Cheltenham RFC: History

A brief history of Cheltenham Rugby Football Club (1889 - 2003)

William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball and ran with it at Rugby School in 1823 and the union football game then slowly spread through the public schools, until Cheltenham College introduced it there in 1844.

Cheltenham Town established a Town rugby club 114 years ago in 1889, via the influence of the College and a number of exceptional administrators, many of whom had received military rank after long service in India and the Colonies. Additionally strong links were forged with local businessmen and traders, and the Borough Council especially took an active interest in the Clubs affairs.

The Welsh connection was another major factor in the Clubs development; many players from the valley's moved to Cheltenham in search of jobs and hence strengthened the Town XVs

Ultimately this lead to Cheltenham building up one of the finest fixture lists in England and Wales, earning the reputation as a "First-Class Club".

The Club produced two full international players:

• *L. W. Haywood* (1910)
• *T. W. Price* (1950)
• and one Welsh International, *E. Gwynn-Davies* (1930)

The Cheltenham RFC President in the 1970s was the British Lions player WPC Davies, who appeared on many occasions in Cheltenham colours (and whom many will remember as sharing the Lions midfield pairing with JG Butterfield). England International Roger Hosen, whilst a teacher at Cheltenham College, donned a Cheltenham Jersey several times.

Six players have represented the Barbarians and over 150 players the full Gloucestershire XV. Many Town administrators have held office, as high as President, for our County stronghold.

Cheltenham's encouragement of youth rugby is unequalled with many young players appearing in both England colours and also the Home Unions and other World countries. Selection for England has occurred at 21 level, Colts Age-group and the schools (15-19 age-groups)

In recent years and since its revolutionary inception in 1960, the success of the Town colts age-group (under 19s) has been unparalleled and has often been described as "The Jewel in the Crown" of the Cheltenham club. Created by former Cheltenham player Norman Rees and Pat Todd 43 years ago, the Colts achieved huge representation at National Boys Club level (76 players), Gloucestershire Boys Clubs (119 players), Gloucestershire Colts (100 players) and Gloucestershire Under 18s.

At England level, four Colts have worn the Red Rose, as did eight Colts for England Schools (under 18s). The most outstanding players to have won recognition after graduating from the Colts are prop Phil Blakeway (British Lions, England, Barbarians), lock John Fidler (England, Barbarians), flanker Bernard Capaldi (England reserve, Barbarians) and currently Peter Buxton (England A, Gloucester)

Since moving to the new ground in 1981, Mike Edwards and John Woodward took over the reins and helped make the colts a formidable group within national rugby circles.

Key Dates

• 1889 - Bill Sawyer rode through the Town streets on his penny farthing bicycle proclaiming the birth of Cheltenham Rugby Football Club.
• 1895 - Within 6 years, Cheltenham rose to become one of the leading sides in the West of England with matches against Bath, Gloucester, Bristol, Leicester, Cardiff and Newport.
• 1899 - After playing on pitches around the town, including Montpelier and Pitville (rear of the Pump Rooms) Cheltenham took possession of their new 'Athletic Ground' in the centre of Town (albion STreet. They remained there for 82 years.
• 1903 - Cheltenham became members of the RUgby Football Union - Happy 100th !!
• 1905 - On December 6th, Cheltenham played the mighty 'All Blacks' in front of 8000 spectators, losing only 18 - 0, whereas both Gloucester and Bath succumbed by over 40 points. Another red letter day for the club.
• 1909 - Cheltenham first encounter with the famous Barbarians. This acted as the forerunner to the visitors tour to Wales until 1914.
• 1910 - The Town produced its first International player when L W Hayward played in the centre for England against Ireland at the new Twickenham headquarters.
• 1930 - Completion of Cheltenham best ever season. Unbeaten in their 24 consecutive home matches and undefeated by any English side (Played 35, Won 30, Drew 2, Lost 3).
• 1960 - Cheltenhams phenomenal service to youth rugby begins with the formation of the Colts XV.
• 1974 - he Town becomes one of the first Clubs in the country toform a Mini & Junior section, which still flourishes today.
• 1976 - The 1st XV did not win a match for 19 months - an unenviable feat that made an entry into the Guiness Book of Records !
• 1981 - In september, Cheltenham moved to a brand new sports complex at the Prince of Wales Stadium, where they played the world famous Harlequins to celebrate the occasion.
• 1990 - The Club formed a Ladies XV which today plays in the National Leagues. This brought the number of Club teams to a staggering count of 18 sides.
• 1995 The Professional era of leagues began with Cheltenham ceded to National League Division 4 (South).
• 2000 - Former Town player, Chris White, became one of the first professional referees and has since then officiated at many World / IRB Cup matches.
• 2003 - The club begin to investigate the possibility of moving to a purpose built 'Centre of Excellence' by teaming up with developers for a £4 million state-of-the-art stadium in Swindon Village.

