Bodmin Rugby Football Club was first formed in the 1880s and in this respect was the first rugby club to be formed in the County. The first player from the club to represent the County was Mr B F Edyvean, who was also the captain of the County team. All games were played on the Beacon, the highest landmark in the town.

Unfortunately, the club was disbanded shortly before the First World War and not reformed until 1969. The President at this time was Sam Lucas whilst the Chairman was Owen Williams. Matches were played at the local Secondary school. Shortly after this the club played its matches at Cold Harbour where the players were fortunate to use the Council’s changing rooms. In 1977 the colts side was formed to play their first ever season. In 1979 the club moved to it’s present location on the outskirts of town on land bequeathed by Lady Clifden. The ground is named Clifden Park in her honour.

The colts were given the honour of being the first side to play on the new ground. The club also acquired it’s very first clubhouse which were site huts left by the constructors of the Bodmin bypass. The current clubhouse, with its bar and function room was erected in 1989 and this has been the home to the present day.

When the new English leagues were established in the late 1980s, Bodmin were assigned to Cornwall One of the South West Division. The club still resides there today, except in 1995-96 and 2012-13 seasons when we were relegated to Cornwall Two and 2015-16 when we were promoted to Devon & Cornwall league. The club have reached the final of the Cornwall Junior Clubs’ Knockout Cup on four occasions and managed to win the cup in 1983-84 by beating Illogan Park RFC 13pts to 3pts. That season the 1st XV also managed to score over 1,000 pts when a try was only worth 4pts. In 1991-92 the club got to the final of the Cornwall Knockout Cup Plate but lost to Falmouth RFC 22pts to 3pts. In 1998-99 the Cornwall Clubs Knockout Cup replaced these cups and we were the first winners by beating St Agnes RFC 25pts to 20pts. We also managed to get to the finals in the 2003-04 and 2008-19 seasons but were losers. In 1996-97 we also won the Alan Barbary Trophy which is awarded to the Cornish club with the best league record for the season.

However, the 1994-95 season marked a low point in our fortunes when crippling debts almost forced the club to fold. Fortunately a small band of volunteers worked over and above the call of duty wiping out the debt.

The colts had ceased to exist in the early 1990s due to the fact that there had been no youth development to bring new players through. The first move to remedy this came in 1996 when a mini section was formed. This culminated in the 2001-02 season when the colt’s side made its reappearance with a 5-0 win against Falmouth. Owing to lack of numbers the colts ceased a couple of seasons ago.

To celebrate our 25th anniversary we were lucky enough to get some ex Bath players to guest for us when a Bodmin RFC side played Plymouth Albion 1st XV. The Bath players included Jeremy Guscott, Stuart Barnes, Graham Dawe, Nigel Redman, Richard Hill and Dave Egerton. Gareth Chilcott also attended but could not play because unfortunately he had a disagreement the day before with the opposition and was told to leave the field by the ref.

Over the years many players from the club have represented the county at various levels. In the late 1970s as a colt, fly half John Hearn managed to get to the final England trial. He was offered a place at Bristol RFC but declined. However, the most honoured player to emerge and progress from the club has been Andy Reed who played and captained Scotland and went on to play for the British Lions.

Bodmin RFC

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