Cornwall’s oldest Rugby Club, Penryn, are proud to announce the start of their 150th celebrations. The forthcoming 2021/22 season will see many exciting events kicking off from August up at their ‘Borough’ home ground, to commemorate and celebrate the lives, families and individuals who have shaped the diverse history of this small Club with a huge heart.
Since its inception back in 1872 by watch maker John Marshall Thomas, who had returned from a spell playing for Blackheath bringing with him the now famous black and red hoops to the Borough, the Club can boast a rich history punching well above what could be expected for a small Cornish town.
By the time the Borough had reached its centenary in 1972 it was already playing and hosting the likes of London Welsh, Sale, Neath, Harlequins, Coventry and Cardiff. This ‘Trelawney’s rugby-army’ can even boast that it is the only club side to have played the British and Irish Lions on home soil on a unique occasion in 1973 at their Memorial Ground in Penryn.
“We are immensely proud of all that Penryn has achieved in the last 150 years and after a difficult 2020 season with Covid, we are now looking ahead to the future and the legacy we leave behind for the next 150 years and all those future generations of rugby players in the Borough. It will be an exciting year and with all our 150th celebrations woven in and around the sporting fixtures and off-pitch festivities, we are delighted to announce the start of the season with the launch of our new match kit and Club rebranding from August, ” said Tim Nicholls, Club President.
Just the Trick Design was tasked with creating an updated identity with a nod to the past and eye to the next 150 years as this small yet strong club continues to grow at pace.
“Having received a warm welcome at the height of my playing career at the Borough, it was an honour to give something back that will hopefully out live me off the field,” said Danny Trick founder of Just the Trick Design, who played for Penryn RFC for a few seasons in the early 2000’s. “Our goal has been to produce an identity that evokes a sense of belonging and that both players and fans will be proud to be part of,” he said.
Their new identity incorporates the Club’s new gold crest sitting centre stage of a laurel wreath, with a map of Cornwall making up the neck of the Saracen’s Head featuring a marker for the position of Penryn within the county.
For the 150th celebrations, the traditional red and black hoops return to the home kit. “We are excited to launch the new kit towards the end of August and I know all our players, young and old will be incredibly proud to step out in the famous Penryn red and black hoops this season with the shout of ‘Up the Borough’ resounding around the grounds,” declared Marek Churcher, Director of Rugby who has ambitious plans for the ‘Borough’ in the coming years.
Penryn Rugby supports over 15 teams, sportsmen and women at all levels, with in excess of 250 registered players in their youth section, championed by the backbone of a robust infrastructure of volunteers and highly engaged supporters.
“Added to this is the British and Irish Lions tour this summer which has added to the buzz at the Club as Penryn is the only club to have played them on home turf,” said Tim. “It would be easy to talk longer about the club’s past glories, but any rugby club is really about the here and the now and it’s about building for the future and that looks pretty good too. 2020 was an awful period in history causing loss and suffering to many, so as we head further into 2021 we will hopefully leave that behind. For Penryn Rugby Club as for everyone else, it was a difficult time, and yet we seem set to emerge in robust shape and excited for the future.
“We have excellent numbers of men and women attending training, enough for two men’s teams and a very successful women’s team and alongside our youth and minis teams, boys and girls, so we are all set to start the 2021/22 season as we celebrate our 150th anniversary. We are the oldest club in Cornwall and one of the oldest in the country. We are rightly proud of that distinction,” he added.
And with the 150th season fast approaching, the Club are looking for a collection of pictures, memories and artifacts that can contribute towards building up a commemorative story, so if you have something to contribute, the Club would love to hear from you. Please get in touch via the website or email penrynrugbyclub@gmail.com – they would love to hear from you!
