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{{Short description|Rugby union in England}}
{{Infobox rugby team
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
| teamname = Lancashire RFU
{{Infobox sport governing body
| image = LancashireCountyRFULogo.png
|name = Lancashire County <br> Rugby Football Union
| imagesize =
| union = [[Rugby Football Union|RFU]]
|abbrev = Lancashire RFU
|logo = Lancashire rfu logo.png
| fullname = Lancashire County Rugby Football Union<br>{{small|''formerly Lancashire County Football Club''}}
| nickname =
|logosize =185px
| shortname =
|sport = [[Rugby union]]
| countryflag = ENG
|category =
|image =
| countryflagvar =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1881}}
|caption =
|jurisdiction = {{flag|Lancashire}} (historic)
| region = [[Lancashire]], parts of [[Merseyside]] and [[Greater Manchester]]
| ground =
|membership = [[Rugby Football Union|RFU]]
|founded = {{Start date and age|1881}}
| capacity =
| chairman =
|aff =
|affdate =
| ceo = <!-- If the union/club has a Chief Executive Officer -->
| president = Tom Fitzgerald
|region =
| captain =
|regionyear =
| top scorer =
|headquarters =
| caps =
|location =
| coach = Mark Nelson
|president = Carol Baker
|chairman =
| url = http://www.lancashirerugby.com/ www.lancashirerugby.com
| league =
|chairperson =
| season =
|chiefexec =
| position =
|vicepresident =
|director =
| pattern_b1=_thinredhoops|leftarm1=00000|body1=00000|rightarm1=00000|shorts1=070719|socks1=070719
|secretary =
|coach = Mark Nelson
|womenscoach =
|key staff =
|operating income =
|sponsor =
|year closed =
|replaced =
|prevfounded =
|url = http://lancashirerugby.co.uk/
|countryflag = ENG
|countryflagvar =
|countryflag2 =
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}}


The '''Lancashire County Rugby Football Union''' is the society responsible for [[rugby union]] in the county of [[Lancashire]], [[England]] and is one of the constituent bodies of the national [[Rugby Football Union]] having been formed in 1881. In addition it is the county that has won the [[County Championship (rugby union)|county championship]] on most occasions.
The '''Lancashire County Rugby Football Union''' is the society responsible for [[rugby union]] in the county of [[Lancashire]], [[England]], and is one of the constituent bodies of the national [[Rugby Football Union]] having been formed in 1881. In addition it is the county that has won the [[County Championship (rugby union)|County Championship]] on most occasions


==History==
==History==
=== Early years ===
{{Expand section|date=November 2010}}
[[File:The Roses Match.jpg|thumb|250px|''[[The Battle of the Roses]]'', depiction of a match between Yorkshire and Lancashire in 1893. Painting by [[William Barnes Wollen]].]]
Club history precedes that of county rugby football.
The first match arranged for the county of Lancashire took place in 1870, at Leeds against Yorkshire. This match was immediately known as the "Battle of the Roses" and was considered the "[[blue riband]]" of Northern rugby football.{{cn|date=February 2020}} To be selected to represent the county was an honour bestowed long before the foundation of the Lancashire RFU and it was seen as "the high road to International honours".<ref name="game"/>


===Early years of County representative team===
=== Formation of a Football Union ===
From 1870 to 1881 the government and arrangement of county matches in Lancashire vested in [[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester Football Club]]. Though self-appointed, Manchester FC was recognised as the authority by the other great Lancashire club, [[Liverpool St Helens F.C.|Liverpool St. Helens]].<ref name="game">Francis Marshall, ''Football; the Rugby union game'', page 373, London</ref> A movement of emerging new clubs, headed by W. Bell, the honorary secretary of the [[Broughton RUFC|Broughton FC]], had an objective to secure a voice in the selection of county teams. Bell was supported by an informal committee consisting of: G. C. Lindsay (Manchester Rangers), A. M. Crook (Free Wanderers), F. C. Hignett ([[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]), Hunter (Birch).
The first match arranged for the county of Lancashire took place in 1870, at Leeds against Yorkshire. This match was immediately known as the "Battle of the Roses" and was considered the "blue ribbon" of Northern rugby football. To be selected to represent the county was an honour bestowed long before the foundation of the Lancashire RFU and it was seen as "the high road to International honours".<ref name="game"/>


[[File:LancashireCountyRFULogo.png|thumb|left|The rose (as depicted in a match program of 1947), emblem of the Union]]
===Formation of the Lancashire Football Union===
Initial approaches to the Manchester Club were declined and in 1881 a general meeting of Lancashire clubs was called at which the following clubs were represented: Manchester Rangers; Free Wanderers; Broughton; Swinton; Walton; Rossendale; [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]; Manchester Athletic; [[Rochdale Hornets]]; Chorley Birch; and Cheetham. Notably, the Manchester Club did not take part, but a resolution to form the Lancashire Football Union was agreed. The initial committee had W. Bell as its honorary secretary and G. C. Lindsay as the honorary treasurer.<ref name="game"/>
[[File:Lancashire county rugby team 1887 cropped.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.8|alt=A body or rugby union players posing in uniform before a match|The Lancashire team before a match against Middlesex in 1887]]

