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Bude RFC

Full name	Bude Rugby Football Club
Union	Cornwall RFU
Founded	1966; 58 years ago (1966)
Location	Bude, Cornwall
Ground(s)	Bencoolen Meadow (Capacity: 750)
Chairman	Paul Cholwill
President	Julian Morris
Coach(es)	Adam Black
League(s)	Counties 1 Western West
2023–24	11th
Team kit
Official website
www.buderfc.co.uk

Bude RFC is a Cornish rugby union club based in the town of Bude and was formed in 1966. The club colours are maroon and blue and they have two senior men's teams, a colts side and multiple junior/mini teams. The men's first team play in Counties 1 Western West.

History

Early history

Bude RFC was founded in 1966 and had its first game in January of the same year, away to HMS Raleigh, Torpoint. The club initially played home games at the local comprehensive school, but despite moving several times, did not have a permanent ground until 1985, when they moved to their current home of Bencoolen Meadows. During the early days they had some success in county competitions, winning the Cornwall Clubs Cup in 1972 after an 18–16 win over RNAS Culdrose, as well as winning the Cornwall Sevens Junior Plate title in the same year. During the next couple of decades Bude finished as losing finalists in the Cornwall Clubs Cup in 1978 and 1985, as well as winning a second Cornwall Sevens title (this time in the senior section) in 1986.

League rugby

The advent of the Courage national leagues in 1987 saw Bude placed in Courage Cornwall League 1 (tier 9 of the league system), finishing 6th during their debut season. The club once again reach the Cornwall Clubs Cup final in 1990, losing to Veor 9–8, before gaining promotion from Cornwall League 1 as runner-up at the end of the 1991–92 season. They only lasted one season in Courage Cornwall/Devon after being relegated in 1993, with another losing appearance the following year in the Cornwall Clubs Cup, this time being defeated by Saltash in the final. The last highlight of the 1990s was during the 1995–96 season, when Bude won Cornwall League 1 (their first league title) and were promoted back into Cornwall/Devon. As well as winning the league title the club were also presented with the Alan Barbery Cup – an award handed out by the Cornwall RFU to the Cornish club considered to have had the best league performance that season.

After five seasons in the Cornwall/Devon league Bude were relegated in 2001, falling back into the Cornish regional leagues. Relegation did not last long as the club had one of the most successful seasons of its history to date, winning the league and cup double. First they beat Mounts Bay to the Cornwall League 1 title, and then they beat Perranporth 18–10 to win the Cornwall Clubs Cup for the first time since 1972. A final highlight for the 2001–02 season saw Bude once more presented with the Alan Barbery Cup. Two years later Bude were promoted yet again, this time finishing behind champions, Mounts Bay, to gain promotion and reach the highest level the club have obtained in the English league system so far – Western Counties West (tier 7).

The following seasons would see Bude survive in Western Counties West and in 2008 they would also reach the final of the Cornwall Cup for the first time in the club's history, losing 15–5 to Wadebridge Camels in the game held at Tregorrick Park, St Austell. In 2014 the club were relegated from Tribute Western Counties West in 13th place, after an extremely tight relegation battle which saw them finish just one point behind St Ives, with more wins than their Cornish relegation rivals but less bonus points. The 2015–16 season saw Bude claim their first Tribute Cornwall/Devon title and promotion back into Tribute Western Counties West after an absence of several seasons, winning all but three of their 26 league games as they finished comfortably ahead of runner-up St. Ives.

Ground

Bencoolen Meadow is on the banks of the River Neet just off Kings Hill road in the southern part of the town. The ground consists of a main pitch and club-house, with parking for up to sixty cars, as well as a secondary pitch for junior rugby matches a couple of minutes walk downriver. Bencoolen Meadow does not have any stands or covering areas other than the club-house terrace. Capacity is around 750 all-standing, although crowds of up to a 1,000 could be possible with obstructed views.

Season summary

Honours

• Cornwall Sevens Junior Plate winners: 1972
• Cornwall Clubs Cup winners (2): 1972, 2002
• Cornwall Sevens Senior Plate winners: 1986
• Cornwall League 1 champions (2): 1995–96, 2001–02
• Alan Barbery Cup winners (2) 1995–96, 2001–02
• Tribute Cornwall/Devon champions: 2015–16

Notable former players

• Phil Vickery – Barnstaple born tighthead prop who went to school in Bude and played for the club during his early career. Went onto have an outstanding professional career playing for Gloucester and Wasps, which also included gaining over 70 caps for England, captaining the side and winning the 2003 World Cup. Phil was also selected by the British and Irish Lions.

