Bristol Rugby

Bristol Rugby
Full name Bristol Rugby Football Club
Union Rugby Football Union
Founded 1888 (1888)
Location Bristol, England
Ground(s) Ashton Gate Stadium (Capacity: 16,600)
CEO Steve Gorvett
Coach(es) Andy Robinson & Sean Holley
Captain(s) David Lemi
League(s) RFU Championship
2015–16 1st (currently in semi-finals)
Team kit
Official website
www.bristolrugby.co.uk

Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently play in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup.

Notable players to have played for the club include Tom Richards, who played for both the British Isles and Australia, Sam Tucker, John Blake, John Pullin and Alan Morley. In the professional era several international stars have played for Bristol, including Argentina's Agustín Pichot and Felipe Contepomi, Jason Little, double World Cup winner with Australia, Springbok Henry Honiball and Gareth Llewellyn, who until 2007 was the most-capped player for Wales. In the 2014–15 season, former Wales and British and Irish Lions Internationals Ryan Jones, Dwayne Peel and Gavin Henson joined the club. The Club again failed to earn promotion to the Premiership for the 2015–16 season, Andy Robinson bolstered his squad for the new campaign signing Ex England winger Tom Varndell, Sale Sharks Hooker Marc Jones and Scrum Half Will Cliff.

History

Formation and early history

Bristol Football Club was formed in 1888 when the Carlton club merged with rival club Redland Park to create a united Bristol team. Westbury Park having refused to merge then folded and many of its players subsequently joined Bristol. The County Cricket Ground at Nevil Road was leased for home matches.

The first match was a heavy away defeat to Cardiff and although the first season was relatively successful the second was not with only three games won. The club went from strength to strength over the next few years under the captaincy of W. Tommy Thomson. It turned the corner and in 1891–92, now wearing the more familiar navy and white hooped shirts, the Bristol team won 20 games out of 24.

Over the ensuing seasons the fixture list went from strength to strength, consisting of most of the top English and Welsh sides. In 1900 J. W. Jarman became Bristol's first England cap. Two major touring sides played Bristol during this period. The first New Zealand All Blacks defeated the club 41–0 in 1905 and in 1909 a combined Bristol and Clifton RFC team, captained by Percy Down, lost to Australia 11–3.

World Wars

The club was beginning to bring on a new generation of players when the First World War halted all rugby. After the war a Bristol United side was formed to provide rugby for returning servicemen and this led to the rebirth of Bristol in 1919. The County Ground was no longer available for home games so the club rented a field at Radnor Road, Horfield although occasional matches were staged at the Bristol City and Bristol Rovers grounds. The Radnor Road seasons were good ones for the club and a new crop of stars appeared.

The Memorial Ground stadium was built on an area of land called Buffalo Bill's Field which was previously occupied by allotments in 1921. Bristol defeated Cardiff 19–3 in the opening match in front of a large crowd.

The fiftieth anniversary was celebrated in 1938 but the next few years saw a fall in performances and the final inter-war season was a poor one. During World War II a Bristol Supporters team kept rugby union going in the city. Thus Bristol had readily available players when peacetime rugby union resumed in 1945.

1950s

The playing record in the early fifties was mixed, but there was a huge improvement under the captaincy of first Bert MacDonald, and then Dick Hawkes. Records were broken in 1956–57 and even better was to follow in what has been called 'The Blake Era'.

Fly half John Blake became captain in 1957 and under his leadership the club developed an entertaining running style of rugby involving backs and forwards, which was years ahead of its time. The Bristol club set and broke new records for wins in a season and points scored and goal kicking forward Gordon Cripps rewrote the individual points scoring records.

1960s–1980s

The 75th anniversary was celebrated in 1962–63 and floodlights were installed in the following season. Club form peaked in 1965–66 under Derek Neate's captaincy when 39 games were won, and again in 1971–72 under Tony Nicholls. This was the club's best ever season with a thousand points being scored for the first time and the team being crowned unofficial English and Anglo-Welsh champions.

