Our History

BANGOR RUGBY CLUB IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE WRU 1880

SEE THE PHOTO ALBUM SECTION FOR ALL OLD TEAM PICTURES

The first 100 years of the club's history was written up in a publication "100 years of Rugby Football in Bangor" by the late R. Wendell Edwards, former Bangor Player. This is available to download in 5 parts by clicking on the links below.

PART 1           PART 2           PART 3            PART 4             PART 5

SUMMARY

1870's

Several enthusiasts for the game of Rugby were playing members of Bangor cricket club in the 1870's and they decided to form a rugby club in the city. Amongst the prime movers were Charles Allen, Godfrey Darbeyshire and Hugh Vincent. A club was eventually formed in 1876 to play under the rules of Rugby football, but because there was limited opportunity for fixtures, they were also prepared to play teams under the rules of Association football. The club colours were royal blue and scarlet arranged in vertical stripes.
1881

Bangor rugby club sent a delegate to Neath to meet with the representatives of ten other Welsh rugby clubs to form the Welsh Rugby Union. The first ever rugby match played by a Welsh team was played against England at Blackheath. Godfrey Darbyshire of Bangor was in the Welsh team
1882

Hugh Vincent of Bangor played for Wales in the first match between Wales and Ireland in Dublin.
1884

Charles Allen of Bangor played for Wales against England at Leeds and scored the first ever try by a Welsh player against England. He also played against Scotland at Newport in the same year.

1920’s

Rugby restarted in Bangor.
1929

Rugby firmly established. Bangor Rugby Club established at Beaumaris until 1962
1962

The club reformed as BANGOR RUGBY UNION AND SPORTS CLUB located at Y Wern, Caernarfon Road.
1995

The club sold up the ground in Caernarfon Road to be developed for a Tesco store and relocated to new premises and grounds at Cae Milltir, LLANDEGAI. This started a brief professional era under Dan Thomas and players such as Phil Vievers, Ben Barton, Alan Owen and Roland de Marigny were seen in the seaon 1995 - 96. This period saw some of the best rugby ever played by a North Wales side and Bangor competed in the National league division 8a. The professional era could not be maintained and Bangor started to pay the price for dumping their second team and later their youth team and in the season 2006- 07 reached an all time low failing to win a single game in Division 5 North.

Currently the mens team is in division 2N. The youth team is strong and the junior section fields teams at all ages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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