Falmouth Rugby Football Club was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest Rugby Clubs in Cornwall and indeed in England. This year the club will celebrate 136 years of continually promoting the game of rugby football in our town and the surrounding area.

In the early years the Club owed much to John Genn, who was not only the Captain and later President but also Town Clerk of Falmouth. John was the first of many Rugby Club members to serve the town either as an official or as a councillor. The Club therefore has a long tradition of service to the town of Falmouth.

In the very early years the club played at several sites – Seafront Gyllyngvase, Belmont and Quarter-Mile Lane, which has now become Tregenver Road. However, around the turn of the nineteenth century a group of Falmouth businessmen and sportsmen formed The Falmouth Recreation Ground Company and built The Recreation Ground on its prominent position overlooking our expanding harbour town. It was then that the rugby club occupied its “new” base as a tenant and where it has remained throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. During this time the ground has hosted many County Championship matches and also two England Trials.

In 1933 the Club had the opportunity to purchase the ground but, because the necessary finance could not be raised, it was then purchased by Falmouth Borough Council who continued to rent it to the Rugby Club. When local government was reorganised in 1974 Carrick District became the owners and continued to rent the ground to the Club before finally granting to the Rugby Club a 50 year lease.

Over the past 135 years Falmouth Rugby Club has been a force in rugby not only in Cornwall but also nationally. During that period Falmouth has produced many fine players including two Internationals, John Jackett and Jim George, one “B” International, Roger Pellow, one England Reserve. Rodney Carne and two who had International Trials, Dick Jackett and Arthur Thomas. In addition many have been capped for Cornwall perhaps the most noteworthy being Dick Jackett who won 71 caps and whose county playing career spanned 22 years from 1901 to 1922. Historically the major source of players has been Falmouth Grammar School and more latterly Falmouth School while “The Docks” has also played its part as both an employer and source of players.

Falmouth Rugby Club first won the championship of Cornwall around 1900 and since the end of the Second World War the players were champions again in 1956 when Bill Bishop captained the side [see photograph]. The 1970s were perhaps the best years with the “Chiefs” winning a unique treble of Championship of Cornwall, The Cornwall Cup and the County Sevens in its centenary year of 1973-74 [see photograph] and the “Double” was achieved in 1976-77 with the team winning the C.R.F.U. Official Merit Table and The Cornwall Cup. During that time the Club played some of the best sides in England and Wales and came out with much credit under the leadership of Graham Bate and the coaching of David “Benji” Thomas.

Since those highly successful days of the 7Os the playing fortunes of the club showed a steady decline and this resulted in a down turn in the support for the club both on and off the field. However, the mini section of the club was successfully maintained due to the efforts of a few dedicated coaches and parents and so provided a good sporting outlet for the youngsters of the town and also possible senior players for the future.

The l98Os and early 9Os were pretty bleak with only a few and occasional successes recorded. During this period the efforts of Steve Lightfoot as player, captain and club coach stood out. He refused to abandon his local club and worked valiantly to keep the club in touch with the rapid changes taking place in the world of rugby union football. The fact that he also gained several Cornwall caps during this time when playing in a weak side is another measure of his remarkable achievements. As player-coach and then as coach Steve organised the senior sides well with the arrival of league rugby and there was a welcome upturn in the playing standards of the club. In Cornwall League 1 the team performed with credit and gained promotion to the Cornwall and Devon League where results were good and we more than held our own. Kevin Hughes, who was skipper for five consecutive years, led by example during that time and this improved performance resulted in an increase in support both by spectators and also local sponsors who have brought much needed financial help. However, this level could not be sustained when the team loss a number of influential players all at the same time and the club returned to Cornwall League 1 where it operated just above the relegation zone until 2002-03.

Six seasons ago under the guidance of Darren Chapman, the first coach to be recruited from outside the club, and with the arrival of talented new players the standard of rugby soared and the outcome was the “Double” again – this time League Championship and winners of the Skinner’s Brewery Clubs’ Cup [see photograph]. Since then the club has fought hard to stay in the Cornwall and Devon League under the direction of Darren Chapman, Barry Trevaskis and Tim Gay. Now under the direction of Dave Rule and Darren Chapman, once more, can the “Chiefs” improve on their customary mid-table position?