Under Mike Rafter's captaincy, the club won the John Player Cup in 1983, defeating Leicester 28–22. During this period Alan Morley established a world record of 479 tries in senior rugby. The centenary season with Nigel Pomphrey as captain was celebrated in style with a game against the Barbarians and a narrow defeat in the cup final, but thereafter there was a gradual decline in playing standards. The team did not really adapt well to the demands of league rugby and the club's administrators struggled to cope with the professional set up.

1990s

In 1996, Bristol Rovers moved into the Memorial Stadium as tenants of Bristol Rugby, and soon stole ownership of the stadium through the Memorial Stadium Company.

1998–99 (Allied Dunbar Premership Two)
Relegation to Premiership Two in 1998 was not the worst of Bristol's problems. Only an eleventh hour rescue by Malcolm Pearce saved the club from potential oblivion. Bristol also lost control of the Memorial Stadium Company to Bristol Rovers and were tenants thereafter until their eventual departure from the stadium at the conclusion of the 2013–14 season. Bristol's first season outside the top flight brought with it a number of first-time visits to clubs. Bristol went on to win the Premiership Two title and promotion back to Premiership One, sealing the win with a 22–11 victory over Worcester.

2000s

Bristol playing Northampton during the 2007–08 Premiership.

The World Cup disrupted the early part of the 1999–00 season, with a number of players missing the first few games. Under the captaincy of Dean Ryan the team finished sixth, just missing out on European Cup qualification. At the end of the season Dean Ryan took over as Head Coach from Bob Dwyer. After an opening day victory over newly promoted Rotherham, Bristol had a disappointing 2000–01 season finishing ninth. Off the field, Jack Rowell became managing director, and successful community initiatives saw the attendance figures rise.

The 2001–02 season brought a new name, Bristol Shoguns, following a five-year £2-million sponsorship deal with Mitsubishi Motors. The Shoguns finishing the season with the most bonus points in the Zurich Premiership, three players in the top try scorers chart, a place at Twickenham in the final of the Championship, and also a place in the Heineken Cup for the 2002–03 season. In the close season Head Coach Dean Ryan moved to Gloucester, Jack Rowell resigned as Director of Rugby whilst skipper Jason Little retired. Peter Thorburn took over as coach. League results were mixed, but there were more wins than defeats including a first ever league win away at Bath. At Christmas 2002 owner Malcolm Pearce announced that he would quit at the end of the season.[1] Rumours circulated that Bristol could be sold to Firoz Kassam and play out of Oxford, and a merger with rivals Bath had been mooted.[2] Neither event came to pass, but Bristol were relegated at the end of the season as off-field distractions took their toll.[3]

Before the start of the 2003–04 season Martin Haag and a week later Richard Hill joined as first team coach and head coach respectively. While the board were raising money to stabilise the club Haag and Hill implemented a 'three-year plan' to rebuild Bristol and put them back in the Premiership. They won National League One the following year and were promoted.

The club's deal with Mitsubishi expired in July 2005, and the club started 2005–06 in the Premiership as Bristol RFC. Bristol elected to play two 2006–07 games at Ashton Gate, home of football side Bristol City. The local derby against Bath and the game against Leicester were moved from the 11,750 capacity Memorial Stadium to Ashton Gate's 21,500 capacity to allow more fans the chance to watch the team. The precedent for this was established for a crucial relegation fixture against Bath in May 2003. Bristol finished third in the league, securing a Heineken Cup place for only the second time, and then reached the semi-finals of the play-offs, losing 26–14 at Leicester. Martin Haag was released as Bristol's forwards coach in June 2007[4] and replaced by John Brain.[5]

Bristol could not replicate the success of the previous season and ended the 2007–08 season in 9th place. They also failed to progress from their Heineken Cup group, despite a home win against Stade Français. The following season Bristol struggled, winning only two games, and were relegated from the premiership.[6] Richard Hill stepped down as coach in February 2009, with two months and eight games of the season remaining.[7] Paul Hull took over as Bristol's head coach.

