Gibraltar Rugby Football Club
Encyclopedia
The Gibraltar Barbarians Rugby Football Club (GRFC) is a Rugby union
club from Gibraltar
and the surrounding Campo
in Spain
, who play in the Andalucian
League as Gibraltar Barbarians RFC. They play their home games in the town of Guadiaro
near Sotogrande
in the Cadiz province of Spain. They currently play in the 1 Division National of the Federacion Andaluza de Rugby (FAR). In 2010, Campo Gibraltar is now a Gibraltar based team and its name has been changed to Gibraltar Barbarians RFC.
The closure of the land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain in 1968 saw local rugby diminish in popularity but fortunately tag Rugby ensured that it did not entirely disappear. In 1985 the land frontier re-opened and with it the local league once again became an important part of Gibraltar's weekly sporting calendar with games being played in Spain on grass pitches mostly located within 15 minutes of Gibraltar. GRFC prospered within the local league and since 1985 with the exception of three years when the Duke of Wellington Regiment were posted to Gibraltar the GRFC won the league year after year. Games against Spanish sides during the 1980s were played on a friendly basis primarily against sides from Seville and Madrid. Spanish rugby grew in popularity and by 1990 the GRFC began to struggle against premier league sides but enjoyed very competitive games against First Division regional teams in Andalusia.
The reduction in Military personal in 1991/1992 and the positive approach by the Andalusian Rugby Federation that uniquely kept politics out of sport meant that it became clear that the GFRC future was playing within the Andalusian League and the 1992/93 season saw GRFC fully integrated into the Second Division of Andalusia. Players from forces sides joined the GRFC and by 1994 the GFRC were at their strongest historically. In that same year the GRFC were promoted to the First Division almost wining it in the first year.Throughout this period the GRFC toured regularly entering tournaments in Spain and Portugal with considerable success both at 15's and 7's. The highlight was winning the Benidorm 7's tournament Club section in 1996. Ireland won the national section.
By 2000 the retirement of a crop of players at the same time led to GRFC dropping to the Second Division where they stayed until 2004/05 when they were once again promoted. In their first year in the First Division they ended up Third but the failure to produce a youth side meant that they were relegated to the Second Division.
The GRFC organised a youth section of the club to ensure they gained their rightful place in the First Division.
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...
club from Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
and the surrounding Campo
Campo de Gibraltar
The comarca of the Campo de Gibraltar is a comarca in the province of Cádiz, Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of continental Western Europe...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, who play in the Andalucian
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
League as Gibraltar Barbarians RFC. They play their home games in the town of Guadiaro
Guadiaro
The Guadiaro is a river in the Spanish provinces of Cádiz and Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. It flows southward from the Sierra Bermeja through the Sierra de Grazalema and discharges into the Mediterranean at Sotogrande. The river is notable for having some of the only...
near Sotogrande
Sotogrande
Sotogrande is the largest resort and privately owned residential development in Andalusia. A large part of the resort is administered by NH Hotels and it is considered part of the NH World...
in the Cadiz province of Spain. They currently play in the 1 Division National of the Federacion Andaluza de Rugby (FAR). In 2010, Campo Gibraltar is now a Gibraltar based team and its name has been changed to Gibraltar Barbarians RFC.
History
Gibraltar Rugby Football Club was established immediately after the Second World War. After the repatriation of displaced Gibraltarians locals who had learnt to play rugby either at English Schools or whilst being in the forces started to play the resident teams from the Army, Navy and RAF in a pitch in neighbouring Spain (given the lack of grass pitches in Gibraltar). Initially it would be fair to say that the military sides were dominant but by the 60s the Latin flair which became a trade mark of Gibraltar's style of rugby became evident and it is fair to say that GRFC became the dominant force in the area. A local league consisting of GRFC, Army, Navy and RAF was set up in the mid 60's which added a more structured and competitive framework within which to play.The closure of the land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain in 1968 saw local rugby diminish in popularity but fortunately tag Rugby ensured that it did not entirely disappear. In 1985 the land frontier re-opened and with it the local league once again became an important part of Gibraltar's weekly sporting calendar with games being played in Spain on grass pitches mostly located within 15 minutes of Gibraltar. GRFC prospered within the local league and since 1985 with the exception of three years when the Duke of Wellington Regiment were posted to Gibraltar the GRFC won the league year after year. Games against Spanish sides during the 1980s were played on a friendly basis primarily against sides from Seville and Madrid. Spanish rugby grew in popularity and by 1990 the GRFC began to struggle against premier league sides but enjoyed very competitive games against First Division regional teams in Andalusia.
The reduction in Military personal in 1991/1992 and the positive approach by the Andalusian Rugby Federation that uniquely kept politics out of sport meant that it became clear that the GFRC future was playing within the Andalusian League and the 1992/93 season saw GRFC fully integrated into the Second Division of Andalusia. Players from forces sides joined the GRFC and by 1994 the GFRC were at their strongest historically. In that same year the GRFC were promoted to the First Division almost wining it in the first year.Throughout this period the GRFC toured regularly entering tournaments in Spain and Portugal with considerable success both at 15's and 7's. The highlight was winning the Benidorm 7's tournament Club section in 1996. Ireland won the national section.
By 2000 the retirement of a crop of players at the same time led to GRFC dropping to the Second Division where they stayed until 2004/05 when they were once again promoted. In their first year in the First Division they ended up Third but the failure to produce a youth side meant that they were relegated to the Second Division.
Promotion into the First Division
During the 2006-2007 season the club played in Group A of the Andalucian Regional League 2, they finished top of the league winning 7 out of 8 games in the process and then went on to beat local rivals Marbella 3-0 in a playoff final on the 15th April for promotion back to Regional League 1.The GRFC organised a youth section of the club to ensure they gained their rightful place in the First Division.
| Team | Games Played | Games Won | Games Drawn | Games Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campo Gibraltar | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 207 | 66 | 14 |
| CR Atletico Portuense | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 305 | 92 | 12 |
| Marbella RC | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 101 | 129 | 7 |
| CR Malaga | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 95 | 263 | 5 |
| CR Ciudad San Roque 89 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 51 | 209 | 0 |