From 1870 to 1881 the government and arrangement of county matches in Lancashire vested in [[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester Football Club]]. Though self-appointed, [[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]] was recognised as the authority by the other great Lancashire club, [[Liverpool St Helens F.C.|Liverpool]].<ref name="game">Francis Marshall, ''Football; the Rugby union game'', page 373, London</ref> A movement of emerging new clubs, headed by W. Bell, the honorary secretary of the [[Broughton RUFC|Broughton Football Club]], had an objective to secure a voice in the selection of county teams. Bell was supported by an informal committee consisting of: G. C. Lindsay (Manchester Rangers), A. M. Crook (Free Wanderers), F. C. Hignett ([[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]), Hunter (Birch). Initial approaches to the Manchester Club were declined and in 1881 a general meeting of Lancashire clubs was called at which the following clubs were represented: Manchester Rangers; Free Wanderers; [[Broughton RUFC|Broughton]]; [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]; Walton; Rossendale; [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]; Manchester Athletic; [[Rochdale Hornets]]; Chorley Birch; and Cheetham. Notably, the Manchester Club did not take part, but a resolution to form the Lancashire Football Union was agreed. The initial committee had W. Bell as its honorary secretary and G. C. Lindsay as the honorary treasurer.<ref name="game"/> Two county matches were arranged altogether versus the Midland Counties and Lanarkshire (Scotland). Manchester then decided to wrest control of the county back and on 22 December 1881 met with the new Union and a duly constituted and representative governing body, its club to be called The Lancashire County Football Club, was formed. It was agreed the president, a vice-president, the hon. secretary and treasurer should be elected from the Manchester Football Club, a vice-president and a member of committee from the [[Liverpool St Helens F.C.|Liverpool]] Club, and the remaining eight names to be elected from clubs other than the Manchester and Liverpool clubs. Also, all Home County matches would be played on the ground of the [[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester Football Club]].<ref name="game"/> The first officers and clubs elected to represent the newly formed Lancashire County Football Club were:
Two county matches were arranged altogether versus the Midland Counties and Lanarkshire (Scotland). Manchester then decided to wrest control of the county back and on 22 December 1881 met with the new Union and a duly constituted and representative governing body, its club to be called The Lancashire County Football Club, was formed. It was agreed the president, a vice-president, the hon. secretary and treasurer should be elected from the Manchester Football Club, a vice-president and a member of committee from the [[Liverpool St Helens F.C.|Liverpool]] Club, and the remaining eight names to be elected from clubs other than the Manchester and Liverpool clubs. Also, all Home County matches would be played on the ground of the [[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester Football Club]].<ref name="game"/> The first officers and clubs elected to represent the newly formed Lancashire County Football Club were:
*PRESIDENT : James MacLaren, Esq. ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]]).
*PRESIDENT : James MacLaren, Esq. ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]]).
*VICE-PRESIDENTS : W. Brierley, Esq. ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]]) ; [[Edward Kewley|E. Kewley]], Esq. ([[Liverpool St Helens F.C.|Liverpool]]).
*VICE-PRESIDENTS : W. Brierley, Esq. ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]]) ; [[Edward Kewley|E. Kewley]], Esq. ([[Liverpool St Helens F.C.|Liverpool]]).
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*COMMITTEE : [[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]], [[Liverpool St Helens F.C.|Liverpool]], [[Broughton RUFC|Broughton]], Cheetham, [[Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.|Preston]], Manchester Rangers, [[Rochdale Hornets]], [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]], [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]], and Free Wanderers.<ref name="game"/>
*COMMITTEE : [[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]], [[Liverpool St Helens F.C.|Liverpool]], [[Broughton RUFC|Broughton]], Cheetham, [[Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.|Preston]], Manchester Rangers, [[Rochdale Hornets]], [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]], [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]], and Free Wanderers.<ref name="game"/>


[[File:Lancashire county rugby team 1887 cropped.jpg|thumb|250px|The Lancashire team before a match against Middlesex in 1887]]
The first match was versus the Midland Counties (the Lanarkshire match having been cancelled), played at Coventry on 26 March 1882. [[A. N. Hornby|Albert Neilson Hornby]] became president after James MacLaren resigned the office on 1 October 1884. Lancashire was part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 1887 when they were asked to play Middlesex at [[The Oval|Kennington Oval]] on 12 March as a representation of Rugby Football, whilst [[Corinthian F.C.|Corinthians]] played [[Preston North End]] as an exposition of Association rules. Lancashire, led by [[Edward Temple Gurdon]], won by a try, gained by [[Vincent Slater]] ([[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]).<ref name="game"/>
The first match was versus the Midland Counties (the Lanarkshire match having been cancelled), played at Coventry on 26 March 1882. [[A. N. Hornby|Albert Neilson Hornby]] became president after James MacLaren resigned the office on 1 October 1884. Lancashire was part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 1887 when they were asked to play Middlesex at [[The Oval|Kennington Oval]] on 12 March as a representation of Rugby Football, whilst [[Corinthian F.C.|Corinthians]] played [[Preston North End]] as an exposition of Association rules. Lancashire, led by [[Edward Temple Gurdon]], won by a try, gained by [[Vincent Slater]] ([[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]).<ref name="game"/>


In February 1889 it was proposed that the county shall be divided out into five districts (Manchester, Liverpool, South-East Lancashire, West Lancashire, and North Lancashire) each with three representatives, removing club based representation on the committee.<ref name="game"/>
In February 1889 it was proposed that the county shall be divided out into five districts (Manchester, Liverpool, South-East Lancashire, West Lancashire, and North Lancashire) each with three representatives, removing club based representation on the committee.<ref name="game"/>


=== 1890–1900 ===
==1890 - 1900: Lancashire and the county championship==
Lancashire won the 1890-91 season of the County Championship, despite the [[County Championship (rugby union)|county championship]] having been organised by arch-rivals, [[Yorkshire Rugby Football Union|Yorkshire]]. Lancashire won all their games with "not a goal being scored against them in any of the county matches they played".<ref name="game"/> They then played "the Rest of England", on 18 April 1891. In 1891-92 Lancashire were defeated by Yorkshire who therefore wrested the championship of England from Lancashire. At this time, Lancashire County Football Club was made up of a number of clubs, and two sub-unions, West Lancashire Union (formed in 1884) and South-East Lancashire Union was (predating the county Rugby Union having been formed in 1877):<ref name="game"/>
Lancashire won the 1890-91 season of the County Championship, despite the [[County Championship (rugby union)|county championship]] having been organised by arch-rivals, [[Yorkshire Rugby Football Union|Yorkshire]]. Lancashire won all their games with "not a goal being scored against them in any of the county matches they played".<ref name="game"/> They then played "the Rest of England", on 18 April 1891. In 1891-92 Lancashire were defeated by Yorkshire who therefore wrested the championship of England from Lancashire.


