Tumble RFC
Encyclopedia
Tumble RFC is a rugby union
club representing the village of Tumble
, South Wales
. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union
and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets
.
The club first won the Challenge Cup in 1933, and retained ownership of the trophy for a further two seasons. In season 1937/38 the club was crowned West Wales Champions for the first time.
In season 1945/46 the club won its first post war trophy when it picked up the Challenge Cup for the fourth time. Tumble successfully defended the trophy the following season. The club won the Challenge Cup in 1946/47 and the Championship again in season 1949/50.
During the next three decades the club’s success waned a little. Tumble only won the Challenge Cup twice, in seasons 1962/63 and 1971/72. Then came the Eighties – what can be seen as the club’s Golden Era.
In 1983/84 Tumble were crowned West Wales Champions for the first time in 34 years, a title they reclaimed the following year, along with the Challenge Cup. They held onto the cup for a further four years and in 1987/88 they won the West Wales Championship for the last time.
In 1990 Tumble gained Heineken National League status. In 1991/92 the club won the Heineken League Division 4 Championship. In 1995/96 the club reclaimed the Challenge Cup for the twelfth time. The club celebrated it’s centenary in season 1996/97. In 2006/07 the club won the WRU Division 3 West Championship and the Brains SA Bowl. The club suffered successive relegations in seasons 2007/08 and 2008/09 and found themselves in Division 4 West at the beginning of season 2009/10.
The return of brothers Arwel and Gareth Davies was the catalyst for a revival of fortunes. The 1st XV won both the 2009/10 Division 4 West title and the WWRU Brains SA Plate. Season 2010/11 finds the club back in WRU Division 3 West.
The club has a fine history of producing players that have gone on to make a name for themselves at a higher level. One of Tumble's most notable players, was Welsh
international Archie Skym
. Although Skym had already moved to Llanelli RFC
at the time he was first capped, he came to the attention of larger clubs when representing Tumble. He joined the team from a local side at Drefach, and in December 1926 left Tumble for the Scarlets.
British Lion Gareth Davies (rugby player) is a native of the village and played for Tumble before making a name for himself in the 1970's and 80's with Cardiff RFC
and Wales. In more recent times fellow Lion Dwayne Peel
started his career with the club and played through the junior system before representing Llanelli Scarlets
, Sale Sharks
Wales and the Lions.
Other notable former players from recent years are Richard Rees the Neath, Newport, Swansea, Scarlets and Wales wing, Darren Allinson
the London Irish
scrum half, Hugh Gustafson
the Newport Gwent Dragons
prop, Nicholas Cudd the Scarlets flanker and Daniel Evans the Scarlets and Wales full back.
1937/38 1949/50 1983/84 1984/85 1987/88
1983/84 1984/85 1985/86 1987/88
1981/82
1949/50 1962/63 1971/72 1983/84 1984/85 1985/86 1986/87 1987/88
1933/34 1934/35 1935/36 1945/46 1946/47 1962/63 1971/72 1985/86 1986/87 1987/88 1988/89 1995/96
1974/75
1974/75
1975/76
1991/92
2006/07
2009/10
2006/07
2009/10
2006/07
2007/08
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 representing the village of Tumble
Tumble, Carmarthenshire
Tumble , is a village situated south of Cross Hands near the towns of Carmarthen and Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, West Wales. Tumble, along with Cross Hands is part of the community of Llannon.-History:...
, South 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...
. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
.
Club history
Tumble RFC were one of the most successful rugby teams in the old West Wales Rugby Union, and are still highly regarded for all that they achieved. The club’s peak in terms of success came during the 1980s where they managed the feat of winning the President Cup five times, the Challenge Cup four times and the West Wales Championship three times. Rugby was however being played in Tumble almost a whole century before then.The club first won the Challenge Cup in 1933, and retained ownership of the trophy for a further two seasons. In season 1937/38 the club was crowned West Wales Champions for the first time.
In season 1945/46 the club won its first post war trophy when it picked up the Challenge Cup for the fourth time. Tumble successfully defended the trophy the following season. The club won the Challenge Cup in 1946/47 and the Championship again in season 1949/50.
