History
Launceston Rugby Football Club

The club was founded in 1948 after an inaugural meeting chaired by the then Headmaster of Launceston College, Mr Spencer Toy with Gordon Reeve, Eric Smith and Arthur Venning (who is still a member). With the use of a college pitch, rugby ball and changing facilities in exchange for a cwt of coal to heat the water for the showers, LRFC started out. The club to this day, has a reputation of being a ‘proper rugby club’; in its early years the reputation of never arriving home on the same day as they left even when playing 20 miles down the road, is an indication of members love of the game. They were also known to pick a team of 14 forwards and a fullback!

By Spring 1949, the club had its own ground that it rented from the council (now a factory site of its main sponsor DS Smith Packaging), with scaffolding poles for goal posts and ex-army huts for changing rooms and a clubhouse. The club moved to another site when the Town Council sold the land, but again moved on in 1969 when the club had the vision to refuse becoming part of the proposed Sports Centre. Our ground at Polson Bridge was purchased in 1969, with developments such as floodlights, enlarged clubhouse, present changing rooms and finally our Grandstand being added over the years.

On the playing side, LRFC run 4 senior sides, the 1st XV, a Development Squad, the Castles and the Ruins (a veteran side). LRFC has a comprehensive and successful Mini and Junior Club for the age range of under 7 to under 16. The Colts play an under 18 and under 19 side which completes the playing membership.

It took until 1981 before Lanson (as Launceston is pronouned) to become a truly senior side. They then went on to win the Cornwall County Cup for the 1st of many since wins and started their remarkable climb to be one of the top 40 sides in England (from a town with a population of 7000). Along the way there has been many truly remarkable and outstanding players to wear the Cornish All Black shirt. Names such as Graham Dawe, Roger Spurrell, the Nancekivell brothers of Richard, Roly and Eddie, Jimmy Tucker, Dean Shipton etc have all become legends in South West and National rugby. LRFC gained promotion to National League Division 3 South in 2000 and were runners up in their 1st season, losing in the play-off away to National 3 North side Sedgley Park. The following season, 2001-02, LRFC were 2nd again, but this time won the play-off against Dudley Kingswinford, and were promoted to Division Two. They were unfortunate to be relegated after a most unusual series of results on the last day of the season. However, LRFC are made of stern stuff, and in 2003-04 bounced right back by again finishing runners up but winning the play-off away to Halifax RFC.

LRFC finished in 5th position in National League Division 2 in 2004-05 Season.

Chris Brown and Jon Hill are joint Head Coach