Coventry R.F.C.
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| Full name | Coventry Rugby Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1874 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground(s) | Butts Park Arena | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 4,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Andrew Green (owner) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach |  David Addleton |
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| Captain | Ben Russell |
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| League | National Division One | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007-08 | 9th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Official website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| www.coventryrugby.co.uk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. In 2007/08, the team finished 9th in National Division One. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries.
Their home ground is the Butts Park Arena, which was opened in Coventry in 2004. Their previous ground from 1921 to 2004 was the Coundon Road Stadium, Coventry.
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[edit] History
The club was founded in 1874. It was one of the premier rugby clubs in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s and many of its players were capped during that time for England. These included Phil Judd, George Cole, Bill Gittings, Peter Rossborough, John Barton, Barry Ninnes, Keith Fairbrother, Geoff Evans, Peter Preece, Alan Cowman, Graham Robbins and David Duckham. Other top players of that era were John Gray, Brian Holt and Steve Thomas. The club was renowned for exciting attacking rugby. Playing at Coundon Road Stadium, their major local rivals were Moseley, with whom they had a regular and popular Boxing Day fixture. This was in the days when Leicester were a second order force in Midlands rugby. Cardiff and London Welsh were regular visitors. David Duckham scored the most impressive try of his career against London Welsh in a match in 1973.
[edit] Current Squad List
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[edit] Recent Events
On 2006-08-23, Andrew Green became the new owner and chairman of the club when he bought the club's controlling company (Butts Park Ventures (Coventry) Ltd) from Keith Fairbrother. Andrew Green is a former player and chief executive of Reading R.F.C.
Keith Fairbrother, a former player for the club, had been chairman for eight years. He took over the club after it had gone into receivership in 1998.
The current captain is Ben Russell, who joined in July 2006 from Saracens. Prior to this, the role was held by Will Johnson who left in December 2006.
Apoua Stewart, the Samoan international full-back, was suspended for two years on 2006-11-01 after testing positive for the banned stimulant ephedrine. In doing so, he has become the first Coventry player to fail a drug test. Stewart gave a positive sample after the game against Earth Titans at the Butts Park Arena on 2006-09-09. He admitted the offence when he appeared before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel at the Filton Holiday Inn Hotel in Bristol. [1]
On 2006-11-15 the coach Mike Umaga, older brother of Tana Umaga, was suspended following unspecified allegations. [2] Umaga had been at the club since July 2004, initially as the backs coach, becoming the assistant coach in September 2004, and the head coach in April 2005. He resigned a fortnight later on 2006-11-27. [3]
Local press reports have indicated that Coventry intend to become a full time professional team as of the 2007/08 season.
2007-06-21, it was reported that Coventry Rugby Club have banned a lifelong fan from their ground after she was summoned to court to give evidence against them. Claire Harrison was called to give evidence against the club in a dispute between Coventry and the kit supplier for whom she was working. The civil court found against Coventry and the club were ordered to pay Flash UK £4,354 plus interest over the debt and £220 costs.
In response to news of the ban, delivered by letter, Claire said "I had to go and I had to tell the truth. I was devastated when I got the letter. Rugby is a big part of my family's life. As far as I am concerned, the club hasn't got a problem with me. I have tried to contact the club but they have not been answering the phone."
The letter, sent by the club's Chairman Andrew Green stated "I would like to state for the record that your actions have caused us surprise and confusion...
"I feel unfortunately I only have one course of action and that is, from this date forward, to request that until further notice you have no formal relationship with this club.
"I would ask that you refrain from attending our premises under any circumstances, which includes any functions, games or meetings."
A petition has been raised online requesting the club to rescind their actions, which most petitioners have described as disgraceful and petty.
Coventry Rugby Football Club released a press statement on 13th July giving their accounts of events. This countered Harrison's account that she was called to give evidence, stating "Ms Harrison was not subpoenaed and therefore chose to go of her own volition" The club said "When the judgement went against the Club, eyewitnesses watched Ms Harrison rejoice in the fact, appearing overjoyed that the Club had lost the case"
The statement chronicled events in the case from start to finish, including comments on any possible manipulation of media outlets. [1] [2]
After a series of poor results, Coventry Rugby Football Club announced that the current coach, Murray Henderson, would be being moved within the club from 2007-12-17. He will be working on developing community aspects of rugby at the club and looking after the development of Warwickshire’s younger players who aspire to play for Coventry. The club are currently looking for a new Rugby Director to replace Mr Henderson. [4] The team are current being coached by Brett Davey, acting as a player coach, and David Addleton. [5]
[edit] Notable Former Players
- David Addleton
- Adam Balding
Zinzan Brooke- Richard Cockerill 1991/92
- Fran Cotton
- David Duckham
- Andy Goode
- Matt Goode
- Danny Grewcock
- James Grindal
- Shaun Perry
- Ian Stephen
Clem Thomas
Mike Umaga
[edit] Previous Coaches
- 2008 David Addleton (Acting)
- 2008 Brett Davey
- 2007 Murray Henderson
- 2006 David Addleton (Acting)
- 2005-2006 Mike Umaga
- 2004-2005 Steve Williams
- 2004 John White
- 2003 Mark Donato
- 2002-2003 Mark Ellis
- 2000-2002 Peter Rossborough
- 2000 Harry Roberts
- 1999 Keith Richardson
- 1997-1999 Derek Eves
[edit] Club honours
- John Player Cup 1973, 1974
[edit] International Players
The following players have played for their country while playing for Coventry. Unless otherwise noted, all played for England.
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This information was taken from display boards inside the clubhouse on 2006-10-15.
[edit] References
- ^ "Coventry player suspended for two years", Rugby Football Union, 2006-11-01. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
- ^ "Coventry RFC Statement Regarding Mike Umaga", Coventry R.F.C., 2006-11-14. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
- ^ "Umaga resigns as Coventry coach", BBC Sport, 2006-11-27. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
- ^ "Coventry RFC Announce New Role For Henderson", Coventry R.F.C., 2007-12-17. Retrieved on 2007-12-30.
- ^ "Coventry aim to build on feelgood factor", icCoventry, 2007-12-21. Retrieved on 2007-12-30.
[edit] External links
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