Camborne RFC

Camborne RFC was established in 1878, and are one of the most famous rugby union clubs in Cornwall. They currently play in South West Premier following promotion from Tribute South West 1 West in 2015–16; a level five league in the English rugby union system. When the rugby union leagues were introduced in 1987, Camborne was the highest placed Cornish team and played in Area 4 South. They are also one of the most successful club sides in Cornwall having won the Cornish Cup ten times as of 2016 – level with local rivals Redruth – following a record fourth title in a row in 2016.[1] Camborne enjoys a strong a rivalry with neighbours Redruth, with the two clubs meeting each year, in what is the world's longest enduring rugby fixture.[2]

View of the grandstand at the Recreation Ground, home of Camborne RFC

Camborne RFC
Full nameCamborne Rugby Football Club
UnionCornwall RFU
Founded1878 (1878)
LocationCamborne, Cornwall, England
Ground(s)Recreation Ground (Capacity: 7,000 (780 seated))
ChairmanAndy Gill
PresidentJason Mitchell
Coach(es)Liam Chapple
League(s)South West Premier
2019–209th
Team kit
Official website
www.pitchero.com/clubs/cambornerfc/

History

Many original players were involved in the local tin mining industry especially at Camborne's Dolcoath mine which at that time was the deepest mine in Britain, and many were employed at the local machine tool manufacturer at Holman Brothers producing mining equipment. The first Camborne RFC game was played against Penzance in front of some 600 spectators in November 1877. At the start of the 1880–81 season the ground was a field near Camborne Consols (described as an ″old mine″), adjoining Holman Brothers' stone yard.[3]

In 1909–10 Camborne was the top Cornish team and in the following season no Cornish side managed to score a try against "Town" as they were then known. When the tin mining recession hit Cornwall in the late 19th-century many Camborne men and their successors were forced to emigrate to places such as South Africa, Australia and North and South America and along with their mining skills they also helped establish the game of rugby in these areas.

After the First World War in the early 1920s, rugby established a huge following in Camborne. Teams would change at a local hotel and march to the ground behind the Town band. In 1924 a crowd of 19,000 people gathered at Camborne to watch Cornwall, with no less than seven Camborne players, take on the New Zealand All Blacks, and matches against local rivals, Redruth, invariably pulled in crowds of around 6,000. Captain Crawshays Welsh Touring XV started to include Camborne on their fixture list in 1923. Crawshays teams were chosen from the leading clubs in Wales, and consisted of seasoned internationals and up and coming players who would usually go on to be internationals. In 1926–27, Camborne, also known as the Cherry and Whites were the top club in Cornwall and had their first win over a Crawshay side.

With the end of the Second World War the club was back in business and John Collins made his debut for the reserves team in 1946–47 and was selected to play at full back for England in 1952. The 1950s and 60's saw many more successful teams, and Camborne became the first Cornish side in 1968 to beat Ebbw Vale in eighteen Cornish tours.

The team became the most consistent and successful side in Cornwall in the 1970s, winning the Cornish league and cup in 1977–78, the league for the next four years running until 1982, again league champions 84–85 and 85–86, were the highest placed Cornish national league club 87–88 and 88–89, and achieved further Cornwall Cup wins in 1985, 1987, 1990 and 1992. Giant lock Andy Reed joined the Cherry and Whites in 1987, who was later to play for the all-conquering Bath Rugby team of the nineties and represent Scotland and the British and Irish Lions. In 1989 Cornwall reached the final of the County Championship at Twickenham against Durham and were represented by nine Camborne players out of the twenty-one man squad.

More recently youth development products Josh Matavesi and younger brother Sam have gone on to represent Fiji at International level. They are the sons of Camborne and Cornwall legend Serelli Matavesi.

Recreation Ground

Camborne is one of the grounds used by the Cornish rugby team and has hosted many notable international sides including the New Zealand All Blacks in 1905, 1924 and 1953, Australia in 1908, 1947 and 1967, South Africa 1960, United States 1977 and numerous other touring sides such as the South African Barbarians and Canterbury (NZ). In 2006 it was agreed to ground share the Recreation Ground with RFU Championship team the Cornish Pirates and the ground underwent a major refurbishment including a new stand for the 2007–08 season.[4] This arrangement has now ceased and the Pirates returned to play at the Mennaye, Penzance in 2010. The first stand was built in 1901 with a £400 loan from the local order of Oddfellows.[5]

