Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.

Birmingham & Solihull Bees
Full name	Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.
Founded	1989
Location	Solihull, England
Ground(s)	Damson Park (Capacity: 3,050)
Coach(es)	Russell Earnshaw
League(s)	National League 1
2010–2011	12th (relegated)
1st kit	2nd kit
Official website
	www.beesrugby.com

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Birmingham and Solihull Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing Birmingham and Solihull. It was formed in 1989 by a merger of the original Birmingham and Solihull rugby clubs, which were both established over 60 years ago.

The club's original name was Birmingham and Solihull RFC, but in 2001 due to the club colours of black, white, red and gold, and the alliteration of the name, the club underwent a large scale rebranding, forming the moniker Bees Rugby. The team have since become known as the Bees (in the same way London Wasps were known as Wasps).

Birmingham Bees are remembered by many fans for their cup success of 2004, in which they caused the biggest upset in the professional rugby era by beating London Wasps 28–24 in the quarter final of the Powergen Cup overcoming odds of 250–1, known as "The Greatest Ever Sporting Upset", subsequently playing Newcastle Falcons in the semi final, live on BBC television. The club however hit rock bottom just two seasons later in 2005–06 when they finished last in National Division One but were saved from relegation because of league expansion.

In October 2006 it was announced that Bees were in the planning stage of building a £60 million super stadium at their training ground known as Portway just off the M42 in Solihull. It would be one of the nation's largest sports villages to rival anything built for the 2012 Olympics. Plans include a regional sports academy, education and conference centre, 12,000 capacity stadium, seven all-weather rugby pitches, archery and shooting ranges and a watersports lake.

In June 2007 Bees coach Steve Williams left the club with one year still left on his contact to become assistant manager at Magners League side Ulster. Williams a former Northampton and London Irish player won 29 caps for Wales.

The 2007–08 season began under a split coaching structure in which two former England Sevens internationals had equal control over the squad. Ben Harvey coached the backs and Russell Earnshaw was player/forwards coach. The coaching structure however was widely viewed as unsuccessful and former Bees scrum-half Harvey was sacked shortly before Christmas. On a temporary basis former Rotherham head coach Andre Bester was appointed to take charge of the side before being replaced by former Wales A coach Allan Lewis.

In November 2007 it was announced that Bees would sell their Sharmans Cross Road pitch and play at local football side Solihull Moors Damson Park as part of a ground share arrangement.

On 28 January former Llanelli centre Allan Lewis was announced as the head coach of Bees. Lewis brought experience to the club after previously holding the role of head coach at Celtic Warriors, Moseley, Newport and Bridgend. Lewis had also worked with the Welsh national squad working as selector, backs coach and Wales A head coach at different times throughout his career. However by 17 April it was reported that Lewis would not remain at the club past the 2007–08 season and would return to his post at Hartpury College.

Bees were relegated to National Division Two at the end of the 2007–08 season finishing in 15th position.

Birmingham and Solihull finished the 2008–09 season as winners of National Division Two and were promoted to the newly formed Championship. Fly half Mark Woodrow finished as top point scorer within the National Leagues and winger Simon Hunt as top try scorer.

[edit] A New Beginning

Bees' campaign in the 2009–10 season was blighted by administration, a fate which also befell Coventry. Bees finished the main season on negative points, rock bottom of the table. However, with a mini-league of the bottom four teams to be played to decide relegation, all hope was not lost.

Unfortunately, due to an administration error back in January, Bees were to start the playoff league on −2 points. The odds were stacked against them.

Yet despite all this, on 1 May 2010, Bees turned out at Billesley Common and held on to win 34–38 versus a determined Moseley Side. With the result at Clifton Lane having to go to Rotherham for Bees to stay up, the Moseley announcer did not take too long in letting the waiting crowd know the score. Rotherham had beaten Coventry at Butts Park, and Bees were safe.

However, their stay in English rugby union's second tier was not confirmed until the 26th May 2010, when the RFU published a Press Release confirming that Bees had passed an audit of their finances and business plan – and were accepted as full members of the union.

[edit] Current standings

[edit] Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.

Player	Position	Union
Ben Gerry	Hooker	England
Ross McMillan	Hooker	England
Dan Oselton	Hooker	England
Rob Dugard	Prop	England
Leo Halavatau	Prop	Tonga
Matt Long (c)	Prop	England
Joe Reid	Prop	England
Mauro Sperandio	Prop	Argentina
Ngalu Tau	Prop	Tonga
Alex Ball	Lock	England
Dan Sanderson (loan)	Lock	England
Dan Wright	Lock	England
Jack Bentall	Flanker	England
Rob Connolly	Flanker	Ireland
Mike Denbee	Flanker	England
Ross Noonan	Flanker	Ireland
Jack Preece	Flanker	England
Adam Clayton	Number 8	England
Russell Earnshaw	Number 8	England
Mark Hopley	Number 8	England

Player	Position	Union
John Brake	Scrum-half	England
Rod Petty	Scrum-half	Australia
Jimmy Williams	Scrum-half	England
Sam Robinson	Fly-half	England
Mark Woodrow	Fly-half	England
Ben Barkley	Centre	England
Ed Binham	Centre	England
Sam Cox	Centre	England
Oliver Grove	Centre	Scotland
Will Lawson	Centre	England
Mitch Culpin	Wing	England
Ian Davey	Wing	England
John Holtby	Wing	England
Simon Hunt	Wing	England
Tomasi Tanumi	Wing	Fiji
Tom Foden	Fullback	England
Ollie Winter	Fullback	England