"RUGBY", it would never get off the ground, was the word around Helston 50 years ago when it was revealed that a few dedicated followers of the oval ball had gathered around a small table in the town's Red Lion public house and had agreed "let us form a rugby club."

Bill Stancumbe was the landlord of the Red Lion Inn at the time the club was launched. He said that it all came about because of a chat -or several - with former AFC goalkeeper Sam Reel.

"All you could talk about with Sam was football. So I said to him one day that I had a good mind to start a rugby club in Helston. He said it would never get off the ground": Helston Rugby Club was the end product.

Mr Stancumbe added: "We had a hell of a job to get the council to let us have the King George V Playing Fields - and then to get rugby introduced into local schools which were dominated by soccer."

Helston's introduction to a full competitive rugby season began with a visit by Penryn reserves, with Helston losing 9 - 14.

However, a few games later the newly formed club notched up their first win by stinging Newquay Hornets reserves with a 6 - 0 victory.

Over the years the club has produced a number of players of outstanding ability including, Colin Laity who played for Cornwall, Neath, Barbarians, and Wales "B", Peter Phillips, Paul Strike and Jim Agnew who all played for Cornwall and all starting their rugby careers at Helston.

Dave Lockwood the most prolific kicker of the ball the club has had, helped Helston create history in Cornwall by becoming the first club to break the 1000 point barrier in two successive seasons

It was in April 1981 - the year Helston topped the 1,000 point barrier for the second successive term - that the club first had its name stamped on the famous Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Trophy beating Bodmin at Redruth by 18 points to 8

Graham Oates was making his 500th appearance for the club, and leading his side to victory was Dave Muirhead. Man of the match was Dave Lockwood

Helston Cricket & Rugby Social Club was formed in 1979 as the two clubs joined together to help both sports grow throughout the town. This arrangement continued until 1997 when the respective clubs went there separate ways.

Helston RFC Mini & Junior sectionn was formed during the October of 1979, with a meeting held in the Halzphron Inn at Gunwalloe. Landlord at the time was John Mills, who became the clubs first president. Local police sergeant John Wherry was elected chairman, Chris Holloway, secretary, and Bob woods, another policeman, treasurer.

An enthusiastic publicity campaign was initiated and it invited all "young gentlemen" under the required age to attend the first training session at the King George V Playing Fields.

But the organisers were not quite prepared for the response, especially when almost 150 eager youngsters turned up to learn the basics of the game!

Interest was so great that the club officials were overwhelmed and there was a rsce to find additional help. As the the weeks passed by the influx of minis settled into a more comfortable but still impressive 50-60 minis an average which exists today. During the 2015-16 season the club had in excess of 220 mini/junior members

During 1985 the under 12's won "the big one," the county tournament held at Penzance.

Peter Philips and Dennis Trethowen played senior rugby at St Ives and returned to Helston to develop mini and youth rugby.

Helston Make the finals of the Pilkinton Shield in 1995. Helston lose the game, The Newcastle Medicals 16 points to Helston's 6 points. A fantastic cup run by any standard.

Helston may be a soccer stronghold but Helston RFC has had considerable sponsorship from the town's business community with Whirlwind Sports, Red Lion, Flambards, Ward Vauxhall, Brewers South Eastern Ffarmers, Outback trading, cornwall camping to name but a few.

Local businessman, Simon Rogers, was elected as chairman for the 1997/98 season, heading the committee whose aim was to obtain a suitable lease on King George V Playing Fields for a clubhouse to be built.

It took 9 long years of hard work with many setbacks and hurdles to overcome but finally the lease was signed on June 13th 2005, and building of the new clubhouse started 8 July 2005.

The clubhouse as it stands today was opened by local businessman and longtime club supporter David Martin on 20-4-2006.

Helston RFC

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