Helston RFC

Helston RFC is a rugby union club in Cornwall which has been in existence since 1965. They currently play in Cornwall League 2, following relegation from Cornwall League 1 in 2018–19. They are famous for the 1995–96 side that managed to reach the final of the RFU Pilkington Shield, and are one of only three Cornish club sides to have played in a competitive final at Twickenham (alongside Mount's Bay RFC and the Cornish Pirates).

Helston RFC
Full nameHelston Rugby Football Club
UnionCornwall RFU
Founded1965 (1965)
LocationHelston, Cornwall, England
Ground(s)King George V Playing Field (Capacity: 2,500 (no seating))
League(s)Cornwall 2
2019–20Runners up (promoted)
Team kit

History

Helston RFC was formed in 1965, when a group of men within the town of Helston decided that rugby had a place within the local community. Their first ever game took place against Penryn 2nd XV, which resulted in a 14–9 loss. However, their first victory would occur a few games later against the Newquay Hornets. The club would go on to win several junior cups throughout the 1980s, with victories over such sides as Bodmin, Liskeard-Looe, St. Agnes and Bude, and have also won the Cornwall 2 league title on four occasions, more than any other club.

In 1995–96 season, the club would achieve an incredible feat. They reached the final of the Pilkington Shield (now the Powergen Vase), which is some achievement for a small club as it was the largest club rugby competition in the world, with 501 teams competing. They eventually lost at Twickenham on the 4 May 1996, against Medicals RFC (16–6) from Newcastle. Following on from their previous successes in cup competitions, and despite a difficult season on the field, Helston made the final of the CRFU Skinners Junior Cup in season 2009–10 against Roseland. The final score was 23–19 to Roseland but Helston held their heads up high.

King George V Playing Field

The King George V Playing Field has been in use by the club since the club played its first match in 1965. It is owned by Cornwall Council. Until recently, the facilities at the site were extremely poor by any standards. However, on the 20 April 2006, a new clubhouse was opened which included two top quality changing rooms and a brand new bar facility. It is also the venue for an annual road race An Resek Helys (The Race for Helston). [1] Current supporter capacity is approximately 2,500, all of which is standing.

Season summary
Season League National Cup(s) County Cup(s)
Competition/Level Position Points Competition Performance Competition Performance
1987–88Cornwall 1 (9)4th12Cornwall Junior Knockout PlateWinners
1988–89Cornwall 1 (9)Cornwall Junior Knockout PlateWinners
1989–90Cornwall 1 (9)(relegated)[2]
1990–91Cornwall 2 (10)1st (promoted)[3]Cornwall Junior Knockout PlateWinners
1991–92Cornwall 1 (9)(relegated)[4]
1992–93Cornwall 2 (10)1st (promoted)Cornwall Junior Knockout PlateRunners up
1993–94Cornwall 1 (9)
1994–95Cornwall 1 (9)
1995–96Cornwall 1 (9)[5]Pilkington ShieldRunners upCornwall Junior Knockout PlateRunners up
1996–97Cornwall 1 (9)3rd[6]20
1997–98Cornwall 1 (9)7th[7]12
1998–99Cornwall 1 (9)7th[8]10
1999–00Cornwall 1 (9)6th[9]12
2000–01Cornwall 1 (9)7th[10]7
2001–02Cornwall 1 (9)8th[11]10
2002–03Cornwall 1 (9)9th (relegated)[12]1Cornwall Clubs Cup2nd Round[13][14]
2003–04Cornwall 2 (10)1st (promoted)[15]25Powergen Junior Vase[16]
2004–05Cornwall 1 (9)8th (relegated)[17]2Powergen Junior Vase[18]
2005–06Cornwall 2 (10)1st (promoted)[19]25Powergen Junior Vase[20]
2006–07Cornwall 1 (9)4th[21]13EDF Junior Vase4th Round[22][23]Cornwall Clubs CupQuarter-finals[24][a 1]
2007–08Cornwall 1 (9)2nd (lost promotion playoff)26Cornwall Clubs CupSemi-finals[26]
2008–09Cornwall 1 (9)5th12EDF Junior Vase2nd Round[27]
2009–10Cornwall 1 (9)11th[a 2]9Cornwall Clubs CupRunners up
2010–11Cornwall 1 (9)3rd63[a 3]
2011–12Cornwall 1 (9)2nd (lost promotion playoff)67Cornwall Clubs CupSemi-finals[28]
2012–13Cornwall 1 (9)6th[29]24
2013–14Cornwall 1 (9)6th[30]24RFU Junior Vase3rd Round[a 4][31]Cornwall Clubs CupSemi-finals[31]
2014–15Cornwall 1 (9)6th[32]21RFU Junior Vase1st Round[33]Cornwall Clubs CupQuarter-finals[34]
2015–16Cornwall 1 (9)6th[35]19RFU Junior Vase1st Round[36]Cornwall Clubs CupQuarter-finals[37]
2016–17Cornwall 1 (9)5th[38]25Cornwall Clubs PlateWinners[39]
2017–18Cornwall 2 (10)[a 5]1st (promoted)[40]60
2018–19Cornwall 1 (9)8th (relegated)[41]15RFU Junior VaseGroup Stage[42]
2019–20Cornwall 2 (10)2nd (promoted)38
2020–21Cornwall 1 (9)
Green background stands for either league champions (with promotion) or cup winners. Blue background stands for promotion without winning league or losing cup finalists. Pink background stands for relegation.

