Caerleon R.F.C.
| Full name | Caerleon Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Helmets | |
| Founded | 1970 | |
| Location | Caerleon, Newport | |
| Ground(s) | The Broadway | |
| Chairman | N Wilkinson | |
| Coach(es) | Nigel (Wiffer) Smith | |
| League(s) | WRU Division Five East | |
| 2011–12 | 1st[1] | |
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| Official website | ||
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caerleon | ||
Caerleon Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Caerleon on the northern outskirts of Newport in South Wales. They have this season (2012/2013) been promoted to Welsh Rugby Union Division Five, after winning WRU Division Six East last season. The club is a large community with teams at most age levels, as well as the First XV and a Seconds side known as 'The Helmets'(This stems from the clubs logo – the helmet of a Roman Centurion). The club enjoys a rivalry with its close neighbour Newport HSOB RFC.
History
On the first Saturday of season 1970–71 Caerleon RFC started as a Newport and District Rugby Team and quickly became one of the leading clubs in the Newport and District Union. Eleven years later, running three Senior Sides, Caerleon moved into their newly built and current clubhouse at the Broadway, Caerleon. The club has supplied a large number of players to both Newport and Gwent Districts and is a Junior Club, with two Senior Sides, Youth, Junior and Minis. Caerleon continues to supply representatives to the Newport & District side, the most recent Welsh District cap was back row forward Christopher Harris in 2006. Others Welsh caps include; Gareth McCarthy, Nigel Smith, brothers John & Adrian Jones, Martin Lewis, Andrew Rice, Ian Cole, Darren Gregg and Nigel Miggins.[2]
In its comparatively brief history the club has gained honours including the Gwent Premier League title, the Newport and District Cup and reaching the Worthington Cup Final (now replaced by the Swalec Bowl) winning once and being runners-up twice. In July 2007 it was confirmed by the WRU that the Gwent Premier League teams would make up a League Division 6 for the coming season. The season of 2011–12 has led to Caerleon RFC clinching the top spot in the division.