2010s

Following a failed attempt to immediately return to the Premiership, losing to Exeter Chiefs in the final of the play-offs, a number of first team players quit the club and financial pressures caused significant worries at the club once more.[8] With a more modest squad of players, Bristol struggled to find winning form in the 2010–11 season finishing eighth in the championship and failing to reach the playoff finals. In 2011, following a lack of success Paul Hull in mutual agreement with club left Bristol Rugby and was replaced by academy coach Liam Middleton.[9] In Middleton's first full season in charge Bristol finished top of the championship table but failed to progress to the play-off finals, losing to Cornish Pirates in the semi-finals.[10] From the 2008–09 season businessman Stephen Lansdown financed Bristol Rugby, this only became public knowledge when Lansdown formalised his ownership of the club in 2012.[11]

2012–13 Season

In the 2012–13 season Bristol missed out on the play-off finals, finishing fifth in the championship. At the end of the 2012–13 season it was announced that former Ospreys head coach Sean Holley would join Bristol Rugby as the first team coach.[12] Andy Robinson joined Bristol Rugby as director of rugby in March 2013,[13] at first working with head coach Liam Middleton but following a poor run of results Middleton was sacked by the club following an internal review later in March 2013.[14]

2013–14 Season

The 2013–14 season brought a return to form with Bristol Rugby finishing top of the championship table. However, Bristol failed to secure promotion to the premiership, losing both legs of the play-off finals to London Welsh. In the close season a number of players were signed to the club in expectation of promotion for the 2014–15 season, including Samoan Internationals Anthony Perenise Jack Lam & David Lemi, Welsh internationals Matthew Morgan, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones [15] and Dwayne Peel[16] and Wing George Watkins return from Cardiff Blues mid season. Further signings for the 2014–15 season would feature Gareth Maule, Jack O'Connell, Darren Hudson and Gavin Henson.

2014–15 Season

Bristol Rugby moved from the Memorial Stadium to Ashton Gate Stadium, the home of Bristol City Football Club. Ashton Gate Stadium has a capacity of 21,497 and there are plans to extend the seating to 27,000. In the run-in to the end of season play-off's the club signed high profile players in Hooker Ross McMillan, Italian Centre Tommaso Benvenuti and Welsh international Gavin Henson. End of the season saw the departure of Forwards Coach Danny Wilson to Cardiff Blues. The Club again failed to earn promotion to the Premiership for the 2015–16 season losing by one point to Worcester Warriors in the Play-off Finals. At the end of the season Wales international fly half Nicky Robinson leaves the club to take up a fresh challenge in France with Oyonnax.

2015–16 Season

Much of the squad from the previous season remained with Andy Robinson bolstering his options for the new campaign by signing Ex England winger Tom Varndell, Sale Sharks Hooker Marc Jones and Scrum Half Will Cliff. October saw the return of Full Back Luke Arscott to Bristol Colours on loan from neighbors Bath Rugby. Following a successful 2015 Rugby World Cup with Japan, Ex-England Forward Steve Borthwick stepped down as coach and joined Bristol Rugby as forwards coach, only to depart 43 days later to reunite with New England head coach Eddie Jones. February 4th saw the announcement of New Zealander Mark Bakewell brought in to replace Borthwick. New recruits over the course of the season were South African Rayn Smid ,Will Homer (dual registration) from Bath Rugby and International Scrum Half Martin Roberts from Ospreys. The New year saw the announcement that Matthew Morgan to further his international chances was to be leaving the club at the end of the season and joining Danny Wilson at Cardiff Blues.

2016–17 Season

February 2016 saw the signing of Wales International scrum half Rhodri Williams from Scarlets for the 2016–17 season. Tusi Pisi signed for the club from Japan's Sunwolves Super Rugby franchise in March.

Summary of league positions

Summary of Bristol's league positions since league rugby was introduced in 1987.[17]