During the next three decades the club’s success waned a little. Tumble only won the Challenge Cup twice, in seasons 1962/63 and 1971/72. Then came the Eighties – what can be seen as the club’s Golden Era.
In 1983/84 Tumble were crowned West Wales Champions for the first time in 34 years, a title they reclaimed the following year, along with the Challenge Cup. They held onto the cup for a further four years and in 1987/88 they won the West Wales Championship for the last time.
In 1990 Tumble gained Heineken National League status. In 1991/92 the club won the Heineken League Division 4 Championship. In 1995/96 the club reclaimed the Challenge Cup for the twelfth time. The club celebrated it’s centenary in season 1996/97. In 2006/07 the club won the WRU Division 3 West Championship and the Brains SA Bowl. The club suffered successive relegations in seasons 2007/08 and 2008/09 and found themselves in Division 4 West at the beginning of season 2009/10.
The return of brothers Arwel and Gareth Davies was the catalyst for a revival of fortunes. The 1st XV won both the 2009/10 Division 4 West title and the WWRU Brains SA Plate. Season 2010/11 finds the club back in WRU Division 3 West.
The club has a fine history of producing players that have gone on to make a name for themselves at a higher level. One of Tumble's most notable players, was Welsh
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
international Archie Skym
Archie Skym
Archie Skym was an international rugby union player for Wales and played club rugby for Llanelli and Cardiff. Skym played as a prop and was renowned for his strength and vigour and was nicknamed The butcher. An excellent scrummager, he was known to be able to lift opponents in the front row...
. Although Skym had already moved to Llanelli RFC
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
at the time he was first capped, he came to the attention of larger clubs when representing Tumble. He joined the team from a local side at Drefach, and in December 1926 left Tumble for the Scarlets.
British Lion Gareth Davies (rugby player) is a native of the village and played for Tumble before making a name for himself in the 1970's and 80's with Cardiff RFC
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
and Wales. In more recent times fellow Lion Dwayne Peel
Dwayne Peel
Dwayne John Peel is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Sale Sharks and Wales. He is the most capped scrum-half for the Wales national rugby union team....
started his career with the club and played through the junior system before representing Llanelli Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
, Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
Wales and the Lions.
Other notable former players from recent years are Richard Rees the Neath, Newport, Swansea, Scarlets and Wales wing, Darren Allinson
Darren Allinson
Darren Allinson , a Welsh professional rugby union player. Allinson is currently signed to London Irish in the Aviva Premiership and plays at scrum half.-External links:...
the London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
scrum half, Hugh Gustafson
Hugh Gustafson
Hugh Gustafson is a Welsh rugby union player. A prop forward, he currently plays his club rugby for Newport Gwent Dragons. He has been capped by Wales at Under 16, Under 18, Under 19 and Under 20 levels.-External links:*...
the Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
prop, Nicholas Cudd the Scarlets flanker and Daniel Evans the Scarlets and Wales full back.
Club Badge
The club badge is of a magpie, representing the club colours, in front of a daffodil that represents Wales.Club honours
- West Wales Champions
1937/38 1949/50 1983/84 1984/85 1987/88
- WWRU Section A Champions
1983/84 1984/85 1985/86 1987/88
- WWRU Section B Champions
1981/82
- Presidents Cup Winners
1949/50 1962/63 1971/72 1983/84 1984/85 1985/86 1986/87 1987/88
- Challenge Cup Winners
1933/34 1934/35 1935/36 1945/46 1946/47 1962/63 1971/72 1985/86 1986/87 1987/88 1988/89 1995/96
- The Eurof Davies Memorial Cup Winners
1974/75
- WWRU Cup
1974/75
1975/76
- WRU Heineken League Division Four Champions
1991/92
- WRU ASDA Division Three West Champions
2006/07
- WRU SWALEC Division Four West Champions
2009/10
- WWRU Brains SA Bowl
2006/07
- WWRU Brains SA Plate
2009/10
- Gijon Sevens Winners
2006/07
2007/08
- WRU Division Four WestWRU Division Four WestThe Welsh Rugby Union Division Four West is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented for the 1995/96 season.-Competition:There are 12 clubs in the WRU Division Four West...
2008/09 - Champions