Belsize Park RFC
Belsize Park Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Central London, England. Belsize Park RFC currently have four senior men's league teams plus one or two social sides, playing their home matches in Regent's Park.[1]
| Full name | Belsize Park Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Rugby Football Union |
| Nickname(s) | Belsize |
| Founded | 1870[2] |
| Location | Belsize Park, London, England |
| Ground(s) | Regent's Park, London, England |
| League(s) | London 2 North West |
| Official website | |
|
bprfc | |
Current
Belsize Park RFC currently has five regular senior sides. The 1st XV play in London 2 North West, while the 2nds, 3rds and 4ths compete in the Hertfordshire & Middlesex merit leagues.[3] The 5th side play developmental friendly fixtures most Saturdays, alongside irregular 6th and Vets social teams.[1] The club trains at Coram's Fields on Wednesday evenings from July to April. The club prides itself on being London's most central amateur rugby club and maintains a unique blend of competitive rugby with a bohemian and welcoming social atmosphere. The club tours twice a year (one national and one international) unbroken since 1989, making it arguably the most widely toured amateur club in the world in recent times. Destinations have included mainland China, the Caribbean, N America, S Africa, S America and regular visits to European countries[1]
History
Belsize Park was founded in 1870 and is most notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union. In 1878 Belsize moved to form Rosslyn Park RFC. Belsize Park Rugby Football Club was formally re-established in 1971.[4]
Junior rugby
Belsize has an affiliate Junior rugby section also in Regent's Park, called the Regent Park Royals coaching ages 6–12.
Touring history
Belsize is proud to be one of the most widely toured amateur rugby clubs in the world.[5]
International tours
- 2017 Austria and Slovakia
- 2016 Greece
- 2015 Barbados
- 2014 Portugal
- 2013 Malta
- 2012 Berlin - Germany
- 2011 Split, Sinj and Zagreb - Croatia
- 2010 Chicago and Toronto - USA, Canada
- 2009 Cork and Limerick - Ireland
- 2008 Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai - China
- 2007 Aarlborg and Copenhagen - Denmark
- 2006 Salmanca - Spain
- 2005 Cape Town and Eastern Province - South Africa
- 2004 Atlanta, Gainesville, Boca Raton, Savannah - Florida and Georgia, USA
- 2003 Venice, Treviso, Montereale - Italy
- 2002 Barcelona, Catalonia - Spain
- 2001 Vilnius, Klaipeda, Kaunus - Lithuania
- 2000 Charlotte, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Cape Fear - North and South Carolinas, USA
- 1999 Kraków - Poland
- 1998 Los Angeles, Big Bear, Palm Springs, Escondido, San Diego - California, USA
- 1997 Hong Kong and Riga - Latvia
- 1996 Durban, Cape Town - South Africa
- 1995 Seattle, Whistler, Vancouver, Washington, British Columbia - USA and Canada
- 1994 Paris, Champagne - France
- 1993 Waco, Dallas, Austin, Houston - Texas, USA
- 1992 Boston, Lake Placid, Worcester - New England and New York, USA
- 1991 New Orleans, Destin, Columbus, Atlanta - Louisiana and Georgia, USA
- 1990 Buenos Aires, Rosario, Rio de Janeiro - Argentina and Brazil
- 1989 San Francisco, Reno, Taho, Los Angeles, Laguna Beach - California and Nevada, USA
- 1983 California, USA
- 1981 New York and Virginia, USA
- 1980 California, USA
Domestic tours
- 2016 Exeter
- 2015 Norwich
- 2014 Northampton
- 2013 Portsmouth
- 2012 York
- 2011 Weston-super-Mare
- 2010 Newcastle upon Tyne
- 2009 Leicester
- 2008 Brighton & Hove
- 2007 Kingston upon Thames
- 2006 Isle of Wight
- 2005 Oxford
- 2004 Bournemouth
- 2003 Sheffield and Leeds
- 2002 Stratford-upon-Avon
- 2001 Crawley
- 2000 Seaford
- 1998 Wisbech (Junior Cup Draw)
- 1994 Wales, Dublin (Vets)
- 1993 Marlow, Brussels British (Vets)
- 1992 Suffolk, Galway (Vets)
- 1991 Buxton, Paris (Vets)
- 1990 Oxford, Lismore, Scotland (Calcutta Cup), Stade Francais, Paris
- 1989 Cambridge
- 1988 Reading, Lismore, Scotland (Calcutta Cup)
- 1986 Winchester
- 1985 Brize Norton
- 1984 Marlow
- 1983 Swindon - Ross-on-Wye
- 1981 Rushmore
1st XV honours
- Herts/Middlesex 3 champions: 2003-04
- Herts/Middlesex 2 Runners Up: 2011-12
- Herts/Middlesex 1 Runners Up: 2013-14
- London 3 North West Runners Up: 2015-16
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Belsize Park Rugby Football Official Website
- ↑ Adrian Harvey, Football: the first hundred years : the untold story, p197, (Routledge), 2005
- ↑ Belsize PAak RFC http://bprfc.co.uk/. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Belsize Park Rugby Football Club History
- ↑ Belsize Tours
External links
- Belsize Park Rugby Football Club Official Website
- Belsize Park Rugby Football Club on Facebook
- Belsize Park Rugby Football Club on Twitter