RUGBY was first played in Saltash at the local Grammar School in the mid 1950s, but with no local club available, those wishing to continue playing the game were forced to join teams in the area, mostly east of the Tamar.

It was not until 1969, when Bill Ryan (now club president) explored the possibility of forming a club, that a meeting was held at the Wheatsheaf Inn on June 6 (28 people attended) and the rugby club was officially formed a month later.

The team initially wore navy blue shirts and played their first game away at Plymouth Argaum Floaters, winning 14-8.

The next match was at home on September 27 to St Ives Reserves, losing 19-3.

Early home games were played at the Cross Park School’s pitch and the season ended successfully, winning 17 and drawing four out of 34 games played.

The club won their first trophy at the Town’s Regatta Tug of War!

It was decided that, for committee meetings and post-match entertainment, the Railway Inn, Fore Street, would be utilised, with the availability of good beer and facilities!

Supported

The following season, a second XV was established, with regular fixtures, and the club’s colours were decided to be red (a traditional Saltash colour), and the black and gold of Cornwall.

Land at Carkeel was purchased for a home ground but had long- term drainage problems.

In 1972, the club made their first trip to London and beat London Cornish 13-8 before watching England versus Wales at Twickenham.

Within a couple of years, the present pitch at Moorlands Lane became available, which had changing facilities, plus Chapel Field was being used by the Colts.

On New Year’s Day 1976, the club entered the Saltash Pram Race, which raises money for local children, as well as other charitable events being supported over the years.

Later in the season, the second XV won the club’s first rugby trophy – the Plymouth Combination Pedrick Cup, with a Lockie Cup victory against DHSOB and runners-up in the Cornwall Junior Knockout Cup the next season establishing Saltash Rugby Club as a force within the Duchy.

In 1977, ACS Buzancais visited from France and started an Easter series of alternate visits between the two clubs, which proved very popular, and friendships made have continued to the present time.

The club made a memorable weekend tour to Jersey in the 1978-79 season, where United Banks RFC were the hosts, and the following year the first ever trip to Buzancais at Easter took place.

The ground at Carkeel was eventually sold as the drainage problems were never overcome.

A series of meetings to discuss the liaison and co-operation with other sports clubs in Saltash fizzled out, leaving Saltash RFC to independently move forward.

Mini and junior rugby sections were introduced, which have proved to be a great success over the years.

The clubhouse was built with valuable assistance from a local builder (George Webber) and was officially opened on September 3, 1983, by Vic Roberts, an outstanding player for Penryn, England and the British Lions.

Club president John Jackett welcomed the guests and presented a flag embroidered ‘SALTASH RFC’ in club colours.

Other notable speakers at Annual Dinner Dances have included Bill Bishop, then president of the RFU, and John Kendall-Carpenter, who oversaw the first Rugby World Cup in 1997 as chairman of the International Rugby Board and was an ex-Cornwall and England player.

The National Leagues were introduced in 1987, with Saltash being in Cornwall One and rarely out of the top three.

In 2008, the first XV achieved an impressive double, winning promotion to the Cornwall and Devon League, as well as lifting the Plymouth Combination Lockie Cup and being runners-up in the Cornwall Clubs Cup.

Over the years, the club have enjoyed varying degrees of success in both league and cup action, with time also being spent in the Tribute Western Counties League, where their style of open rugby has often been difficult to maintain in wet, heavy conditions against some of the bigger sides.

In 2017, the senior XV reached the semi-finals of the National Senior Vase, but the highlight in the club’s history was a place in the final at Twickenham the following year, losing narrowly to Wath-Upon-Dearne.

Special

It was a very special occasion for the large contingent of supporters and a proud day to see the club flag flying above the Twickenham Stand!

Many players have been recognised at county level over the seasons, and the club recognised both by the RFU and Cornwall for their management relating to issues of coaching, safeguarding and attitudes to sport, earning the coveted ‘Seal of Approval’.

In 2005, the club won the Plymouth Referees’ Society trophy for their hospitality towards visiting refs. This has been repeated on three other recent occasions!

The clubhouse at Moorlands Lane continues to thrive and is well supported by players at all levels, including a Veterans team that occasionally takes to the field.

It is also base for the Tamar Trotters Running Club, who host the annual ‘The Magnificent Seven’ race, which features runners from all over the South West.

An extension to the lease is currently being negotiated.

The premature end to the 2019-20 season was both frustrating and disappointing as battling through a very wet winter with often close defeats, the last four games resulted in three victories, and with dry pitches approaching which suited the Ashes’ running game, avoidance of relegation to the Cornwall and Devon League was looked upon as a distinct possibility, especially with games in hand.

However, in the calculation made by the RFU, Saltash find themselves back in the Cornwall and Devon division next season by the smallest of margins (0.3 of a point), but there is a great determination to fire themselves to promotion during the next campaign.

During the 50 years of Saltash Rugby Club, many changes have taken place both on and off the field.

But it must be with pride that all those connected with the club can look back on the many achievements gained and, with confidence, view the future.

‘Be proud to wear the shirt and to represent Saltash’.