Welshpool Rugby Club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Welshpool Rugby Union Football Club. is a rugby union club based in the Mid Wales town of Welshpool, whose first XV play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division 5 North. The club also run a 2nd XV, who compete in the Cambrian Training Mid Wales League, as well as a women's side and several junior sides.
The club was originally founded in 1923, before later being disbanded and reformed in 1967. The club's playing field is based at the Maes y Dre recreation ground in Welshpool. Changing facilities and clubhouse are shared with the local cricket club.
The club's traditional home colours are blue, white and black.
Mr Ithel Gilbert Davies is the club's Patron, with Mr Alun Gape being current Club President.
Brief History
Since reforming in 1967, Welshpool Rugby Club has become both a member of the Mid Wales District Rugby Union and the Welsh Rugby Union, which the club joined in 1990. In the club's early days, there were no other clubs in the local area, so most fixtures took place against sides from Shropshire, though as more clubs were formed in towns such as Newtown and Llandrindod Wells, more fixtures came to be played against Mid Wales opposition, with the club being involved in the Mid Wales League from its earliest seasons.
Like many clubs, however, Welshpool wished to become a full member of the WRU, and was granted membership in the early 1990s, initially competing against teams from all over Wales in Divisions 7 and 8, before becoming a part of the new North Wales league structure, in which they compete now in Division 5 (in reality, this is essentially 'North Wales Division 2').
The club's on-field fortunes vary from one season to another, with the 1st XV finishing 4th in the 2005/2006 season, and the 2nd XV finishing bottom of the Mid Wales League.