"The Cheltenham System"

It took a long time to come to an agreement on the methods of scoring. For many years no points were awarded for what we now call a try, but was then called a touchdown or ' rouge.'

The crossing of the line was merely the opportunity for a 'try' at goal and conversion by kicking the ball between the posts was the thing that counted. In the first match between England and Scotland, played in Edinburgh in 1871, the Scots won by a goal and a try to a try.

This method of reckoning, as you may imagine, was bound to displease many people, especially those who had struggled with heart and soul to cross the enemy's line.

There was a period during the seventies and eighties when three touch-downs or rouges counted as one try and three tries made one goal. This seemed a miserly reward for so mighty a labour, even though in 1875 it was conceded that if there were no goals or if the number of goals scored was equal, any tries scored could be counted as a decider.

A dozen years passed before a further change was made and the Rugby Football Union adopted what was known as the Cheltenham system, from the rules then in use at Cheltenham College. The try came into its own at last and, although it only counted one point, it did count. Three tries were reckoned equal to one goal.

There were still more changes in the nineties and it was not until 1905, the year of the visit of the first All Blacks, that scoring was fixed almost as we have it today, with five points for a goal from a try; four points from a dropped goal and three points for a goal from a penalty or a mark.

+ Cheltenham V New Zealand

Athletic and Recreation Ground Cheltenham, England Wednesday, 6 December 1905

**Fulltime: New Zealand 18, Cheltenham 0

Halftime: New Zealand 15, Cheltenham 0**

Conditions: Weather fine, ground good

Attendance: 12000

Scorers:

Tries: none

Conversions: New Zealand - H. Abbot(3), F. Roberts, E. Harper(3)

More information on this match can be seen in the All Black archives.

Reproduced below is an excerpt from the original match report
(as recorded by the All Blacks) :-

Perhaps keen to replicate Duncan McGregor’s four-try haul in the England
Test, Taranaki wing Harold Abbott bagged himself a hat trick as the All Blacks
beat Cheltenham 18 - 0 in the Gloucestershire spa town on
Tuesday 6 December 1905.

Cheltenham had been enjoying an unbeaten season but the New Zealanders
put paid to that streak – nevertheless, the local side earned praise
from the rugby media for playing to win in a “bright and interesting” match.

All Blacks manager George Dixon himself described the game as
“fast and attractive”, although by his own admission the black backs did not
score as many tries as their possession and flair should have allowed.

The All Blacks rested several of their ‘star’ players,
including Billy Wallace, George Gillett, Billy Stead and Jimmy Hunter.

The match proved as popular as any that had come before, with a final crowd
in excess of 7000. Cheltenham had been among the first host team
to guarantee the All Blacks a flat fee of £75 for their appearance
– while this might have seemed rather risky before the tour began,
compared to the regular take of £20 for a club match, it left the club
officials, as Wallace recalled, “congratulating themselves on their foresight”.

Three-try hero Harold “Bunny” Abbott had been a last-minute addition
to the All Blacks squad but dotted down 15 times before the tour was out,
a number exceeded by only five other tourists.

Abbott had been introduced to rugby in South Africa, during the Boer War,
when he is said to have been thrown into the on-field fray by his commanding
officer, who could not believe a man so swift-footed wasn’t
familiar with the game. He had been given his nickname, Bunny,
by teammate and fellow wing Hector “Mona” Thomson, who is said to have
described Abbott’s body swerves as like the dartings and divings of a
startled rabbit.

As had happened during the All Blacks’ first visit to the West Country,
trains brought curious rugby fans and officials from nearby Wales to check on
the tourists’ form. Only three matches remained before the All Blacks would
arrive in Wales to face, it was said, their biggest challenge yet.

Scorers:

New Zealand. Tries: Harold Abbott (3), Fred Roberts.
Conversion: Eric Harper (3)."