At this time, Lancashire County Football Club was made up of a number of clubs, and two sub-unions, West Lancashire Union (formed in 1884) and South-East Lancashire Union (predating the county Rugby Union having been formed in 1877):<ref name="game"/>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

{{div col|colwidth=10em}}
* Aspull
* Aspull
* Askam
* Askam
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{{div col end}}


It was postulated that the comparatively small membership compared to [[Yorkshire Rugby Football Union|Yorkshire]] had its roots in the fact that Yorkshire had a [[Yorkshire Cup (rugby union)|Challenge Cup]] the eligibility for which was based on membership of the county union, whereas in Lancashire there was no equivalent.<ref name="game"/>
It was postulated that the comparatively small membership compared to [[Yorkshire Rugby Football Union|Yorkshire]] had its roots in the fact that Yorkshire had a [[Yorkshire Cup (rugby union)|Challenge Cup]], the eligibility for which was based on membership of the county union, whereas in Lancashire there was no equivalent.<ref name="game"/>


== Affiliated clubs ==
==County side==
There are currently 83 clubs affiliated with the Lancashire RFU, most of which have teams at both senior and junior level. The majority of teams are based in [[Lancashire]], parts of [[Greater Manchester]] and [[Merseyside]], but there are also occasionally sides from [[Cheshire]] and even [[Cumbria]] that are members.
===Honours===

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Aldwinians RUFC|Aldwinians]]
*[[Anti-Assassins]]
*[[Ashton-under-Lyne RFC|Ashton-under-Lyne]]
*[[Aspull RFC|Aspull]]
*[[Bay Horse RFC|Bay Horse]]
*[[Birchfield RUFC|Birchfield]]
*[[Blackburn RUFC|Blackburn]]
*[[Blackpool RUFC|Blackpool]]
*[[Bolton R.U.F.C.|Bolton]]
*[[Broughton RUFC|Broughton]]
*[[Broughton Park RUFC|Broughton Park]]
*[[Burnage Rugby|Burnage]]
*[[Burnley Rugby Club|Burnley]]
*[[Bury RUFC|Bury]]
*[[Carnforth RUFC|Carnforth]]
*[[Chorley RUFC|Chorley]]
*[[Clitheroe RUFC|Clitheroe]]
*[[Colne and Nelson RUFC|Colne & Nelson]]
*[[Crosby St Marys RUFC|Crosby St Marys]]
*[[De la Salle RUFC|De la Salle]]
*[[Didsbury Toc H RFC|Didsbury Toc H]]
*[[Eagle RUFC|Eagle]]{{#tag:ref|Eagle are based in Cheshire but belong to the Lancashire RFU.|group=a}}
*[[East City Saints RFC|East City Saints]]
*[[Eccles RFC|Eccles]]
*[[Edge Hill University]]
*[[England Fire Service RUFC|England Fire Service]]
*[[Waterloo FC|Firwood Waterloo]]
*[[Fleetwood RUFC|Fleetwood]]
*[[Fylde Rugby Club|Fylde]]
*[[Garstang RUFC|Garstang]]
*[[Greater Manchester Fire Brigade RUFC|Greater Manchester Fire Brigade]]
*[[Greater Manchester Police RUFC|Greater Manchester Police]]
*[[Heaton Moor RUFC|Heaton Moor]]
*[[HM Prison Hindley RFC|HM Prison Hindley]]
*[[Lancashire Constabulary RFC|Lancashire Constabulary]]
*[[Lancashire Ladies]]
*[[Lancaster University]]
*[[Leigh RUFC|Leigh]]
*[[Leyland Warriors]]
*[[Littleborough RUFC|Littleborough]]
*[[Liverpool Collegiate RUFC|Liverpool Collegiate]]
*[[Liverpool John Moores University]]
*[[University of Liverpool School of Medicine|Liverpool Medical School]]
*[[Lostock RFC|Lostock]]
*[[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]]
*[[Manchester Medicals RUFC|Manchester Medicals]]
*[[Manchester Metropolitan University]]
*[[Manchester YMCA RUFC|Manchester YMCA]]
*[[Mancunians RUFC|Mancunians]]
*[[Merseyside Police RUFC|Merseyside Police]]
*[[Mossley Hill RUFC|Mossley Hill]]
*[[Myerscough College]]
*[[Newton Le Willows RUFC|Newton Le Willows]]
*[[North Manchester Rugby Club|North Manchester]]
*[[Old Bedians RUFC|Old Bedians]]
*[[Old Boltonians RFC|Old Boltonians]]
*[[Oldham RUFC|Oldham]]
*[[Ormskirk RUFC|Ormskirk]]
*[[Orrell R.U.F.C.|Orrell]]
*[[Orrell St James RUFC|Orrell St James]]
*[[Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.|Preston Grasshoppers]]
*[[Rochdale RUFC|Rochdale]]
*[[Rossendale RUFC|Rossendale]]
*[[Ruskin Park RFC|Ruskin Park]]
*[[St Edwards Old Boys RUFC|St Edwards Old Boys]]
*[[Sedgley Park R.U.F.C.|Sedgley Park]]
*[[Sefton RUFC|Sefton]]
*[[Southport Rugby Football Club|Southport]]
*[[Tarleton RUFC|Tarleton]]
*[[Thornton Cleveleys RUFC|Thornton Cleveleys]]
*[[Trafford MV RFCC|Trafford MV]]
*[[Tyldesley RUFC|Tyldesley]]
*[[University of Bolton]]
*[[University of Central Lancashire]]
*[[University of Cumbria]]{{#tag:ref|The University of Cumbria is based in Cumbria but has campuses in [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] and belongs to the Lancashire RFU.|group=a}}
*[[University of Manchester]]
*[[University of Salford]]
*[[Vale of Lune RUFC|Vale of Lune]]
*[[Warrington RUFC|Warrington]]
*[[West Park St Helens]]
*[[Widnes RUFC|Widnes]]{{#tag:ref|Widnes are based in Cheshire but belong to the Lancashire RFU.|group=a}}
*[[Wigan R.U.F.C.|Wigan]]
*[[Wythenshawe RUFC|Wythenshawe]]
{{div col end}}

