RGC 1404 (Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404), formerly "Gogledd Cymru" (Welsh: [ˈgɔglɛð ˈkəmrɨ], "North Wales"), is a rugby union team founded in 2008 and based in Colwyn Bay, Conwy. They currently play in the Welsh Premier Division; after winning Division 1 East at the first attempt in 2012–13, they spent three seasons in the Welsh Championship before earning promotion to the Premier Division in 2015–16. They finished fourth in their first season in the top flight, but also won the WRU Challenge Cup for the first time. They play at Eirias Stadium, which has a capacity of just over 6,000.
 | |||
| Full name | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | WRU | ||
| Nickname(s) | Gogs | ||
| Founded | 2008 | ||
| Location | Colwyn Bay, Wales | ||
| Ground(s) | Eirias Stadium (Capacity: 6,080) | ||
| Coach(es) | Ceri Jones | ||
| Captain(s) | Maredydd Francis | ||
| Top scorer | Rhodri Carlton-Jones (140) | ||
| Most tries | Carwyn ap Myrddin (10) | ||
| League(s) | Welsh Premier Division | ||
| 2016–17 | 4th (Welsh Championship) | ||
| |||
| First match | |||
| Gilfach Goch 19–42 RGC 1404 | |||
| Largest win | |||
| RGC 1404 127–0 Tredegar | |||
| Largest defeat | |||
| RGC 1404 19–88 Wales | |||
| Official website | |||
| rygbigogleddcymru | |||
History edit
Although an amateur North Wales rugby representative side had existed for over 50 years, Gogledd Cymru was established by the North Wales Rugby Council, in February 2007, in response to the WRU approved strategic plan for the development of rugby union in the region. This aimed to achieve a north Wales side playing in the Welsh Premier Division by 2010–11[1][2][3] In their first season, Gogledd Cymru reached the final of the Welsh Counties Cup.
2008–2011 edit
In December 2008, it was announced that the Eirias Stadium in Colwyn Bay was to be the home ground for Gogledd Cymru.[4]
In January 2010, the team was renamed RGC 1404: RGC is an initialism for Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (North Wales Rugby), and 1404 reflects the year that Owain Glyndŵr became Prince of Wales.[5]
2012–2013 edit
For the 2012–13 season, the team were entered into WRU Division One East, playing a full season of games against teams from South East Wales. RGC finished the season at the top of the table, earning promotion to the Welsh Championship for 2013–14.[6]
2013–2014 edit
RGC's first season in the Welsh Championship saw them spend much of the season in second place to a dominant Ebbw Vale only to drop to third in the last game by losing to Cardiff Met 36–24.[7] RGC players Afon Bagshaw, Harri Evans and Ollie Cracknell were selected and played in the Wales side for the 2014 U20 Six Nations, with the home games hosted at RGC's Eirias Stadium.
Players edit
Current squad edit
|
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
|
Notable former players edit
On 6 November 2021, hooker Bradley Roberts became the first former RGC 1404 player to win a senior cap for Wales, though previously both Olly Cracknell and Rhun Williams had been named in senior Wales squads,[10][11] and James Lang had been capped by Scotland.[12]
Several other players who played senior rugby for RGC 1404 have gone on to play top level European professional rugby in the Pro 14 or English Premiership, and a number of players have played for Wales at U20 level whilst with RGC.
Coaching staff edit
Head coaches edit
| Name | Tenure |
|---|---|
 Jon Aby |
2007–2009[13] |
| Clive Griffiths |
2009–2011[14][15] |
| Chris Horsman |
2012–2014[16] |
 Damian McGrath |
2012–2014[16] |
| Phil Davies |
2015–2016[17] |
| Mark Jones |
2016–2019[18][19] |
| Ceri Jones |
2021–[20] |
Results and statistics edit
WRU Leagues edit
| Season | Division | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | Try BP | Losing BP | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Div 1 East | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 801 | 277 | 524 | 119 | 30 | 15 | 2 | 93 | 1st |
| 2013–14 | Championship | 26 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 745 | 419 | 324 | 113 | 49 | 13 | 2 | 83 | 3rd |
| 2014–15 | Championship | 26 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 848 | 434 | 414 | 125 | 55 | 16 | 7 | 83 | 4th |
| 2015–16 | Championship | 26 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 928 | 460 | 468 | 133 | 55 | 15 | 5 | 96 | 4th |
| 2016–17 | Premiership | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 429 | 281 | 148 | 52 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 48 | 4th |
| 2016–17 | Premiership Tier 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 176 | 162 | 14 | 22 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 4th |
Honours edit
- WRU Division One East: 2012–13[21]
- WRU National Cup: 2016–17
References edit
- ^ "Box".
- ^ "WRU plan for northern development team". The Independent. London. 9 September 2008.
- ^ "WRU considers north Wales region". BBC News. 15 August 2008.
- ^ Tim Channon (11 December 2008). "Rugby: WRU unveil Parc Eirias as home of North Wales rugby". Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "BBC Sport – Rugby Union – North Wales summon Owain Glyndwr's spirit in revamp". 6 January 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ "Coach Celebrates – News – Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC)". Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ "RGC Senior - Fixtures & Results - Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC)". Archived from the original on 1 November 2012.
- ^ "Official Website Team Info". RGC 1404. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "Official Website Team Announcement". RGC 1404. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "The Wales reject who has carried more ball than anyone in PRO14". 8 December 2017.
- ^ Williams withdraws from Wales squad
- ^ "Scottish Rugby on Twitter".
- ^ "Jon Aby". gogleddcymru. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "RGC 1404 BBC". BBC. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ Clutton, Graham (7 December 2009). "Clive Griffiths appointment". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Chris Horsman RGC". BBC. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "Phil Davies RGC". Daily Post. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ "Mark Jones appointed as RGC head coach". Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ Thomas, Simon (19 May 2019). "Former Welsh international Mark Jones steps down as coach of Premiership club RGC". Wales Online. Media Wales. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ Gillespie, Graeme (2 September 2021). "Jones appointed as new RGC head coach". wru.co.uk. Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "WRU Division 1 East 2012–2013". WRU. 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.