Nailsea and Backwell Rugby Club

Welcome to Nailsea and Backwell Rugby Club............ training Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm with coach Mark Hawkes .....

NAILSEA & BACKWELL

RUGBY CLUB

WELCOME

We are pleased that you want to know more about us. On this page we have put together some Information about our history, our members and our facilities.

The club runs four Senior sides including Vets. New players are always made very welcome. So if you've just moved into the area and are looking for a team; maybe you've played in the past and want to give it another go; or if you're completely new to rugby, just turn up to one of the training sessions or contact the appropriate

team manager.

Our pavillion and grounds are at West End in Nailsea, North Somerset. The Club runs 3 senior teams and a vets XV. The first XV will be playing in the Powergen Somerset League One in season 2007-08. You will also find here a thriving juniors, minis and girls section that can take on the best.

The club is host to many others - the boxing club have a gym here after a generous donation from the Hobbs family (they also helped the rugby club get going here), the ladies hockey club make a very attactive addition to our membership, and the running club meet here twice a week.

WHERE ARE WE?

The club is located at
West End Park
West End
Nailsea
North Somerset

BS48 4BY

Telephone:- (01275) 810818

Click on the downloadable map at the bottom of this page for a printable map and written directions.
or find us at multimap.com

If at any stage you require help with directions, accommodation, fixtures, or want to use our facilities, please do not hesitate to email or telephone us.

First Team Pitch

NAILSEA AND BACKWELL RFC 1996-Present

Backwell RFC started as a Sunday side in 1972 and played its home matches at Backwell Playing Fields. Players came from far and wide. Many played for local clubs on a Saturday and were joined by unattached local youngsters and retired players who had moved into the area. We changed at Backwell school and after the game we drank at The George, The Rising Sun and The Butchers Arms, depending on which landlord could tolerate us entertaining our opponents. The first season was such a social and playing success that it was decided to become a Saturday club and the following season two teams were regularly put out. While the pitch was being levelled (although it remained on a slope!) and moved through 90 degrees the club played one season on Backwell Common, thanks to the support of local farmer Peter Wyatt. The return to the Playing Fields was accompanied by the erection of our first clubhouse, which had two small changing rooms, shower and intimate bar. It was a portacabin structure that had been used as a motorway construction office and was transported from Wiltshire and erected by club members and friends. A couple of seasons later the addition of another portacabin enabled us to breathe more easily in the bar. Incidentally the small 'Backwell Bar' in our present clubhouse is the same size as our former bar and the polished wooden bar top is the original which made the journey over, having been a bank counter in its earlier life!There was significant interest for a Colts side to play some sporadic games and mini rugby attracted players for a couple of seasons. However there was little support for the organisers of the time as it was essentially a players club, and a junior section never really flourished, as it does today.March 1991 saw Backwell become the first club to be promoted in England's newly launched league structure from Somerset division 2 to 1 (and a momentary famous mention on Grandstand).The need to extend our facilities to include a second pitch and a more permanent clubhouse structure, led the club to explore several sites in the Backwell and Nailsea area. This resulted in us acquiring our present set up at West End Park, Nailsea. The club subsequently changed its name to Nailsea and Backwell RFC in recognition of its current location and the financial aid and encouragement given by Nailsea Town Council.

With help from North Somerset Council, the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, the Sports Coucil, Sponsors, Nailsea Town Council, the RFU, and SportsMatch, we completed a £250k project to move to Nailsea from Backwell in 1996.
We employ two senior coaches and a physiotherapist - a management team that has enabled us to flourish at whatever level we compete.
The Rugby club is now also home to the Nailsea Running Club , Nailsea Ladies Hockey Club and the local Boxing Club. We also boast an all-weather cricket square and volley ball court.