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lancashirerugby.co.uk/|title=Clubs|publisher=Lancashire RFU|access-date=5 June 2017 }}</ref>

== County club competitions ==
The Lancashire RFU currently helps run the following competitions for club sides based in [[Lancashire]]:

===Leagues===
All leagues are by both the Lancashire RFU and [[Cheshire Rugby Football Union|Cheshire RFU]] and feature clubs based in [[Cheshire]], [[Merseyside]], [[Lancashire]], [[Greater Manchester]] and the [[Isle of Man]].

*[[Lancs/Cheshire 1]] - league ranked at tier 7 of the [[English rugby union system]]
*[[South Lancs/Cheshire 1]] - tier 7 league
*[[South Lancs/Cheshire 2]] - tier 8 league
*[[Lancs/Cheshire Division 3]] - tier 9 league

In 2018 several Lancashire Clubs lobbied the County to form a county based league system after repeated requests to change the RFU League structure in the North West had failed. The start of the 2018/19 season saw the founding of two Leagues in the [http://lancashirerfu.pitchero.com/ ADM Lancashire County Leagues] consisting of ten teams each. In the 2019/20 this was expanded to two 12 team leagues and by the 2020-21 season it had expanded to three senior 1st XV leagues consisting of three leagues and 35 clubs. In addition, two new "combination" leagues where formed consisting of two 10 team leagues.

[http://lancashirerfu.pitchero.com/competitions-303/lancashire-county-ru-leagues-adm-premier-76812/ ADM Premier Division]
[http://lancashirerfu.pitchero.com/competitions-303/lancashire-county-ru-leagues-adm-championship-76813/ ADM Championship Division]
[http://lancashirerfu.pitchero.com/competitions-303/lancashire-county-ru-leagues-adm-1st-division-76814/ ADM 1st Division]

[http://lancashirerfu.pitchero.com/competitions-303/lancashire-county-ru-leagues-combination-1-76815/ Combination 1]
[http://lancashirerfu.pitchero.com/competitions-303/lancashire-county-ru-leagues-combination-2-76816/ Combination 2]

===Cups===
* John Burgess Lancashire Trophy
* Brian Leigh Lancashire Trophy
* Lancashire Plate
* Alan Stone Lancashire Bowl

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lancashirerugby.co.uk/clubs/competitions/county-cup-competitions|title=County Cup Competitions|publisher=Lancashire RFU|access-date=5 June 2017 }}</ref>

===Discontinued competitions===
*[[North Lancashire/Cumbria]] - tier 7 league for Lancashire and [[Cumbria]] based clubs that was abolished in 2018
*[[North Lancashire 2]] - tier 9 league for Lancashire clubs that was abolished in 2015
*[[Lancashire (North)]] - tier 8 league for Lancashire clubs that was abolished in 2017
*[[North West 1]] - tier 7 league for Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria clubs that was abolished in 2000
*[[North West 2]] - tier 8 league for Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria clubs that was abolished in 2000
*[[North West 3]] - tier 9 league for Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria clubs that was abolished in 2000
*[[North-West East 3]] - tier 12 league for Lancashire clubs that was abolished in 1992

== County side ==
=== Honours ===
{{football kit box
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The county side has reached the [[County Championship (rugby union)|County Championship]] Final 38 times, winning the title on a record 25 occasions. Lancashire have played in twelve of the past fourteen finals (from 2003 to 2018) and has won nine of those twelve finals.
The county side has reached the [[County Championship (rugby union)|County Championship]] Final 38 times, winning the title on a record 25 occasions. Lancashire have played in twelve of the past fourteen finals (from 2003 to 2018) and has won nine of those twelve finals.


*[[County Championship (rugby union)|County Championship]] winners (25): 1891, 1935, 1938, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1955, 1969, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018
*[[County Championship (rugby union)|County Championship]] winners (25): 1891, 1935, 1938, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1955, 1969, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, [[2013 Bill Beaumont Cup|2013]], [[2014 Bill Beaumont Cup|2014]], [[2017 Bill Beaumont County Championship Division 1|2017]], [[2018 Bill Beaumont County Championship Division 1|2018]]


