Jason Rugby Club The History

In 1874, a Coventry XV, which included members of Stoke Cricket Club, took part in what could be described as the first organised game of Rugby football in Coventry. It was played against Allesley Park College at Allesley. With the game in its infancy, one half was played to Rugby rules, the other to Association. The first headquarters were set up at the Old Bull Fields and for the first two seasons the club were unbeaten.

The ground became known as the Butts when part of the Old Bull Fields was enclosed, the first match being against Stourbridge in October 1880. Involvement began in the Midland Counties Cup which was won five times in the first seven years. Fixtures were now occurring in London, Wales and the North of England and in the 1890’s, players began to win representative honours.

The progress of the club was disrupted in 1911 by events which led to the loss of the Butts ground, where the Northern Union code was played for a short while. The club was re-constituted and until the outbreak of the first world war in 1914 played on a new ground at London Road made available by Col Sir William Wyley. All club Rugby was suspended during wartime and in 1919/20, with London Road having been lost to Government building, activities resumed with some games being played at the Coventry and North Warwickshire Cricket ground at Binley Road.

The move to Coundon Road was then made in 1921 and it was possible to extend the fixture list once again after the difficulties on 1911. This was also the time when Welsh clubs really began to play a big part in fixtures. In 1923 the Midland Counties Cup was won for the last time, it being deemed at the time to be’’ not good for the club game’’. During the next decade, the club reached the point of being one of the leading clubs in the country.

With players remaining in the city to assist with the war effort between 1939-45, activity did continue during the second World War, the club recording a record 72 victories and when hostilities finished in 1945, the club was well placed to move forward. A war time wooden hut was purchased and became the clubhouse at Coundon Roa

The early 50’s saw a slight downturn in playing fortunes, but then over the next decade came another highly successful period with the number of players receiving International honours growing rapidly. In 1958, the new brick built clubhouse was opened at Coundon Road, the installation of floodlights following in 1960. Playing wise, the club was now once again amongst the strongest in the country, numerous players also being part of the successful Warwickshire county squad.

On the eve of the Centenary season in 1973/74, the club won the RFU Club Knock Out Cup twice in successive seasons, the Centenary itself being marked with a match against the Barbarians and a successful Dinner at the Leofric Hotel. Whereas playing wise success did continue a little longer, the beginning of the 80’s did show a downturn in fortune which also coincided with the advent of League Rugby in 1987/88, just one season being enjoyed in the inaugural First Division. That scenario continued through into the 1990’s and with league and cup Rugby now firmly established, the club featured largely in the 2nd and briefly 3rd Divisions.

1996 saw the game worldwide turn professional and the club after a welcome upturn in playing fortune were within 40 minutes of achieving Premiership status following two exciting matches with London Irish. The effort was at a financial cost however and in 1998 a rescue package put together by new Chairman Keith Fairbrother was necessary to save the club. At this time, a 125 year celebration match was also staged once again against the Barbarians.

Into the new millennium, with exciting new plans being drawn up which were effectively to see the club move ‘’ full circle’’. The sale of Coundon Road, the home for 83 years, was the prelude to a move to the brand new Butts Park Arena in September 2004, the official opening being performed by Sir Clive Woodward, the former England World Cup winning Manager. The playing area itself being at a slightly different angle to the one played upon some 100 years earlier.

The beginning of the 2006/7 season saw a new Owner and Chairman at the helm, with Keith Fairbrother having sold the club to Andrew Green, a Reading based businessman. The financial difficulties experienced some six years earlier however  were soon to re surface, the Owner/Chairman placing the Club in Administration in February 2008. Then in the summer of 2008, the club was again close to closure before an appeal launched the Coventry Evening Telegraph raised over £55,000 to enable a bond to be lodged with the Rugby Football Union, thus allowing the club to continuing playing in the National leagues.

During season 2008/9, Andrew Green appointed a seven man Advisory Board to assist in the running of the Club as efforts were made to cement the situation at the Butts Park, with the Rugby Football Union also announcing the formation of the Championship below the Guinness Premiership to begin at the beginning of the 2009/10 season. The Club, in finishing 2008/9 in the top eleven, subsequently gained a Championship place.

Sadly, the off field difficulties however had not ended and in late November 2009, Andrew Green attempted to liquidate the club. Fortunately with the Advisory Board in place, Administration rather than Liquidation was achieved, a new company ‘’ Coventry Rugby Ltd’’ being formed with a board of Directors in place.

The club continues to make strident efforts to cement its future and above all to achieve the ultimate goal, a place in the Premiership.