Honours

[43][44]

Notable former players

Notes
  1. Helston reached the semi-finals of the 2006–07 Cornwall Clubs Cup but were eliminated from the competition for fielding an unregistered player in a Cornwall 1 league game earlier in the season.[25]
  2. There was no relegation from Cornwall 1 at the end of the 2009–10 season.
  3. The 2010–11 season would see the introduction of bonus points into lower league English rugby union (tier 6 and below).
  4. The 3rd Round of the RFU Junior Cup for Cornish clubs was also known as the area semi-finals.
  5. The 2017–18 season saw teams in Cornwall 1 and Cornwall 2 start the season in a single division. Half way through the league would then split in two with the top 8 playing for the Cornwall 1 title and the bottom 7 playing for the Cornwall 2. This meant that Helston (who finished 12th during the first stage) played the second stage in Cornwall 2, despite having been in Cornwall 1 the previous season. The structure was not overly popular and would revert back to single divisions the following season, with Helston once more in Cornwall 1.

See also
  • Cornish rugby

References
  1. http://www.cornwallroadrunning.co.uk/
  2. Williams, T. and Mitchell, B. (1990) Courage Clubs Championship Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990-91. Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  3. Williams, T. and Mitchell, B. (1991) Courage Clubs Championship Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991-92. Taunton: Tony Williams.
  4. Cornwall Rugby Football Union Handbook, 1992-3
  5. Cornwall Rugby Football Union Handbook, 1996-7
  6. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1996-97". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1997-98". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  8. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1998-1999". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  9. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1999-2000". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2000-2001". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  11. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2001-2002". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  12. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2002-2003". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  13. "Pirates opt out of Cornwall Cup". South West Farmer. 20 June 2002.
  14. "FALMOUTH IN DRIVING SEAT". South West Farmer. 23 January 2003.
  15. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2003-2004". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  16. "Powergen Draws". ESPN. 12 July 2003.
  17. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2004-2005". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  18. "Junior clubs begin national cup trail". South West Farmer. 6 September 2004.
  19. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2005-2006". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  20. "Powergen Cup Draws". The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 17 August 2005.
  21. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2006-2007". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  22. "Helston pay penalty for 15 minute second half nap". South West Farmer. 13 December 2006.
  23. "Sport in Brief". The Telegraph. 12 December 2006.
  24. "Helston double secures league place". South West Farmer. 17 January 2007.
  25. "End of a bad week". South West Farmer. 31 January 2007.
  26. "Helston spring cup shock". South West Farmer. 19 March 2008.
  27. "Helston beaten in EDF Energy Vase". South West Farmer. 26 November 2008.
  28. "Helston RFC into semi-finals of Cornwall Clubs' Cup". South West Farmer. 9 November 2011.
  29. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2012-2013". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  30. "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2013-2014". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  31. "Full Cornish Fixtures & Results 2013-14". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  32. "South West Division 2014-15". England Rugby. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  33. "Full Cornish Fixtures & Results 2014-15". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  34. "Full Cornish Fixtures & Results 2014-15". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  35. "South West Division 2015-16". England Rugby. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  36. "RUGBY: Camels will ride into Falmouth for Cornwall Cup clash". South West Farmer. 18 June 2015.
  37. "Full Cornish Fixtures & Results 2015-16". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  38. "South West Division 2016-17". England Rugby. 21 April 2018.
  39. "Cornish Rugby Report with Bill Hooper – Hornets are buzzing; Churcher steps down". Cornish Stuff. 3 May 2017.
  40. "South West Division 2017-18". England Rugby. 21 April 2018.
  41. "South West Division 2018-19". England Rugby. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  42. "Full Cornish Fixtures & Results 2018-19". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  43. Cornwall Rugby Football Union Official Handbook 2010-11
  44. http://www.trelawnysarmy.org.uk/ta/tascf.html
  45. "Spirited Helston side outclassed by Veor". South West Farmer. 21 October 2009.
  • Medicals RFC
  • Helston RFC
  • Trelawney's Army, Cornish rugby website
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