Notes

1. There was no relegation from Cornwall/Devon at the end of 1999–00 season, which meant Bude were saved from relegation despite finishing second from bottom.
2. More teams than usual were relegated from Cornwall/Devon during the 2000–01 season, which meant 8th placed Bude went down.
3. There was no relegation from Western Counties West during 2008–09 season due to restructuring of the league system by the RFU, which meant 11th placed Bude were safe.
4. The 2010–11 season would see the introduction of bonus points into lower league English rugby union (tier 6 and below).
5. The season was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom with Bude sitting in 3rd, having played 19 games and gained 66 points. The remaining games were calculated on a 'best playing record formula', with Bude dropping to 4th place with 82.13 points.

See also

• Cornish rugby

References

1. ^ "Bude RFC History". Bude RFC. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
2. ^ Cornwall Rugby Football Union Official Handbook and Byelaws 1996–97. Cornwall RFU. 1996.
3. Stephen Jones, ed. (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89. London: Rothmans Publications Ltd.
4. Cornwall Rugby Football Union Official Handbook 1992–93
5. Stephen Jones, ed. (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7850-4.
6. Cornwall Rugby Football Union 1992–3,1996–7
7. "Final League Tables, 2000–2001". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
8. "Final League Tables, 2001–2002". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
9. "Final League Tables, 2003–2004". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
10. "Wadebridge Camels: Archive Match Reports". Pitchero. 22 March 2008.
11. "Final League Tables, 2013–2014". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
12. "Bude crowned Cornwall and Devon League champions". Bude & Stratton Post. 19 April 2016.
13. "Final League Tables 1997–98". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
14. "Final League Tables 1998–99". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
15. "Final League Tables 1999–2000". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
16. "Final League Tables 2000–2001". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
17. "Truro power way into cup semi-finals". South West Farmer. 28 February 2001.
18. "Final League Tables 2001–2002". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
19. "results". The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 17 September 2001.
20. "Final League Tables 2002–2003". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
21. "Sport in Brief". The Telegraph. 24 December 2002.
22. "Underdogs Alleynians ready to bite back". News Shopper. 1 April 2003.
23. "Final League Tables 2003–2004". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
24. "THE SENIOR LEAGUES 2003–2004". Trelawny's Army. 17 January 2004.
25. "Sluggish Borough below par in cup tie". South West Farmer. 1 April 2004.
26. "Home cup game with Bude for Penryn". South West Farmer. 25 March 2004.
27. "Final League Tables 2004–2005". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
28. "Final League Tables, 2005–2006". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
29. "THE SENIOR LEAGUES 2005–2006". Trelawny's Army. 17 September 2005.
30. "Final League Tables 2006–2007". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
31. "THE SENIOR LEAGUES 2006–2007". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 28 October 2006.
32. "Final League Tables, 2007–2008". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
33. "Penryn denied by last-gasp penalty". The Falmouth Packet. 17 October 2007.
34. "EDF Energy competition draws and finals news". ESPN. 21 November 2007.
35. "Final League Tables, 2008–2009". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
36. "Bude 10, Truro 16". Bude & Stratton Post. 25 November 2008.
37. "Three tries in first 16 minutes". Bude & Stratton Post. 19 March 2009.
38. "Final League Tables, 2009–2010". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
39. "Disappointing eighth". Bude & Stratton Post. 14 April 2010.
40. "Final League Tables, 2010–2011". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
41. "Draw made for 2010/11 Cornwall Senior Cup". BBC Sport. 9 June 2010.
42. "Final League Tables 2011–2012". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
43. "Bude 5 St Austell 25 – Saints Marching Onto the Final!". St Austell RFC (Pitchero). 11 February 2012.
44. "Final League Tables 2012–2013". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
45. "Camborne get a home semi-final in the Tribute Cornwall Cup". Camborne RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 31 October 2018.
46. "Final League Tables, 2013–2014". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
47. "Full Cornish Results 2013–14". Trelawny's Army. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
48. "Tribute Cornwall/Devon 2014–2015". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
49. "Full Cornish Results 2014–15". Trelawny's Army. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
50. "Tribute Cornwall/Devon 2015–2016". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
51. "Bude 18 – 20 Camborne". Camborne RFC (Pitchero). 17 October 2015.
52. "Tribute Western Counties West 2016–2017". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
53. "Saints sup from the home Cup of Comfort!". St Austell RFC (Pitchero). 12 November 2016.
54. "Tribute Cornwall/Devon 2017–2018". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
55. "Full Cornish Results 2017–18". Trelawny's Army. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
56. "Tribute Cornwall/Devon 2018–2019". England Rugby. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
57. "Bude crash out of the Cornwall Cup at Wadebridge Camels". Bude & Stratton Post. 18 October 2018.
58. "RFU confirms league positions". England Rugby. Retrieved 2 April 2020.

External links

• Bude RFC
• Cornwall RFU

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• 1966 establishments in England
• Bude
• Rugby union teams in Cornwall
• Rugby clubs established in 1966