The capacity of the Recreation Ground has varied over the decades. Up until the 1980s it was one of the largest rugby grounds in England with an official capacity of 18,582.[6] The current capacity (2018) is much reduced on this due to much tighter safety measures, being approximately 7,000, which includes 780 seated in the grandstand.[7] The Cornish Pirates came close to achieving a capacity crowd at the ground with a club-record attendance of 6,487 watching the Pirates play Northampton Saints on 9 September 2007.[8]

Season summary
Season League National Cup(s) County Cup(s)
Competition/Level Position Points Competition Performance Competition Performance
1987–88Area League South (4)4th12John Player Cup1st Round
1988–89Area League South (4)3rd13Cornwall CupRunners up
1989–90Area League South (4)4th13Cornwall CupWinners
1990–91National 4 South (4)[a 1]4th12Pilkington Cup2nd RoundCornwall CupRunners up
1991–92National 4 South (4)6th14Pilkington Cup3rd RoundCornwall CupWinners
1992–93National 4 South (4)4th (relegated)[a 2]14Pilkington Cup1st Round
1993–94Division 5 South (5)4th[9]14Pilkington Cup2nd Round
1994–95Division 5 South (5)8th[10]10Pilkington Cup2nd Round
1995–96Division 5 South (5)13th (relegated)[11]4Pilkington Cup1st Round
1996–97South West 1 (5)[a 3]12th (relegated)[12]0
1997–98South West 2 West (6)5th[13]24
1998–99South West 2 West (6)5th[14]23
1999–00South West 2 West (6)7th[15]18
2000–01South West 2 West (6)7th[16]20Tetley's Bitter Cup1st Round
2001–02South West 2 West (6)11th (relegated)[17]8Cornwall CupQuarter-finals[18]
2002–03Western Counties West (7)7th[19]21Powergen Intermediate Cup1st Round[20]Cornwall CupSemi-finals[21]
2003–04Western Counties West (7)1st (promoted)[22]41Powergen Intermediate Cup4th Round[23]Cornwall Cup1st Round[24]
2004–05South West 2 West (6)6th[25]24Powergen Intermediate Cup5th Round[26]Cornwall Cup2nd Round[27][28]
2005–06South West 2 West (6)8th[29]16Powergen Intermediate Cup2nd Round[30][31]
2006–07South West 2 West (6)4th[32]26EDF Energy Intermediate Cup2nd Round[33][34]Cornwall Cup4th Round[35]
2007–08South West 2 West (6)12th (relegated)[36]3EDF Energy Intermediate Cup2nd Round[37][38]Cornwall CupSemi-finals[39]
2008–09Western Counties West (7)9th[40]14EDF Energy Senior Vase5th Round[41]Cornwall CupRunners up
2009–10Western Counties West (7)1st (promoted)[42]47RFU Intermediate Cup4th Round[43][44]
2010–11South West 1 West (6)[a 4]5th[45]69[a 5]Cornwall CupWinners
2011–12South West 1 West (6)4th[46]83Cornwall CupSemi-finals[47]
2012–13South West 1 West (6)2nd (lost playoff)[48]99Cornwall CupWinners
2013–14South West 1 West (6)3rd[49]93Cornwall CupWinners
2014–15South West 1 West (6)6th[50]71Cornwall CupWinners
2015–16South West 1 West (6)1st (promoted)[51]110Cornwall CupWinners
2016–17National 3 South West (5)3rd[52]77
2017–18South West Premier (5)[a 6]7th[53]66
2018–19South West Premier (5)9th[54]70
2019–20South West Premier (5)9th55.20[a 7]
2020–21South West Premier (5)
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
  • Cornwall League/Merit Table champions (10): 1909–10, 1910–11, 1926–27, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1985–86
  • Cornwall Cup winners (10): 1977–78, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1989–90, 1991–92, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
  • Western Counties West champions (2): 2003–04, 2009–10
  • Rodda's Cup winners (3): 2011 (1), 2013 (1), 2018 (1)[a 8]
  • Tribute South West 1 West champions: 2015–16
  • Cornwall Super Cup winners: 2016–17

[57]

Notable former players

[58]