===Notable players for the County side===
=== Notable players ===
{{see also|:Category:Lancashire County RFU players}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Gerry Ainscough]]
*[[Gerry Ainscough]]
*[[Jack Anderton]]
*[[Jack Anderton]]
*[[Tom Banks (rugby)|Tom Banks]]
*[[Tom Banks (rugby union, born 1858)|Tom Banks]]
*[[Bill Beaumont]]
*[[Bill Beaumont]]
*[[Edmund Beswick]]
*[[Edmund Beswick]]
*[[Steve Borthwick]]
*[[Steve Borthwick]]
*[[Walter Bumby]]
*[[Walter Bumby]]
*[[William Burgess (rugby league born 1939)|William Burgess]]
*[[Bill Burgess (rugby, born 1939)|William Burgess]]
*[[Fran Cotton]]
*[[Fran Cotton]]
*[[Harry Eagles]]
*[[Harry Eagles]]
Line 126: Line 288:
*[[Thomas Kelly (rugby player)|Thomas Kelly]] (also played for [[Devon Rugby Football Union]])
*[[Thomas Kelly (rugby player)|Thomas Kelly]] (also played for [[Devon Rugby Football Union]])
*[[Edward Kewley]]
*[[Edward Kewley]]
*[[Andy Kyriacou]]
*[[Andi Kyriacou]]
*[[Mike Leadbetter]]
*[[Mike Leadbetter]]
*[[Arthur Lees (rugby)|Arthur Lees]]
*[[Arthur Lees (rugby)|Arthur Lees]]
*[[Joe Mills (rugby)|Joe Mills]]
*[[Joe Mills (English rugby footballer)|Joe Mills]]
*[[Tony Neary]]
*[[Tony Neary]]
*[[Rob O'Donnell]]
*[[Rob O'Donnell]]
Line 143: Line 305:
*[[Peter Williams (English rugby player)|Peter Williams]]
*[[Peter Williams (English rugby player)|Peter Williams]]
*[[Sam Williams (rugby union)|Sam Williams]]
*[[Sam Williams (rugby union)|Sam Williams]]
*[[Ryan De La Harpe]]
*[[Sammy Southern]]
*[[Martin Hynes]]
*[[Duncan Sandford]]
*[[James Holt Marsh]]
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


==Presidents==
== Presidents ==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1881/84 J McLaren ★ ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]])
* 1881/84 J McLaren ★ ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]])
* 1884/14 [[A. N. Hornby]] ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]])
* 1884/14 [[A. N. Hornby]] ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]])
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* 1949/51 H G Preston ([[Waterloo FC|Waterloo]])
* 1949/51 H G Preston ([[Waterloo FC|Waterloo]])
* 1951/53 J H Roberts (Prestwich)
* 1951/53 J H Roberts (Prestwich)
* 1053/55 J B G Whittaker ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]])
* 1953/55 J B G Whittaker ([[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]])
* 1955/56 J R Locker ★ (Warrington)
* 1955/56 J R Locker ★ (Warrington)
* 1956/57 E Ogden ([[Fylde Rugby Club|Fylde]])
* 1956/57 E Ogden ([[Fylde Rugby Club|Fylde]])
Line 224: Line 391:
* 2013/14 D Hodgson (Blackburn/Vale of Lune)
* 2013/14 D Hodgson (Blackburn/Vale of Lune)
* 2014/15 D Matthews (Liverpool St. Helens)
* 2014/15 D Matthews (Liverpool St. Helens)
* 2015/16 T Stirk (Fylde / Schools Union)
* 2015/16 T Stirk (Fylde / Schools Union)
* 2016/17 T Fitzgerald (Preston Grasshoppers)
* 2016/17 T Fitzgerald (Preston Grasshoppers)
* 2017/18 S Blackburn (Rochdale)
* 2017/18 S Blackburn (Rochdale)
* 2018/19 D Clarke (Wigan)
* 2019/20 G Burns - MBE (Waterloo)
* 2022/23 Brian Stott (North Manchester)
* 2023/24 Carol Baker (Leigh)




{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}

{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
'''Notes''': ★ RFU President
'''Notes''': ★ RFU President
{{refend}}
{{refend}}

==Affiliated clubs==
There are currently 83 clubs affiliated with the Lancashire RFU, most of which have teams at both senior and junior level. The majority of teams are based in [[Lancashire]], parts of [[Greater Manchester]] and [[Merseyside]], but there are also occasionally sides from [[Cheshire]] and even [[Cumbria]] that are members.

