When did the South Warwickshire RFU come in to being?
I believe that South Warwickshire Rugby Football Union first started about 1953.
Who did we play?
We first played a matches in September against Worcester shire and Herefordshire and the North Warwickshire matches were played in April.
In the 1956/7 season a fixture was added to the schedule with Birmingham Combined Old Boys which continued with only one break until 1989.
Which clubs form South Warwickshire?
To start with the South Warwickshire clubs were Kenilworth, Stratford, Leamington, Old Leamingtonians, Warwickshire Police, Lockheed and Old Warwickians. Alcester were next to be formed in 1959 followed by Whitnash later to become Harbury, Shipston, Southam and Claverdon in the sixties and later Warwick, Shottery, Bishops Itchington, and Ford Leamington. In recent years AP Lockeed, Bishops Itchington and Ford have discontinued, in 2004 season Old Warwickians and Warwick merged under the new banner of Warwickian RUFC, and two seasons ago Wellesbourne was formed
Six Counties Championship”
In 1972 South Warwickshire together with North Warwickshire joined in with Greater Birmingham, Derbyshire, Shropshire as well as Worcestershire and Herefordshire to form the Six Counties Championship. In about 1989 South Warwickshire and North Warwickshire due to problems the previous season arising from the introduction of leagues by the RFU withdrew from the competition.
“Under 21’s Pennant Competition”
South Warwickshire were involved with the group’s U21’s and were successful in winning the competition in the first season 1985/6. South Warwickshire continued in the competition until 1996.
South Warwickshire Colts
South Warwickshire played a number of colts games prior to the time that Warwickshire Colts introduced the Gilbert Trophy to celebrate the start of the World Cup in September 1991 and subsequently to be a show-case for ‘up and coming’ players. South Warwickshire won the competition in three consecutive seasons. The age group was changed to U18’s in 1997 and then to Under17’s in 1998. This is a very constructive part of the county development.
“Warwickshire Inter District Competition”
Warwickshire Districts introduced a knock out competition in 1987/8. This was for the Evening Telegraph Cup. In 1990/1 with a new county sponsor the Carling Black Label cup became the trophy. South Warwickshire won it in 1991/2. The Labbatts’ Cup came about in 1994/5 - South Warwickshire were the winners. Banks’s Cup was introduced in 1995/6 and The Warwickshire Inter District Cup currently is without a sponsor was won by South Warwickshire in 2002/3 and again 2007/8.
What other games did we play?
South Warwickshire have turned out a side on various occasions to celebrate a club’s opening or anniversary. The first was in about 1953 against Old Silhillians who opened their new ground at Copt Heath, Knowle. Most lately we fielded a side represented by most of our clubs to celebrate Claverdon’s 40th anniversary at Ossetts Hole Lane, Yarningdale. South Warwickshire has fielded a young representative side in most the annual games to commemorate Matt Downer and Tom Haycraft the Stratford Colts who sadly lost their young lives in a car crash. The anniversary game will be at Pearcecroft on Wednesday, November 12th at 7.30pm.
“Golden Oldies”
South Warwickshire have turned out sides to celebrate the 50th birthday of Nick Creighton at Old Leamingtonians, and Bob Jones’s 60th, 65th and his 70th will be on Sunday, November 16th, at Southam.