View up to 2nd and 3rd Team Pitches

BACKWELL RFC 1972-1996

Backwell RFC started as a Sunday side in 1972 and played its home matches at Backwell Playing Fields. Players came from far and wide. Many played for local clubs on a Saturday and were joined by unattached local youngsters and retired players who had moved into the area. We changed at Backwell school and after the game we drank at The George, The Rising Sun and The Butchers Arms, depending on which landlord could tolerate us entertaining our opponents.
The first season was such a social and playing success that it was decided to become a Saturday club and the following season two teams were regularly put out. While the pitch was being levelled (although it remained on a slope!) and moved through 90 degrees the club played one season on Backwell Common, thanks to the support of local farmer Peter Wyatt.
The return to the Playing Fields was accompanied by the erection of our first clubhouse, which had two small changing rooms, shower and intimate bar. It was a portacabin structure that had been used as a motorway construction office and was transported from Wiltshire and erected by club members and friends.
A couple of seasons later the addition of another portacabin enabled us to breathe more easily in the bar. Incidentally the small 'Backwell Bar' in our present clubhouse is the same size as our former bar and the polished wooden bar top is the original which made the journey over, having been a bank counter in its earlier life!
There was significant interest for a Colts side to play some sporadic games and mini rugby attracted players for a couple of seasons. However there was little support for the organisers of the time as it was essentially a players club, and a junior section never really flourished, as it does today.
March 1991 saw Backwell become the first club to be promoted in England's newly launched league structure from Somerset division 2 to 1 (and a momentary famous mention on Grandstand).
The need to extend our facilities to include a second pitch and a more permanent clubhouse structure, led the club to explore several sites in the Backwell and Nailsea area. This resulted in us acquiring our present set up at West End Park, Nailsea. The club subsequently changed its name to Nailsea and Backwell RFC in recognition of its current location and the financial aid and encouragement given by Nailsea Town Council.

Founder member and current trustee Norman Selwood designed the original badge.

Getting the idea - shields at Backwell Parish Church

Norman started his research at Backwell Parish Church, where there are six family shields on the vestry screens at the back. They are:
The Le Sore. Family. 1200-1300.
The Rodney. Family. 1300 -1710.
The Churchill. Family. 1710-
Also the shield of St John the Baptist 1305.
George Owen and family have a family shield. He was a Kings physician appointed by Henry V111.
The Thynne family controlled the village and became patrons of the rectory by purchasing the advowson from the Churchill's in 1710; they also purchased the advowson on the vicarage from descendants of George Owen in 1873. So they were patrons of the rectory and the vicarage until 1927.

What Elements should be used?

All these shields have elements, which we could have used to make up Backwell RFC. badge and logo, but it is illegal to use a coat of arms without permission of the owners of the coat of arms. Kings or Queens presents these, even in modern times, so we could not use a shield in its entirety.

The Heraldry society said we could use parts of the 6 shields to make up a new badge as long as they could not be identified as to having an owner.
Therefore we cannibalized parts from 5 of the shields to make ours.
The red chevron from one.
The raven from another.
The claw from another.
The White background from another.
We then thought that the claw should be clamped onto a rugby ball to bring in a rugby theme to the badge. (Cheating but effective?).

Where does the Motto come from?

The Motto ANIMUS SUPERARE was on one of the shields and luckily!
Translated means the will to win
So parts of our badge go back to the 12th century.

Norman Selwood.
Co. Founder & Trustee.

SPONSORS, MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

We offer local busineses a wide variety of ways to become involved, from team or match sponsorship, to advertising opportunities.

We produce a quality full colour match programme for our cup and western counties league games - ask to see an example. Or consider sponsoring a player, or whole team. Or taking advertising space on our pitch side

Why not join one of our many sponsors and advertisers? All sponsorship goes directly to supporting rugby. This coming season, we are building our funds for floodlighting and pitch improvements, and coaching improvements

COME AND JOIN US

Come and join the 100 or so seniors who play for us, training Tuesdays and Thursdays. Or join the juniors who have teams at every recognised age group
This club has the most envied facilities in the region, with the use of 4 pitches, floodlit training area, a two storey pavillion with balcony, two bars and a gymnasium

Or come and support us - you'll be sure of seeing some good rugby.......

View up to 2nd and 3rd Team Pitches