Full name | Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club |
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Nickname(s) | Mose Billesley Boys The Likes |
Founded | 1873 |
Location | Moseley, Birmingham |
Ground(s) | Billesley Common (Capacity: 5,000 (1,300 seated)) |
Coach(es) | Kevin Maggs and Louis Deacon |
Captain(s) | Chris Brightwell |
League(s) | National League 1 |
2015–16 | 12th (relegated from Greene King IPA Championship) |
Official website | |
www |
Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club is an English rugby union club, based at Billesley Common in Birmingham, that will compete in National League 1 from September 2016. The club was historically the premier rugby club in Birmingham, reaching the final of the John Player Cup three times in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They originally played at the Reddings, but after attempting to keep up with the transition to professional rugby, the club ran into financial difficulties and were forced to sell their 125-year home to property developers. An unsuccessful five-year spell based at the University of Birmingham followed, during which time they were relegated to National Division Two. In 2005 the club moved to its new home at Billesley Common, and was promoted to National Division One in 2006. Since then they have consolidated their place in the second tier of English rugby and in 2009 won their first cup for 27 years beating Leeds 23–18 in the final of the National Trophy at Twickenham. On the weekend starting 15 April 2016; defeat to Bristol Rugby, combined with results elsewhere during the same weekend, confirmed Moseley's relegation to National League 1 for the 2016-17 season.
Prior to the 2016–17 season, the club changed its name from Moseley Rugby Football Club to Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club.
Moseley was founded in 1873 by members of Havelock Cricket Club who wanted a winter sport when the cricket season had finished. The club debuted its signature red and black colours one year later. The Reddings was leased by the club in 1880 and the club was traditionally called, like many rugby football clubs from either code, simply "Moseley Football Club" (a signpost from Alcester Road along Reddings Road in Moseley, erected by Birmingham City Council, pointed to "Moseley F.C. (R.U.)". This sign has now been re-erected by the main entrance to the club grounds on Yardley Wood Road.) There were major successes at for Moseley in the early days of rugby, including a three-year undefeated run from 1879–82, which included winning the first Midland Counties Challenge Cup. In 1882 Moseley became the first team to defeat the travelling New Zealand Native football team. In front of 5000 supporters they beat the tourists 6-4 much to the surprise of the New Zealanders. In 1890 John Rogers was the first Moseley player to win an international cap while at the club.