Bangor RFC

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Bangor RFC
Full nameBangor Rugby Football Club
Founded1876
LocationBangor
Gwynedd
Ground(s)Cae Milltir
PresidentHis Hon Judge Merfyn Hughes
Coach(es)Dickie Brace
League(s)WRU Division Three North
2013-144th[1]
Team kit
Official website
www.bangor-rugby.co.uk

Bangor Rugby Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Rygbi Bangor) is a Welsh rugby union team based in Bangor, North Wales. Bangor RFC is a founding member of the Welsh Rugby Union.[2] The club fields a Seniors, Youth, Juniors and Ladies teams.

History[edit]

Bangor RFC was formed in 1876, with three players in the team who would eventually represent their country, Hugh Vincent, Charles Allen and Godfrey Darbishire. In 1881 Bangor RFC sent representatives to the Castle Hotel in Neath where they were one of the clubs that formed the Welsh Rugby Union.[3] That same year Bangor RFC player Godfrey Darbishire played in the first Welsh international against England.[4]

All competitive rugby ceased in Wales after the outbreak of World War I, and Bangor RFC disbanded. Although rugby was played after the War it wasn't until 1929 that Bangor RFC reformed and played in the North Wales Rugby Union league.[5] Bangor RFC were based in Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey until 1962, when they moved to The Wern on Caernarfon Road, Bangor. The Club relocated again in 1995 to its current base in Llandygai. The club has helped develop 8 Welsh internationals and 3 British Lions. Former player Tony Gray was coach of the Triple Crown winning Welsh National side in 1988.

Present day[edit]

The 1st XV is currently playing in SWALEC Division 2 North.

Players of note[edit]

Rugby League[edit]

  • Scotland Phil Vievers (1 cap) (Current Salford City Reds Coach)
  • England Chris Byrne (GB Students)
  • England Ben Barton (Huddersfield Giants)

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Official WRU League Tables Archived 2009-05-03 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ BBC News (8 July 2004). "Wales' regional rugby map". BBC. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  3. ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp41, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
  4. ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp40, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
  5. ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp271, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)