Cheltenham Rugby Festival
Encyclopedia
GRL Cheltenham Rugby Festival is a rugby league nines
event held in Cheltenham
, Gloucestershire
. It is organised by the Gloucestershire County Rugby League in partnership with Cheltenham Borough Council and the Tourist Board.
It will take place on Friday 2 May at the Prince of Wales Stadium in Cheltenham. The event is intended to dovetail with the Rugby Football League’s Millennium Magic event in Cardiff on the weekend of 3–4 May.
It comprises two main elements: the All Golds Cup and the 1908 Cup.
event for eight senior teams.
The Cup is named in honour of the famous New Zealand team
that defeated England
at Cheltenham’s Athletic Ground on 15 February 1908 to win the first international rugby league series.
event for eight local schools at year 8.
The 1908 Cup commemorates the year of the All Golds match.
and represented England. He played in the All Golds test in Cheltenham in 1908.
Rugby league nines
Rugby league nines is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be...
event held in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. It is organised by the Gloucestershire County Rugby League in partnership with Cheltenham Borough Council and the Tourist Board.
It will take place on Friday 2 May at the Prince of Wales Stadium in Cheltenham. The event is intended to dovetail with the Rugby Football League’s Millennium Magic event in Cardiff on the weekend of 3–4 May.
It comprises two main elements: the All Golds Cup and the 1908 Cup.
All Golds Cup
The All Golds Cup is the festival’s main event. This is a rugby league ninesRugby league nines
Rugby league nines is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be...
event for eight senior teams.
The Cup is named in honour of the famous New Zealand team
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
that defeated England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
at Cheltenham’s Athletic Ground on 15 February 1908 to win the first international rugby league series.
- 2008 The British Army
- 2009 The Royal Air Force
- 2010 Warrington Wolves
William "Massa" Johnston Award
This is awarded to the player of the tournament and is named in honour of the New Zealand forward who scored the winning try for the All Golds in the last minutes of the game to secure an 8 - 5 victory.- 2008 Rob Smart (British Army)
- 2010 Rhys Evans (Warrington)
1908 Cup
This is a rugby league ninesRugby league nines
Rugby league nines is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be...
event for eight local schools at year 8.
The 1908 Cup commemorates the year of the All Golds match.
- 2008 Archway School, Stroud
Arthur Smith Award
The Arthur Smith Award is presented to the player of the tournament and is named in honour of the Gloucestershire rugby player who joined OldhamOldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
and represented England. He played in the All Golds test in Cheltenham in 1908.
- 2008 Billy Chick (Pittville School)
2009 Competition
The 2009 event took place on Friday 24 April 2009 at Newlands Park, With the Royal Navy winning the event. The winners of the event will qualify to play in the 2009 Carnegie Floodlit NinesCarnegie Floodlit Nines
Carnegie Floodlit Nines is a rugby league nines event held at Headingley Stadium in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The same stadium hosted the Headingley Sevens, rugby league sevens tournament from 1965-78...