Camborne RFC
Encyclopedia
Camborne RFC were established in 1878, and are one of the most famous rugby union
clubs in Cornwall
. They currently play in the Western Counties West division and their club colours are Cherry and White. When the Rugby National Leagues were formed in 1987, Camborne
were the highest placed Cornish
team and were entered into National League 4 South.
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. In 1909-10 Camborne were the top Cornish team and in the following season no other 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 7 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 RFC
Welsh Touring XV started to include Camborne on their fixture list in 1923. Crayshays 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 they got 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 18 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 4 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 85, 87, 90 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.
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 local Division One team the Cornish Pirates
and the ground has undergone major reburbishment including a new stand for the 2007-8 season.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
clubs in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. They currently play in the Western Counties West division and their club colours are Cherry and White. When the Rugby National Leagues were formed in 1987, Camborne
Camborne
Camborne is a town and civil parish in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is at the western edge of a conurbation comprising Camborne, Pool and Redruth....
were the highest placed Cornish
Cornish rugby
Rugby union in Cornwall is one of the Duchy's most popular sports.-CRFU:The Cornwall Rugby Football Union was formed in 1883. It is a union of 39 rugby union clubs which includes every rugby union club in Cornwall, the open age Cornwall representative side and representative teams at various age...
team and were entered into National League 4 South.
Camborne RFC history
Many original players were involved in the local tin mining industry especially at Camborne's Dolcoath mineDolcoath mine
Dolcoath mine was a copper and tin mine in Camborne, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. Its name derives from the Cornish for 'Old Ground', and it was also affectionately known as The Queen of Cornish Mines. The site is north-west of Carn Brea. Dolcoath Road runs between the A3047 road and Chapel Hill...
which at that time was the deepest mine in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and many were employed at the local machine tool manufacturer at Holman Brothers
Holman Bros Ltd
Holman Brothers Ltd. was a mining equipment manufacturer founded in 1801 based in Camborne, Cornwall, UK.Holman was Camborne's, and indeed Cornwall's largest manufacturer of industrial equipment. Holman played a part in World War II making the Polish designed 20mm Polsten gun, similar to the...
producing mining equipment. The first Camborne RFC game was played against Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
in front of some 600 spectators in November 1877. In 1909-10 Camborne were the top Cornish team and in the following season no other 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
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
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 7 Camborne players, take on the New Zealand 'All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
', and matches against local rivals, Redruth
Redruth
Redruth is a town and civil parish traditionally in the Penwith Hundred in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It has a population of 12,352. Redruth lies approximately at the junction of the A393 and A3047 roads, on the route of the old London to Land's End trunk road , and is approximately west of...
, invariably pulled in crowds of around 6,000. Captain Crawshays RFC
Crawshays RFC
Crawshays Welsh RFC is an invitational rugby union team.In 1922 Captain Geoffrey Crawshay was invited by the Engineer Commander of Devonport Services, SF Cooper, to bring a team of Welsh rugby union players to play Devonport Services RFC...
Welsh Touring XV started to include Camborne on their fixture list in 1923. Crayshays teams were chosen from the leading clubs in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, 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 they got 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
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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
Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River, south Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough...
in 18 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 4 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 85, 87, 90 and 1992. Giant lock Andy Reed
Andy Reed (rugby player)
Andy Reed is a former Cornish rugby union player who played lock for Bodmin RFC, Camborne RFC, Bath Rugby, London Wasps and represented Scotland 18 times at international level between 1993 to 1999...
joined the Cherry and Whites in 1987, who was later to play for the all-conquering Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
team of the nineties and represent Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. In 1989 Cornwall reached the final of the County Championship at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
against Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
and were represented by nine Camborne players out of the twenty-one man squad.
The Recreation Ground
Camborne is one of the grounds used by the Cornish rugbyCornish rugby
Rugby union in Cornwall is one of the Duchy's most popular sports.-CRFU:The Cornwall Rugby Football Union was formed in 1883. It is a union of 39 rugby union clubs which includes every rugby union club in Cornwall, the open age Cornwall representative side and representative teams at various age...
team and has hosted many notable international sides including the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
'All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
' in 1905, 1924 and 1953, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1908, 1947 and 1967, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
1960, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 local Division One team the Cornish Pirates
Cornish Pirates
The Cornish Pirates are an English professional rugby union team who play in the Championship, the second level of the English rugby union pyramid, and are the premier Cornish rugby club. Formerly known as Penzance & Newlyn Pirates, the Cornish Pirates play their home games and train at their...
and the ground has undergone major reburbishment including a new stand for the 2007-8 season.