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Aldwinians RUFC|Aldwinians]]
*[[Anti-Assassins]]
*[[Ashton-under-Lyne RFC|Ashton-under-Lyne]]
*[[Aspull RFC|Aspull]]
*[[Bay Horse RFC|Bay Horse]]
*[[Birchfield RUFC|Birchfield]]
*[[Blackburn RUFC|Blackburn]]
*[[Blackpool RUFC|Blackpool]]
*[[Bolton R.U.F.C.|Bolton]]
*[[Broughton RUFC|Broughton]]
*[[Broughton Park RUFC|Broughton Park]]
*[[Burnage Rugby|Burnage]]
*[[Burnley Rugby Club|Burnley]]
*[[Bury RUFC|Bury]]
*[[Carnforth RUFC|Carnforth]]
*[[Chorley RUFC|Chorley]]
*[[Clitheroe RUFC|Clitheroe]]
*[[Colne and Nelson RUFC|Colne & Nelson]]
*[[Crosby St Marys RUFC|Crosby St Marys]]
*[[De la Salle RUFC|De la Salle]]
*[[Didsbury Toc H RFC|Didsbury Toc H]]
*[[Eagle RUFC|Eagle]]{{#tag:ref|Eagle are based in Cheshire but belong to the Lancashire RFU.|group=a}}
*[[East City Saints RFC|East City Saints]]
*[[Eccles RFC|Eccles]]
*[[Edge Hill University]]
*[[England Fire Service RUFC|England Fire Service]]
*[[Waterloo FC|Firwood Waterloo]]
*[[Fleetwood RUFC|Fleetwood]]
*[[Fylde Rugby Club|Fylde]]
*[[Garstang RUFC|Garstang]]
*[[Greater Manchester Fire Brigade RUFC|Greater Manchester Fire Brigade]]
*[[Greater Manchester Police RUFC|Greater Manchester Police]]
*[[Heaton Moor RUFC|Heaton Moor]]
*[[HM Prison Hindley RFC|HM Prison Hindley]]
*[[Lancashire Constabulary RFC|Lancashire Constabulary]]
*[[Lancashire Ladies]]
*[[Lancaster University]]
*[[Leigh RUFC|Leigh]]
*[[Leyland Warriors]]
*[[Littleborough RUFC|Littleborough]]
*[[Liverpool Collegiate RUFC|Liverpool Collegiate]]
*[[Liverpool John Moores University]]
*[[University of Liverpool School of Medicine|Liverpool Medical School]]
*[[Lostock RFC|Lostock]]
*[[Manchester Rugby Club|Manchester]]
*[[Manchester Medicals RUFC|Manchester Medicals]]
*[[Manchester Metropolitan University]]
*[[Manchester YMCA RUFC|Manchester YMCA]]
*[[Mancunians RUFC|Mancunians]]
*[[Merseyside Police RUFC|Merseyside Police]]
*[[Mossley Hill RUFC|Mossley Hill]]
*[[Myerscough College]]
*[[Newton Le Willows RUFC|Newton Le Willows]]
*[[North Manchester Rugby Club|North Manchester]]
*[[Old Bedians RUFC|Old Bedians]]
*[[Old Boltonians RFC|Old Boltonians]]
*[[Oldham RUFC|Oldham]]
*[[Ormskirk RUFC|Ormskirk]]
*[[Orrell R.U.F.C.|Orrell]]
*[[Orrell St James RUFC|Orrell St James]]
*[[Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.|Preston Grasshoppers]]
*[[Rochdale RUFC|Rochdale]]
*[[Rossendale RUFC|Rossendale]]
*[[Ruskin Park RFC|Ruskin Park]]
*[[St Edwards Old Boys RUFC|St Edwards Old Boys]]
*[[Sedgley Park R.U.F.C.|Sedgley Park]]
*[[Sefton RUFC|Sefton]]
*[[Southport Rugby Football Club|Southport]]
*[[Tarleton RUFC|Tarleton]]
*[[Thornton Cleveleys RUFC|Thornton Cleveleys]]
*[[Trafford MV RFCC|Trafford MV]]
*[[Tyldesley RUFC|Tyldesley]]
*[[University of Bolton]]
*[[University of Central Lancashire]]
*[[University of Cumbria]]{{#tag:ref|The University of Cumbria is based in Cumbria but has campuses in [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] and belongs to the Lancashire RFU.|group=a}}
*[[University of Manchester]]
*[[University of Salford]]
*[[Vale of Lune RUFC|Vale of Lune]]
*[[Warrington RUFC|Warrington]]
*[[West Park St Helens]]
*[[Widnes RUFC|Widnes]]{{#tag:ref|Widnes are based in Cheshire but belong to the Lancashire RFU.|group=a}}
*[[Wigan R.U.F.C.|Wigan]]
*[[Wythenshawe RUFC|Wythenshawe]]
{{div col end}}

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lancashirerugby.co.uk/|title=Clubs|publisher=Lancashire RFU|accessdate=5 June 2017 }}</ref>

== County club competitions ==

The Lancashire RFU currently helps run the following competitions for club sides based in [[Lancashire]]:

===Leagues===

*[[Lancs/Cheshire 1]] - league ranked at tier 7 of the [[English rugby union system]] for clubs based in [[Cheshire]], [[Merseyside]], Lancashire and [[Greater Manchester]]
*[[South Lancs/Cheshire 1]] - tier 7 league
*[[South Lancs/Cheshire 2]] - tier 8 league
*[[Lancs/Cheshire 3]] - tier 9 league

===Cups===
*[[Brian Leigh Lancashire Trophy]]
*[[Lancashire Plate (rugby union)|Lancashire Plate]]
*[[Alan Stone Lancashire Bowl]]

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lancashirerugby.co.uk/clubs/competitions/county-cup-competitions|title=County Cup Competitions|publisher=Lancashire RFU|accessdate=5 June 2017 }}</ref>

===Discontinued competitions===
*[[Lancashire Cup (rugby union)|Lancashire Cup]] - knockout cup competition that ran between 1971 and 2013. It was once the premier cup competition in the county.
*[[North Lancashire/Cumbria]] - tier 7 league for Lancashire and [[Cumbria]] based clubs that was abolished in 2018
*[[North Lancashire 2]] - tier 9 league for Lancashire clubs that was abolished in 2015
*[[Lancashire (North)]] - tier 8 league for Lancashire clubs that was abolished in 2017


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=a}}
{{Reflist|group=a}}

==See also==
*[[Rugby Football Union Northern Division|Northern Division]]
*[[English rugby union system]]


==References==
==References==
Line 355: Line 418:


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons cat|Lancashire County Rugby Football Union}}
*[http://lancashirerugby.co.uk/ Lancashire RFU website]
*[http://lancashirerugby.co.uk/ Official website]


{{Rugby union in England}}
{{Rugby union in England}}
{{County rugby union in England}}
{{County rugby union in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2010}}


[[Category:Rugby union governing bodies in England]]
[[Category:Rugby union governing bodies in England]]
Line 365: Line 428:
[[Category:Rugby union in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Sport in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Sports organisations established in 1881]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1881]]

Latest revision as of 11:24, 4 May 2024

Lancashire County
Rugby Football Union
SportRugby union
Jurisdiction Lancashire (historic)
MembershipRFU
AbbreviationLancashire RFU
Gegründet1881; 143 years ago (1881)
PresidentCarol Baker
CoachMark Nelson
Official website
lancashirerugby.co.uk
England

The Lancashire County Rugby Football Union is the society responsible for rugby union in the county of Lancashire, England, and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1881. In addition it is the county that has won the County Championship on most occasions

History

[edit]

Early years

[edit]
The Battle of the Roses, depiction of a match between Yorkshire and Lancashire in 1893. Painting by William Barnes Wollen.

