Birmingham and Solihull R.F.C.
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| Full name | Birmingham & Solihull Rugby Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Location | Birmingham, England |
| Ground(s) | Portway |
| Coach(es) | Pete Glackin |
| League(s) | National League 3 Midlands |
| Official website | |
| www |
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Birmingham and Solihull Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing Birmingham and Solihull. It was formed in 1989 by a merger of the original Birmingham (founded 1911) and Solihull rugby clubs, which were both established over 60 years ago.
The club's original name was Birmingham and Solihull RFC, but in 2001 due to the club colours of black, white, red and gold, and the alliteration of the name, the club underwent a large scale rebranding, adopting the alias Pertemps Bees. The team have since shortened this to Bees.
Birmingham Bees are remembered by many fans for their cup success of 2004, in which they caused the biggest upset in the professional rugby era by beating London Wasps 28–24 in the quarter final of the Powergen Cup overcoming odds of 250–1, known as "The Greatest Ever Sporting Upset", subsequently playing Newcastle Falcons in the semi final, live on BBC television. The club however hit rock bottom just two seasons later in 2005–06 when they finished last in National Division One but were saved from relegation because of league expansion.
In October 2006 it was announced that Bees were in the planning stage of building a £60 million super stadium at their training ground known as Portway just off the M42 in Solihull. It would be one of the nation's largest sports villages to rival anything built for the 2012 Olympics. Plans include a regional sports academy, education and conference centre, 12,000 capacity stadium, seven all-weather rugby pitches, archery and shooting ranges and a watersports lake.
In June 2007 Bees coach Steve Williams left the club with one year still left on his contact to become assistant manager at Magners League side Ulster. Williams a former Northampton and London Irish player won 29 caps for Wales.
The 2007–08 season began under a split coaching structure in which two former England Sevens internationals had equal control over the squad. Ben Harvey coached the backs and Russell Earnshaw was player/forwards coach. The coaching structure however was widely viewed as unsuccessful and former Bees scrum-half Harvey was sacked shortly before Christmas. On a temporary basis former Rotherham head coach Andre Bester was appointed to take charge of the side before being replaced by former Wales A coach Allan Lewis.
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