RGC 1404

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.

RGC 1404
Full nameRygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404
UnionWRU
Nickname(s)Gogs
Founded2008 (2008)
LocationColwyn Bay, Wales
Ground(s)Eirias Stadium (Capacity: 6,080)
Coach(es)Ceri Jones
Captain(s)Maredydd Francis
Top scorerRhodri Carlton-Jones (140)
Most triesCarwyn ap Myrddin (10)
League(s)Welsh Premier Division
2016–174th (Welsh Championship)
1st kit
2nd kit
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.wales

History

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
A plaque at Machynlleth commemorates Owain Glyndŵr's 1404 parliament

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

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

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

Current squad

Squad for 2016–17[8][9]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Afon Bagshaw Fullback Wales Wales
Rhys Williams Wing Wales Wales
Carwyn Ap Myrddin Wing Wales Wales
Richard Hopkins Wing Wales Wales
Aron Evans Wing Wales Wales
Sam Jones Wing Wales Wales
Danny Cross Centre Wales Wales
Tom Hughes Centre Wales Wales
Tiaan Loots Centre South Africa South Africa
Harri Evans Centre Wales Wales
Tom Seddon Centre Wales Wales
Armani Roberts Fly-half Wales Wales
Jacob Botica Fly-half New Zealand New Zealand
Josh Leach Scrum-half Wales Wales
Alex Schwarz Scrum-half Wales Wales
Cameron Davies Scrum-half Wales Wales
Efan Jones Scrum-half Wales Wales
Player Position Union
Phil John Prop Wales Wales
Tom Hughes Prop Wales Wales
Joe Simpson Prop Wales Wales
Jed Kerkin Prop Wales Wales
Sam Wainwright Prop Wales Wales
Evan Yardley Hooker Wales Wales
Rhys Williams Hooker Wales Wales
Maredydd Francis (c) Lock Wales Wales
Henri Williams Lock Wales Wales
Robin Williams Lock Wales Wales
Andrew Williams Flanker Wales Wales
Huw Worthington Number 8 Wales Wales
Mei Parry Flanker Wales Wales
Will Bryan Flanker Wales Wales
Tim Grey Flanker Wales Wales

Notable former players
See Category:RGC 1404 players

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

Head coaches
NameTenure
Wales Jon Aby2007–2009[13]
Wales Clive Griffiths2009–2011[14][15]
Wales Chris Horsman2012–2014[16]
England Damian McGrath2012–2014[16]
Wales Phil Davies2015–2016[17]
Wales Mark Jones2016–2019[18][19]
Wales Ceri Jones2021–[20]

Results and statistics

WRU Leagues
Season Division Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA Try BP Losing BP Points Position
2012–13Div 1 East 22190380127752411930152931st
2013–14Championship 26170974541932411349132833rd
2014–15Championship 261501184843441412555167834th
2015–16Championship 26190792846046813355155964th
2016–17Premiership 151014429281148523251484th
2016–17Premiership Tier 1 740317616214221731204th

Honours

References
  1. "Box".
  2. "WRU plan for northern development team". The Independent. London. 9 September 2008.
  3. "WRU considers north Wales region". BBC News. 15 August 2008.
  4. 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.
  5. "BBC Sport – Rugby Union – North Wales summon Owain Glyndwr's spirit in revamp". 6 January 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  6. "Coach Celebrates – News – Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC)". Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  7. "RGC Senior - Fixtures & Results - Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC)". Archived from the original on 1 November 2012.
  8. "Official Website Team Info". RGC 1404. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  9. "Official Website Team Announcement". RGC 1404. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  10. "The Wales reject who has carried more ball than anyone in PRO14". 8 December 2017.
  11. Williams withdraws from Wales squad
  12. "Scottish Rugby on Twitter".
  13. "Jon Aby". gogleddcymru. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  14. "RGC 1404 BBC". BBC. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  15. Clutton, Graham (7 December 2009). "Clive Griffiths appointment". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  16. "Chris Horsman RGC". BBC. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  17. "Phil Davies RGC". Daily Post. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  18. "Mark Jones appointed as RGC head coach". Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  19. 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.
  20. Gillespie, Graeme (2 September 2021). "Jones appointed as new RGC head coach". wru.co.uk. Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  21. "WRU Division 1 East 2012–2013". WRU. 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
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