive league titles in 1989 and 1990 and gaining promotion to South West 2.[10][11] In 1992 the club gained a third promotion in five seasons when they went up to South West Division 1 – which at tier 5 is the highest league ranking the club have achieved in its history.[12] Early success in the league was counteracted with relegation in 1993 after just one season in South West Division 1.[13] The club would stabilize in South West 2 for the rest of the 1990s but as they moved into the millennium they were relegated to Western Counties West in 2001.[14] Two years later Penryn had one of their best seasons of recent memory as they won all 22 league games in Western Counties West on the way to claiming the title and promotion, scoring over 1,000 points in the process.[15] The club retained momentum the following season as they finished second in South West 2 West, qualifying for a promotion play-off which they won 23–19, away to South West 2 East runner-up Swanage and Wareham.[16][17]

The 2005–06 season saw Penryn in South West Division 1 which at tier 5 was the highest league ranking they had achieved since 1993. Although Penryn were competitive in the division, taking place in a furious relegation battle, they ended up going down on points difference (for/against) in 10th place, despite being tied on league points with relegation rivals, Clevedon and Oxford Harlequins.[18] As is sometimes the case with a relegated team, Penryn struggled the following season and went down for the second year running, after a poor league campaign that saw only 2 wins.[19] The slump was halted in 2009 when Penryn won the Tribute Cornwall/Devon title, following up with a second promotion in 2011 when they won Tribute Western Counties West.[20][21] Life in Tribute South West 1 West was short lived, however, and Penryn were relegated at the end of the 2011-12 season.[22] The 2015–16 season was a disappointing one for the club as they were relegated from Tribute Western Counties West, falling back down to Tribute Cornwall/Devon. They did have a chance of silverware at the end of the season but lost heavily to a very strong Camborne in the final of the Cornwall Cup held at Tregorrick Park in St Austell.[23][24] The club finished their first season back in Cornwall/Devon League in fifth place at the end of the 2016/17 season after relegation from Western Counties West.

At the end of the 2018-19 season Penryn were promoted as champions of Cornwall/Devon back into Western Counties West.

Season summary

Season League National Cup(s) County Cup(s)
Competition/Level Position Points Competition Performance Competition Performance
1987–88Cornwall/Devon (8)3rd17
1988–89Cornwall/Devon (8)1st (promoted)18
1989–90Western Counties (7)1st (promoted)[25]
1990–91South West 2 (6)
1991–92South West 2 (6)3rd (promoted)[26]
1992–93South West 1 (5)13th (relegated)[27]
1993–94South West 2 West (6)
1994–95South West 2 West (6)
1995–96South West 2 West (6)4th14
1996–97South West 2 West (6)6th[28]22
1997–98South West 2 West (6)11th[29]8
1998–99South West 2 West (6)11th[30]15
1999–00South West 2 West (6)8th[31]16
2000–01South West 2 West (6)12th (relegated)[32]6NPI Intermediate Cup6th Round[33]Cornwall Cup2nd Round[34]
2001–02Western Counties West (7)2nd (lost playoff)[35]38RFU Intermediate Cup4th Round[36]Cornwall CupRunners up
2002–03Western Counties West (7)1st (promoted)[37]44Powergen Cup1st RoundCornwall Cup2nd Round[38][39]
2003–04South West 2 West (6)2nd (promoted via playoff)[40]31Powergen Intermediate Cup3rd Round[41][42]Cornwall CupSemi-finals[43]
2004–05South West 1 (5)7th20Powergen Cup1st RoundCornwall CupRunners up
2005–06South West 1 (5)10th (relegated)[44]14Powergen Trophy2nd Round[45]Cornwall Cup2nd Round[46]
2006–07South West 2 West (6)11th (relegated)[47]1RFU Intermediate Cup1st Round[48]Cornwall Cup1st Round[49]
2007–08Western Counties West (7)12th (relegated)[50]0EDF Energy Senior Vase2nd Round[51]Cornwall Cup1st Round[52]
2008–09Cornwall/Devon (8)1st (promoted)[53]36EDF Energy Senior Vase1st Round[54]
2009–10Western Counties West (7)6th[55]29Cornwall Cup1st Round[56]
2010–11Western Counties West (7)1st (promoted)[57]103[a 1]Cornwall CupSemi-finals[58]
2011–12South West 1 West (6)12th (relegated)[59]45
2012–13Western Counties West (7)5th[60]79
2013–14Western Counties West (7)6th[61]65RFU Intermediate Cup4th Round[62]
2014–15Western Counties West (7)11th[63]40RFU Intermediate Cup4th Round[64][65]Cornwall CupSemi-finals[66]
2015–16Western Counties West (7)13th (relegated)[67]38Cornwall CupRunners up
2016–17Cornwall Devon (8)5th[68]71Cornwall Cup2nd Round[69][70]
2017–18Cornwall Devon (8)3rd[71]108Cornwall Cup2nd Round[72][73]
2018–19Cornwall Devon (8)1st (promoted)[74]113RFU Senior VaseSemi-finals (SW)[75]Cornwall CupQuarter-finals[76][77]
2019–20Western Counties West (7)6th74.10[a 2]Cornwall Cup
2020–21Western Counties West (7)
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