Season League League position End of season
1987–88 Courage League 9th n/a
1988–89 Courage League 7th n/a
1989–90 Courage League 9th n/a
1990–91 Courage League 11th (of 13) n/a
1991–92 Courage League 10th (of 13) n/a
1992–93 Courage League 6th (of 13) n/a
1993–94 Courage League 4th (of 10) n/a
1994–95 Courage League 6th (of 10) n/a
1995–96 Courage League 6th (of 10) n/a
1996–97 Courage League 9th n/a
1997–98 Premiership 12th Relegated
1998–99 Division One 1st Promoted
1999–00 Premiership 6th n/a
2000–01 Premiership 9th n/a
2001–02 Premiership 8th n/a
2002–03 Premiership 12th Relegated
2003–04 Division One 9th n/a
2004–05 Division One 1st Promoted
2005–06 Premiership 11th n/a
2006–07 Premiership 3rd n/a
2007–08 Premiership 9th n/a
2008–09 Premiership 12th Relegated
2009–10 Championship 1st Lost the playoff final to Exeter
2010–11 Championship 8th n/a
2011–12 Championship 1st Lost the playoff semi-final to Cornish Pirates
2012–13 Championship 5th n/a
2013–14 Championship 1st Lost the playoff final to London Welsh
2014–15 Championship 1st Lost the playoff final to Worcester

Current standings

2015–16 RFU Championship Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 Bristol Rugby (Q) 22 20 0 2 718 397 321 14 1 95
2 Doncaster Knights (Q) 22 15 2 5 588 470 118 10 5 79
3 Yorkshire Carnegie (Q) 22 14 0 8 655 466 189 15 7 78
4 Bedford Blues (Q) 22 12 0 10 623 599 24 10 6 64
5 London Welsh 22 11 1 10 442 528 -86 9 3 58
6 Jersey 22 11 1 10 465 466 -1 5 6 57
7 Nottingham Rugby 22 10 0 12 494 483 11 9 7 56
8 London Scottish 22 10 0 12 463 453 10 2 7 49
9 Cornish Pirates 22 8 1 13 530 570 -40 8 7 49
10 Rotherham Titans 22 8 0 14 454 621 -167 3 3 38
11 Ealing Trailfinders 22 6 1 15 523 605 -82 5 6 37
12 Moseley (R) 22 4 0 18 416 715 -299 6 4 26
  • 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 are promotion play-off places. Pink background is the relegation place.
Updated: 23 April 2016
Source: "Greene King IPA Championship". NCA Rugby. 

Current squad

2015–16 Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Chris Brooker Hooker England England
Max Crumpton Hooker England England
Marc Jones Hooker Wales Wales
Ross McMillan Hooker England England
Gaston Cortes Prop Argentina Argentina
Jamal Ford-Robinson Prop England England
Ellis Genge Prop England England
James Hall Prop England England
Jack O'Connell Prop Ireland Ireland
Anthony Perenise Prop Samoa Samoa
Kyle Traynor Prop Scotland Scotland
Ian Evans Lock Wales Wales
Ben Glynn Lock England England
Mark Sorenson Lock New Zealand New Zealand
Glen Townson Lock England England
Nick Köster Flanker South Africa South Africa
Jack Lam Flanker Samoa Samoa
Marco Mama Flanker England England
Olly Robinson Flanker England England
James Phillips Flanker England England
Mitch Eadie Number 8 Scotland Scotland
Rayn Smid Number 8 South Africa South Africa
Player Position Union
Will Cliff Scrum-half England England
Craig Hampson Scrum-half England England
Martin Roberts Scrum-half Wales Wales
Adrian Jarvis Fly-half England England
Matthew Morgan Fly-half Wales Wales
Gavin Henson Centre Wales Wales
Ben Mosses Centre England England
Gareth Maule Centre Wales Wales
Tommaso Benvenuti Centre Italy Italy
Jack Tovey Centre England England
Charlie Amesbury Wing England England
Darren Hudson Wing Ireland Ireland
Ryan Edwards Wing England England
David Lemi Wing Samoa Samoa
George Watkins Wing England England
Tom Varndell Wing England England
Luke Arscott Fullback England England
Jack Wallace Fullback England England

Academy squad

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
James Stephenson Hooker England England
John Hawkins Lock England England
Joe Joyce Lock England England
Andy Uren Scrum-half England England
Callum Sheedy Fly-half Wales Wales
Nick Carpenter Centre England England
Elias Caven Wing England England
Curtis Mathews Wing Wales Wales
Auguy Slowik Fullback England England

Staff

Management

First Team Coaching

Academy

Club honours

Notable former players

For all Bristol players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Bristol Rugby players

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, May 04, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.