Notes
  1. RFU league restructuring for the 1990–91 season meant that Area League South was renamed National 4 South.
  2. RFU league restructuring for the 1993–94 season would see a new Courage League Division 5 introduced. This meant that all teams apart from the top two in National 4 South were relegated into the new division, including 4th placed Camborne.
  3. RFU restructuring, which included the cancellation of Courage League Division 5 (which Camborne were relegated from), meant that South West 1 would revert to being a level 5 league.
  4. The last time Camborne were in this division it had been known as South West 2 West. The name change to South West 1 West came following RFU league restructuring for the 2009–10 season.
  5. The 2010–11 season would see the introduction of bonus points into lower league English rugby union (tier 6 and below).
  6. The RFU league restructuring for the 2017–18 season meant that National 3 South West was renamed South West Premier.
  7. The season was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom with Camborne sitting in 9th, having played 20 games and gained 46 points. The remaining games were calculated on a 'best playing record formula', with Camborne remaining in 9th place with 55.20 points.[55]
  8. Note that the Rodda's Cup fixture between Camborne and Redruth is contested twice a season on a home and away basis, once on Boxing Day and then again in either March or April. Also note that the cup was first competed for on the Boxing Day of 2010.[56]

See also

References
  1. "Camborne overpower Penryn to make history with fourth Tribute Cornwall Cup win in a row". Western Morning News. 2 May 2016.
  2. "Three generations of Rodda family on hand to see Camborne claim Rodda's Milk Cup". Falmouth Packet. 6 January 2014.
  3. "Camborne Football Club". The Cornishman (119). 21 October 1880. p. 7.
  4. Pirates to groundshare at Camborne RFC
  5. "The Recreation-Ground Grand-Stand". The Cornishman (1176). 17 January 1901. p. 6.
  6. "JOT - Hillsborough Independent Panel" (PDF). Hillsborough Independent Panel. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  7. "Facilities". Camborne RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  8. "Cornish Pirates 26 Northampton Saints 35". Cornish Pirates. 9 September 2007. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  9. "Courage League - Division 5 1993/94". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  10. "Courage League - Division 5 1994/95". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  11. "Courage League - Division 5 1995/96". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  12. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1996-97". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  13. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1997-98". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  14. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1998-99". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  15. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1999-2000". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  16. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2000 - 2001". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  17. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2001 - 2002". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  18. "Truro power to cup win". South West Farmer. 3 January 2002.
  19. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2002 - 2003". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  20. "Same result, better display". South West Farmer. 26 September 2002.
  21. "SATURDAY 15TH MARCH". Trelawny's Army. 15 March 2003.
  22. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2003 - 2004". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  23. "Brave effort, but cup run over for Camborne". South West Farmer. 22 January 2004.
  24. "Home cup game with Bude for Penryn". South West Farmer. 25 March 2004.
  25. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2004 - 2005". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  26. "SATURDAY 27TH NOVEMBER". Trelawny's Army. 27 November 2004.
  27. "Camborne beaten after pulsating tie". South West Farmer. 6 January 2005.
  28. "SATURDAY 18TH DECEMBER". Trelawny's Army. 18 December 2004.
  29. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2005 - 2006". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  30. "Camborne's cup hopes dashed". South West Farmer. 19 October 2005.
  31. "Rugby Union Results". Daily Telegraph. 17 October 2005.
  32. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2006 - 2007". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  33. "'Town beaten in cup clash'". South West Farmer. 22 November 2006.
  34. "Camborne safely through". South West Farmer. 2 November 2006.
  35. "Derby treat". South West Farmer. 10 January 2007.
  36. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2008 - 2009". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  37. "Coney Hill's pace sets up cup win". South West Farmer. 21 November 2007.
  38. "EDF Energy Intermediate Cup and Vase draws". Rugby Week. 18 October 2007.
  39. "Wadebridge Camels: Archive Match Reports". Pitchero. 22 March 2008.
  40. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2008 - 2009". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  41. "OIRATES KEEP THE FLAG FLYING". Trelawny's Army. 19 January 2009.
  42. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2009 - 2010". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  43. "Old Redcliffians end Camborne's Twickenham dream". South West Farmer. 2 March 2010.
  44. "South West Division Cups". England Rugby. 2 March 2010.
  45. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2010 - 2011". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  46. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2011 - 2012". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  47. "Saints draw Bude in Cornwall Cup Semi Finals". St Austell RFC (Pitchero). 17 March 2012.
  48. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2012 - 2013". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  49. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2013 - 2014". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  50. "Tribute South West 1 West 2014–2015". England Rugby. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  51. "Tribute South West 1 West 2015–2016". England Rugby. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  52. "National League 3 South West 2016–2017". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  53. "South West Premier 2017–2018". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  54. "South West Premier 2018–2019". England Rugby. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  55. "RFU confirms league positions". England Rugby. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  56. "Club Honours". Redruth Rugby Football Club (Pitchero). Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  57. "Camborne RFC: Honours 1". Pitchero. 22 March 2015.
  58. Salmon, Tom (1983). The First Hundred Years. Illogan: Cornwall RFU. pp. 126–8. ISBN 0946664 01 3.
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