Notable former players

Notes

  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 Penryn sitting in 6th, having played 22 games and gained 65 points. The remaining games were calculated on a 'best playing record formula', with Penryn remaining in 6th place with 74.10 points.[78]

See also

References

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  2. "Penryn denied by last-gasp penalty". South West Farmers. 17 October 2007.
  3. "Penryn RFC". Penryn Town Council. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  4. "Penryn RFC". Penryn RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  5. "Penryn rugby players reunite after 50 years". Cornwall Live. 22 March 2015.
  6. "Cornish Glory: The History of Redruth Rugby". Redruth Rugby. 22 March 2015. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  7. "Honours - Honours 1 - St Ives RFC - Pitchero". Pitchero. 22 March 2015.
  8. "Penryn RFC on the up". Everything Rugby. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  9. "Re: PIRATES - The Best & The Worst". RugbyNetwork.net. 24 July 2009.
  10. Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990-91. Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd.
  11. Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1873057024.
  12. Cornwall Rugby Football Union Official Handbook 1992-93. Cornwall RFU. 1992.
  13. Official Handbook and Byelaws. Season 1992–93. Cornwall Rugby Football Union. 1992. p. 111.
  14. "South West 2 West 2000–2001". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  15. "Final League Tables 2002–2003". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  16. "South West 2 West 2003–2004". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  17. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  18. "South West 1, 2005–2006". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
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  20. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2008 - 2009". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  21. "Final League Tables, 2010–2011". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  22. "Tribute South West 1 West 2011–2012". England Rugby. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  23. "South West Division 2015-16". England Rugby. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  24. "Camborne overpower Penryn to make history with fourth Tribute Cornwall Cup win in a row". Western Morning News. 2 May 2016.
  25. Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1873057024.
  26. Cornwall Rugby Football Union Official Handbook 1992-93. Cornwall RFU. 1992.
  27. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 151–167. ISBN 0 7472 7891 1.
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  32. "South West 2 West 2000–2001". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  33. "Borough's cup hopes ended by Kenilworth". South West Farmer. 11 January 2001.
  34. "Cornish All-Blacks made to fight for victory". South West Farmer. 9 February 2001.
  35. "Final League Tables, 2001–2002". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  36. "Agony for Borough". South West Farmer. 29 November 2001.
  37. "Final League Tables 2002–2003". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  38. "All Blacks kill off cup dream". South West Farmer. 24 February 2003.
  39. "Pirates opt out of Cornwall Cup". South West Farmer. 20 June 2002.
  40. "South West 2 West 2003–2004". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  41. "Injury-hit Borough's pride remains intact". South West Farmer. 21 November 2003.
  42. "Walkover for Borough". South West Farmer. 23 October 2003.
  43. "Truro upset odds to reach cup final". South West Farmer. 15 April 2004.
  44. "South West 1, 2005–2006". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  45. "Powergen National Trophy 2005/06". Statbunker. 16 September 2005.
  46. "Upset as cup tie called off". South West Farmer. 4 January 2006.
  47. "Final League Tables, 2007–2008". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  48. "Effort is there but Borough unable to end dismal run". South West Farmer. 1 November 2006.
  49. "Bay expose gulf in class". South West Farmer. 3 January 2007.
  50. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2007 - 2008". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
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  53. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2008 - 2009". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
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  57. "Final League Tables, 2010–2011". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
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  63. "Tribute Western Counties West 2014–2015". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  64. "RUGBY: Twickenham dreams end for Penryn". South West Farmer. 27 January 2015.
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