History
A Potted History of Youth Rugby in Warwickshire
The Coventry Schools Rugby Union having been formed in 1897 was producing 13 plus school leavers who was too immature to progress to adult clubs. Hence, in 1899 an Old Boys Club was formed under the guidance of Mr. F.W. Swinnerton of St Mark’s School with a purpose of keeping the boys playing rugby until they were mature enough to join adult clubs. It is know that the Coventry Junior Old Boys were playing until the First World War.
The 14 to 16 age group was catered for during the inter-wars period. The Union was presented with a Cup by ‘The Coventry Standard’ newspaper in 1922 and it is still to be played for today.
The Second World War years saw a suspension of activities and the Cup was in Tom Windbridge’s home when it was bombed. Fortunately it was under the stair and although somewhat dented, it survived. Tom was captain of Broad Street Old Boys prior to hostilities.
In the early 1950’s the Union was reformed as Coventry Junior Union and the Coventry Standard Cup was again competed for. In the same season a Sevens tournament was introduced. The first representative game was against Sheffield Colts at under 18 on the day of the match, it was won 24pts to 3pts by Coventry, and over the next few years games against Leicestershire Alliance and North Midlands as well as Yorkshire were played.
In 1959, the Warwickshire Rugby Football Union invited the Coventry Junior Union to change to Warwickshire Youth RFU and involve the rest of the county in its activities.
The Midlands County Championship was inaugurated in season 1959-60 and Warwickshire were the dominant force throughout the sixties, seventies and eighties, and winning the National Competition in 1980, 86 and 87.
Representative Midlands’ games against Wales were introduced in 1959-60 and many of our players played their part in these games, and sice the RFU introduces Colts Internationals in 1972 Warwickshire has been represented most seasons. Regrettably the system terminated in 1998. Fortunately the new Under 18 Clubs XV is finding its feet.
We look with pride that Colts’ Clubs in Warwickshire were the nurseries of Neil Back, Danny Grewcock, Darren Garforth, Richard Cockerill and Leon Lloyd, all members of England’s World Cup Squad.
The aim today is to develop and protect the young men in their formative years – as it was in 1899.
Salute Mr Swinnerton for his foresight!
By Robert G. Coward, May 4th 2000
Warwickshire Colts Rugby Football Union has named the knockout competition for which the Coventry Standard Cup is now played, the ‘Bob Coward Colts Cup’ in his honour. Bob was the innovator, the founder and stalwart of colts’ rugby in Warwickshire that led to the concept of colts’ rugby nationally and internationally. Bob wrote the above document for the Millennium celebration that was held to commemorate a century of youth rugby in our county.
The Coventry Schools Rugby Union having been formed in 1897 was producing 13 plus school leavers who was too immature to progress to adult clubs. Hence, in 1899 an Old Boys Club was formed under the guidance of Mr. F.W. Swinnerton of St Mark’s School with a purpose of keeping the boys playing rugby until they were mature enough to join adult clubs. It is know that the Coventry Junior Old Boys were playing until the First World War.
The 14 to 16 age group was catered for during the inter-wars period. The Union was presented with a Cup by ‘The Coventry Standard’ newspaper in 1922 and it is still to be played for today.
The Second World War years saw a suspension of activities and the Cup was in Tom Windbridge’s home when it was bombed. Fortunately it was under the stair and although somewhat dented, it survived. Tom was captain of Broad Street Old Boys prior to hostilities.
In the early 1950’s the Union was reformed as Coventry Junior Union and the Coventry Standard Cup was again competed for. In the same season a Sevens tournament was introduced. The first representative game was against Sheffield Colts at under 18 on the day of the match, it was won 24pts to 3pts by Coventry, and over the next few years games against Leicestershire Alliance and North Midlands as well as Yorkshire were played.
In 1959, the Warwickshire Rugby Football Union invited the Coventry Junior Union to change to Warwickshire Youth RFU and involve the rest of the county in its activities.
The Midlands County Championship was inaugurated in season 1959-60 and Warwickshire were the dominant force throughout the sixties, seventies and eighties, and winning the National Competition in 1980, 86 and 87.
Representative Midlands’ games against Wales were introduced in 1959-60 and many of our players played their part in these games, and sice the RFU introduces Colts Internationals in 1972 Warwickshire has been represented most seasons. Regrettably the system terminated in 1998. Fortunately the new Under 18 Clubs XV is finding its feet.
We look with pride that Colts’ Clubs in Warwickshire were the nurseries of Neil Back, Danny Grewcock, Darren Garforth, Richard Cockerill and Leon Lloyd, all members of England’s World Cup Squad.
The aim today is to develop and protect the young men in their formative years – as it was in 1899.
Salute Mr Swinnerton for his foresight!
By Robert G. Coward, May 4th 2000
Warwickshire Colts Rugby Football Union has named the knockout competition for which the Coventry Standard Cup is now played, the ‘Bob Coward Colts Cup’ in his honour. Bob was the innovator, the founder and stalwart of colts’ rugby in Warwickshire that led to the concept of colts’ rugby nationally and internationally. Bob wrote the above document for the Millennium celebration that was held to commemorate a century of youth rugby in our county.
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