Taunton Rugby Football Club

Taunton
Full name Taunton Rugby Football Club
Union Rugby Football Union
Founded 1875
Location Taunton, Somerset
Ground(s) Hyde Park, Bathpool (Capacity: 2,000)
Chairman John Wrelton
President Jack Matthews
Coach(es) Tony Yapp
Captain(s) Dan Lee
Top scorer Mike Pope (2012-13)
League(s) National League 2 South
2013–14 6th
Team kit
Official website
www.tauntonrfc.co.uk

Taunton Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club that is based in Taunton, Somerset. The first XV, Taunton Titans, play in National League 2 South, having achieved back-to-back promotions in 2009 and 2010.[1] The second XV (The United) plays in the Somerset Premier League and the third XV (The Wanderers) plays in Somerset 2 South. The club also operates the full range of junior teams for both boys and girls.[2]

History

The club was founded in 1875,[3] and play their home matches at Hyde Park, just next to the M5 motorway.[4] They moved to Hyde Park in November 2001, having previously played at Priory Park for 66 years.

Playing record

The team's achievements in 2008-09, when they remained unbeaten all season, saw them rewarded by being named 'BBC West Team of the Year'.[5]

In the 2009-10 season the Taunton 1st XV were champions of National League 3 South West, winning 24 of 26 matches.

In the 2010-11 season the Taunton 1st XV finished in 7th position in their first season in National League 2 South.

Club Honours

1st Team:

2nd Team:

3rd Team:

Current standings

2014–15 National League 2 South Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1 Henley Hawks (C) 30 24 1 5 956 567 389 19 4 121
2 Bishop's Stortford 30 20 1 9 933 608 325 22 8 112
3 Taunton Titans 30 22 0 8 863 591 272 16 6 110
4 Dorking 30 22 2 6 852 567 285 12 4 108
5 Worthing Raiders 30 19 0 11 804 605 199 19 5 100
6 Chinnor 30 18 0 12 780 639 141 11 9 92
6 Cambridge 30 17 0 13 765 662 103 16 6 90
8 Old Elthamians 30 12 1 17 693 736 -43 9 9 68
9 Redruth 30 13 1 17 577 686 -109 6 6 66
10 Cornish All Blacks 30 12 2 16 625 595 30 3 11 66
12 Canterbury 30 11 2 17 640 721 -81 11 3 63
12 Clifton 30 11 0 19 635 837 -202 9 6 59
13 Southend Saxons 30 12 0 18 640 782 -142 6 7 56[n 1]
14 Lydney (R) 30 11 1 18 546 871 -325 5 5 56
15 Shelford (R) 30 7 0 23 579 938 -359 9 4 36[n 2]
16 Dings Crusaders (R) 30 3 1 26 526 1009 -483 5 3 22
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 11 January 2015
Source: "National League 2 South". NCA Rugby.
Notes
  1. ↑
    • Southend were deducted 5 points for playing an unregistered player against Clifton on 15 November 2014[8]
  2. ↑
    • Shelford were deducted 5 points for playing an unregistered player against Lydney on 6 September 2014[9]

M5 motorway crash

On the evening of 4 November 2011 seven people were killed and fifty one injured in a multi-vehicle accident on the M5 south of the area where Taunton RFC were holding a fireworks display. Police said that they were investigating whether smoke from the event had been a significant factor in the accident.[10]

Taunton Rugby Club management committee issued a statement regarding the crash on 7 November 2011.[11] On 13 December 2011, it was reported that the Highways Agency advised that fog warning systems be upgraded 18 months before the crash.[12]

On 19 October 2012, Geoffrey Counsell, the provider of a fireworks display, was charged with seven counts of manslaughter.[13]

At the 15 January hearing the manslaughter charges against Counsell were dropped. He will instead face a single charge of failing to ensure the safety of others, under health and safety laws. [14] On 9 April he entered a not guilty plea and was bailed.[15]

Commercial Sponsors

Taunton Titan's have an array of local commercial sponsorships that cement the reciprocal relationship with the surrounding community. For the 2014-15 seasons current sponsors include Jelf, Divine Domestic Services, Howards Citroen and King's College Taunton.

References

  1. ↑ "Team Info — Taunton 1st XV". Taunton RFC. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  2. ↑ Club website home page
  3. ↑ "Club Contacts". Taunton RFC. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  4. ↑ "Address Details:". Taunton RFC. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  5. ↑ "Golden girl Millward, Powell and Weale win BBC sports awards". The Bath Chronicle. 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  6. ↑ http://www.trelawnys-army.org.uk/ta/tables089.html
  7. ↑ http://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/sport/rugby/bridgwater_albion_rfc/10807230.Somerset_Cup_rugby__Taunton_Titans_33__Bridgwater___Albion_11/
  8. ↑ "Down In The Dumps". Pitchero. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Shelford receive points penalty". Cambridge News. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "M5 crash: Firework display is 'major line of inquiry'". BBC News. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  11. ↑ TAUNTON M5 CRASH: Latest rugby club statement. thisisthewestcountry.co.uk. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  12. ↑ M5 fog warning ignored in 2010. thisissomerset.co.uk. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  13. ↑ "BBC M5 crash deaths: Geoffrey Counsell on manslaughter charges". BBC News. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  14. ↑ "Manslaughter charges dropped in M5 crash case". BBC News. 15 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "M5 crash deaths accused Geoffrey Counsell pleads not guilty". BBC News. 9 April 2013.

External links