Taunton Rugby Football Club
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| 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 | |
| 2014–15 | 3rd | |
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| Official website | ||
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www | ||
Taunton Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club 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) play in the Somerset Premier League and the third XV (The Wanderers) play 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.
Honours
1st Team:
- Western Counties North champions: 2004–05
- Tribute South West Division 2 West champions: 2008–09[6]
- National League 3 South West champions: 2009–10
- Somerset Cup winners: 2013[7]
2nd Team:
- Tribute Somerset 2 South champions: 2007–08
3rd Team:
- Tribute Somerset 3 South champions: 2007––08
Current standings
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| Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge | 22 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 680 | 376 | 304 | 18 | 0 | 96 | ||||||
| 2 | Old Albanian | 21 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 646 | 344 | 302 | 16 | 3 | 85 | ||||||
| 3 | Bishop's Stortford | 23 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 622 | 377 | 245 | 14 | 5 | 81 | ||||||
| 4 | Taunton Titans | 21 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 640 | 410 | 230 | 13 | 2 | 79 | ||||||
| 5 | Redruth | 21 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 470 | 378 | 92 | 9 | 4 | 73 | ||||||
| 6 | Old Elthamians | 23 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 514 | 519 | -5 | 5 | 4 | 61 | ||||||
| 7 | Barnes | 23 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 530 | 557 | -27 | 11 | 3 | 60 | ||||||
| 8 | Worthing Raiders | 23 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 505 | 509 | -4 | 7 | 4 | 53 | ||||||
| 9 | Clifton | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 564 | 525 | 39 | 9 | 4 | 51 | ||||||
| 10 | Bury St Edmunds | 23 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 480 | 575 | -95 | 6 | 6 | 48 | ||||||
| 11 | Chinnor | 23 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 522 | 614 | -92 | 8 | 7 | 47 | ||||||
| 12 | Redingensians Rams | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 479 | 550 | -71 | 7 | 5 | 44 | ||||||
| 13 | Dorking | 21 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 402 | 535 | -133 | 5 | 6 | 43 | ||||||
| 14 | Canterbury | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 451 | 607 | -156 | 6 | 5 | 43 | ||||||
| 15 | Southend Saxons | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 426 | 593 | -167 | 5 | 3 | 38 | ||||||
| 16 | Launceston | 20 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 230 | 692 | -462 | 2 | 5 | 9 | ||||||
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| Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places. Updated: 20 February 2016 Source: "National League 2 South". NCA Rugby. | |||||||||||||||||
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.[8] Taunton Rugby Club management committee issued a statement regarding the crash on 7 November 2011.[9] On 13 December 2011, it was reported that the Highways Agency advised that fog warning systems be upgraded 18 months before the crash.[10]
On 19 October 2012, Geoffrey Counsell, the provider of a fireworks display, was charged with seven counts of manslaughter.[11] 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. [12] On 9 April he entered a not guilty plea and was bailed.[13]
References
- ↑ "Team Info — Taunton 1st XV". Taunton RFC. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ↑ Club website home page
- ↑ "Club Contacts". Taunton RFC. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ↑ "Address Details:". Taunton RFC. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ↑ "Golden girl Millward, Powell and Weale win BBC sports awards". The Bath Chronicle. 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ↑ http://www.trelawnys-army.org.uk/ta/tables089.html
- ↑ http://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/sport/rugby/bridgwater_albion_rfc/10807230.Somerset_Cup_rugby__Taunton_Titans_33__Bridgwater___Albion_11/
- ↑ "M5 crash: Firework display is 'major line of inquiry'". BBC News. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ↑ TAUNTON M5 CRASH: Latest rugby club statement. thisisthewestcountry.co.uk. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ↑ M5 fog warning ignored in 2010. thisissomerset.co.uk. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ↑ "BBC M5 crash deaths: Geoffrey Counsell on manslaughter charges". BBC News. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ↑ "Manslaughter charges dropped in M5 crash case". BBC News. 15 January 2013.
- ↑ "M5 crash deaths accused Geoffrey Counsell pleads not guilty". BBC News. 9 April 2013.
External links
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