The first match arranged for the county of Lancashire took place in 1870, at Leeds against Yorkshire. This match was immediately known as the "Battle of the Roses" and was considered the "blue riband" of Northern rugby football.[citation needed] To be selected to represent the county was an honour bestowed long before the foundation of the Lancashire RFU and it was seen as "the high road to International honours".[1]

Formation of a Football Union

[edit]

From 1870 to 1881 the government and arrangement of county matches in Lancashire vested in Manchester Football Club. Though self-appointed, Manchester FC was recognised as the authority by the other great Lancashire club, Liverpool St. Helens.[1] A movement of emerging new clubs, headed by W. Bell, the honorary secretary of the Broughton FC, had an objective to secure a voice in the selection of county teams. Bell was supported by an informal committee consisting of: G. C. Lindsay (Manchester Rangers), A. M. Crook (Free Wanderers), F. C. Hignett (Swinton), Hunter (Birch).

The rose (as depicted in a match program of 1947), emblem of the Union

Initial approaches to the Manchester Club were declined and in 1881 a general meeting of Lancashire clubs was called at which the following clubs were represented: Manchester Rangers; Free Wanderers; Broughton; Swinton; Walton; Rossendale; Oldham; Manchester Athletic; Rochdale Hornets; Chorley Birch; and Cheetham. Notably, the Manchester Club did not take part, but a resolution to form the Lancashire Football Union was agreed. The initial committee had W. Bell as its honorary secretary and G. C. Lindsay as the honorary treasurer.[1]

Two county matches were arranged altogether versus the Midland Counties and Lanarkshire (Scotland). Manchester then decided to wrest control of the county back and on 22 December 1881 met with the new Union and a duly constituted and representative governing body, its club to be called The Lancashire County Football Club, was formed. It was agreed the president, a vice-president, the hon. secretary and treasurer should be elected from the Manchester Football Club, a vice-president and a member of committee from the Liverpool Club, and the remaining eight names to be elected from clubs other than the Manchester and Liverpool clubs. Also, all Home County matches would be played on the ground of the Manchester Football Club.[1] The first officers and clubs elected to represent the newly formed Lancashire County Football Club were:

The Lancashire team before a match against Middlesex in 1887

The first match was versus the Midland Counties (the Lanarkshire match having been cancelled), played at Coventry on 26 March 1882. Albert Neilson Hornby became president after James MacLaren resigned the office on 1 October 1884. Lancashire was part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 1887 when they were asked to play Middlesex at Kennington Oval on 12 March as a representation of Rugby Football, whilst Corinthians played Preston North End as an exposition of Association rules. Lancashire, led by Edward Temple Gurdon, won by a try, gained by Vincent Slater (Salford).[1]

In February 1889 it was proposed that the county shall be divided out into five districts (Manchester, Liverpool, South-East Lancashire, West Lancashire, and North Lancashire) each with three representatives, removing club based representation on the committee.[1]

1890–1900

[edit]

Lancashire won the 1890-91 season of the County Championship, despite the county championship having been organised by arch-rivals, Yorkshire. Lancashire won all their games with "not a goal being scored against them in any of the county matches they played".[1] They then played "the Rest of England", on 18 April 1891. In 1891-92 Lancashire were defeated by Yorkshire who therefore wrested the championship of England from Lancashire.

At this time, Lancashire County Football Club was made up of a number of clubs, and two sub-unions, West Lancashire Union (formed in 1884) and South-East Lancashire Union (predating the county Rugby Union having been formed in 1877):[1]

It was postulated that the comparatively small membership compared to Yorkshire had its roots in the fact that Yorkshire had a Challenge Cup, the eligibility for which was based on membership of the county union, whereas in Lancashire there was no equivalent.[1]

Affiliated clubs

[edit]

There are currently 83 clubs affiliated with the Lancashire RFU, most of which have teams at both senior and junior level. The majority of teams are based in Lancashire, parts of Greater Manchester and Merseyside, but there are also occasionally sides from Cheshire and even Cumbria that are members.

[2]

County club competitions

[edit]

The Lancashire RFU currently helps run the following competitions for club sides based in Lancashire:

Leagues

[edit]

All leagues are by both the Lancashire RFU and Cheshire RFU and feature clubs based in Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and the Isle of Man.

In 2018 several Lancashire Clubs lobbied the County to form a county based league system after repeated requests to change the RFU League structure in the North West had failed. The start of the 2018/19 season saw the founding of two Leagues in the ADM Lancashire County Leagues consisting of ten teams each. In the 2019/20 this was expanded to two 12 team leagues and by the 2020-21 season it had expanded to three senior 1st XV leagues consisting of three leagues and 35 clubs. In addition, two new "combination" leagues where formed consisting of two 10 team leagues.

ADM Premier Division ADM Championship Division ADM 1st Division

Combination 1 Combination 2

Cups

[edit]
  • John Burgess Lancashire Trophy
  • Brian Leigh Lancashire Trophy
  • Lancashire Plate
  • Alan Stone Lancashire Bowl

[3]

Discontinued competitions

[edit]
  • North Lancashire/Cumbria - tier 7 league for Lancashire and Cumbria based clubs that was abolished in 2018
  • North Lancashire 2 - tier 9 league for Lancashire clubs that was abolished in 2015
  • Lancashire (North) - tier 8 league for Lancashire clubs that was abolished in 2017
  • North West 1 - tier 7 league for Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria clubs that was abolished in 2000
  • North West 2 - tier 8 league for Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria clubs that was abolished in 2000
  • North West 3 - tier 9 league for Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria clubs that was abolished in 2000
  • North-West East 3 - tier 12 league for Lancashire clubs that was abolished in 1992

County side

[edit]

Honours

[edit]
Team kit

The county side has reached the County Championship Final 38 times, winning the title on a record 25 occasions. Lancashire have played in twelve of the past fourteen finals (from 2003 to 2018) and has won nine of those twelve finals.

  • County Championship winners (25): 1891, 1935, 1938, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1955, 1969, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018

Notable players

[edit]
See also: Category:Lancashire County RFU players

Presidents

[edit]
  • 1881/84 J McLaren ★ (Manchester)
  • 1884/14 A. N. Hornby (Manchester)
  • 1919/23 A M Crook ★ (Broughton Park)
  • 1923/24 H Williamson (Kersal)
  • 1924/26 A Brettagh (Liverpool)
  • 1926/28 T W S Pollok (Waterloo)
  • 1928/30 H S Johnson (Heaton Moor)
  • 1930/32 J E Kidd (Broughton Park)
  • 1932/34 J Milnes ★ (Manchester)
  • 1934/36 T J Bradburn (Manchester)
  • 1936/37 Dr E Moir (Manchester University)
  • 1937/39 T Brakell (Waterloo)
  • 1939/47 J Hunter (Manchester)
  • 1947/49 J Bradley (Warrington)
  • 1949/51 H G Preston (Waterloo)
  • 1951/53 J H Roberts (Prestwich)
  • 1953/55 J B G Whittaker (Manchester)
  • 1955/56 J R Locker ★ (Warrington)
  • 1956/57 E Ogden (Fylde)
  • 1957/58 S C Meikle (Waterloo)
  • 1958/59 H A Fry (Liverpool)
  • 1959/60 C B Sewell (Prestwich)
  • 1960/61 N Shaw (Eccles)
  • 1961/62 J Heaton (Waterloo)
  • 1962/63 R S Unsworth (Manchester)
  • 1963/64 V G Funduklian (Broughton Park)
  • 1964/65 R H Guest (Waterloo)
  • 1965/66 E Randell (Furness)
  • 1966/67 A Marsden (Preston Grasshoppers)
  • 1967/68 L Mortlock (Prestwich)
  • 1968/69 P G Clemence (Manchester)
  • 1969/70 W E Naylor (St. Helens)
  • 1970/71 A Shuker (Broughton Park)
  • 1971/72 R G Burton (Manchester)
  • 1972/73 C C C Burch (Warrington)
  • 1973/74 W R Hall (Heaton Moor)
  • 1974/75 R Higgins (Liverpool)
  • 1975/76 E Evans (Old Aldwinians)
  • 1976/77 G A Macintosh (Waterloo)
  • 1977/78 J H Waters (Kersal)
  • 1978/79 J Benson (Orrell)
  • 1979/80 J Walsh (Heaton Moor)
  • 1980/81 A Gott (Burnage)
  • 1981/82 J Burgess ★ (Broughton Park)
  • 1982/83 R H Wiseman (Preston Grasshoppers)
  • 1983/84 F Hardman (Sedgley Park)
  • 1984/85 Malcolm Phillips ★ (Fylde)
  • 1985/86 W G Bevan (Broughton Park)
  • 1986/87 Dr J E Ryner (Broughton Park)
  • 1987/88 I Sinclair (Heaton Moor)
  • 1988/89 W S B Faulds (Anti-Assassins/Bury)
  • 1989/90 K Jones (Manchester)
  • 1990/91 Dr N H Atkinson (Heaton Moor)
  • 1991/92 E Deasey (Rochdale)
  • 1992/93 B H England (Warrington)
  • 1993/94 R B Bretherton (Southport)
  • 1994/95 K Brown (Liverpool)
  • 1995/96 H E Neeley (Sedgley Park)
  • 1996/97 P E Hughes (Calder Vale)
  • 1997/98 W A Kershaw (Manchester)
  • 1998/99 B Leigh (Wigan)
  • 1999/00 R T J Briers (West Park)
  • 2000/01 T W Alexander (Tyldesley)
  • 2001/02 W G D Chappell (Bury)
  • 2002/03 E M Whiteside (Southport)
  • 2003/04 F Morgan (Wigan)
  • 2004/05 J W Dewhurst (Fleetwood)
  • 2005/06 M Cornelia (Warrington)
  • 2006/07 S M Parker (Manchester)
  • 2007/08 D N Herriman (Widnes)
  • 2008/09 K Andrews (West Park)
  • 2009/10 C Barker (Wigan)
  • 2010/11 D Welsh (Fleetwood)
  • 2011/12 T Hughes (Leigh)
  • 2012/13 M Worsley (West Park)
  • 2013/14 D Hodgson (Blackburn/Vale of Lune)
  • 2014/15 D Matthews (Liverpool St. Helens)
  • 2015/16 T Stirk (Fylde / Schools Union)
  • 2016/17 T Fitzgerald (Preston Grasshoppers)
  • 2017/18 S Blackburn (Rochdale)
  • 2018/19 D Clarke (Wigan)
  • 2019/20 G Burns - MBE (Waterloo)
  • 2022/23 Brian Stott (North Manchester)
  • 2023/24 Carol Baker (Leigh)


Notes: ★ RFU President

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Eagle are based in Cheshire but belong to the Lancashire RFU.
  2. ^ The University of Cumbria is based in Cumbria but has campuses in Lancaster and belongs to the Lancashire RFU.
  3. ^ Widnes are based in Cheshire but belong to the Lancashire RFU.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Francis Marshall, Football; the Rugby union game, page 373, London
  2. ^ "Clubs". Lancashire RFU. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  3. ^ "County Cup Competitions". Lancashire RFU. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
[edit]
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