Helensburgh RFC
| Full name | Helensburgh Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Scottish Rugby Union | |
| Founded | 1963 | |
| Location | Helensburgh, Scotland | |
| Ground | Ardencaple | |
| President | Euan Ramsay | |
| Coach(es) | G.Mathieson & B.MacDonald | |
| Captain | Warren Smith | |
| League | West 2 | |
| West 3 2025-26 | West 3 2025-26 - 1st | |
| ||
Helensburgh RFC is a rugby union side based in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. They play their home games at Ardencaple.
History
The club was founded in 1963 and celebrated its golden jubilee in 2013. The event attracted 400 guests from around the world for a celebratory dinner.
Trivia
The Helensburgh rugby team made the news in 2004 when their 1st XV all became fathers in the space of 5 years; all of them together having 15 sons; enough for a new 1st XV.
The Princess Royal visited Helensburgh RFC in 2012 and opened a new stand at the ground.
Helensburgh Sevens
The club run the Helensburgh Sevens tournament. This 7s Tournament has been running since 1972.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Birkmyre (2) |
| 2024 | Birkmyre |
| 2023 | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| 2022 | Glasgow Academicals |
| 2014 | Helensburgh (2) |
| 2013 | Glasgow University |
| 2012 | Greenock Wanderers (2) |
| 2009 | Greenock Wanderers |
| 2005 | Oban Lorne |
| 1988 | Irvine |
| 1987 | Clydebank |
| 1986 | Glasgow High Kelvinside (2) |
| 1985 | East Kilbride (4) |
| 1984 | Cartha Queens Park (2) |
| 1983 | Cartha Queens Park |
| 1982 | Drumpellier |
| 1981 | Lenzie (3) |
| 1980 | East Kilbride (3) |
| 1979 | Lenzie (2) |
| 1978 | East Kilbride (2) |
| 1977 | Lenzie |
| 1976 | East Kilbride |
| 1975 | St. Mungo Academicals |
| 1974 | Cartha |
| 1973 | Glasgow HSFP |
| 1972 | Helensburgh |
Other Sevens
The Royal Navy host their Northern Sevens at Ardencaple. Helensburgh are allowed to participate as ground owners; however they can not represent the Royal Navy in subsequent matches. The Helensburgh side reached the final in 2017.
Honours
1971–72 Helensburgh 7s Festival Winners - Russell Davidson Trophy
1972–73 Glasgow District Rugby Union (GDRU) Winners - First formal GDRU Leagues formed - Divisions 1 to 5.
1976–77 Promoted to National League Division 7 - Leagues had been reformed after formation of the SRU (National League Divisions 1 to 7) in season 1973–74 with Helensburgh assigned Division 1.
1977–78 Dunbartonshire Cup Winners
1979–80 Helensburgh 7s Tournament Winners
1987–88 Helensburgh Over 30s Tournament Winners
1987–88 GDRU Division 2 Winners - Promoted to Division 1
1987–88 Dumbartonshire Cup Winners
1994–95 GDRU Division 2 Winners - Promoted to Division 1.
1995–96 GDRU Division 1 Winners - Promoted to National League 7 via 4 way District winners play-offs (Helensburgh, Carnoustie, Orkney, Heriot Watt Uni)
1996–97 National League Division 7 Runners Up - Promoted to NL 6
1997–98 National League Division 7 Runners up - Promoted to NL 5
1998–99 National Div 5 Winners - Promoted to NL 4
1999–00 Oban 7s Winners
1999–00 Strathendrick 7s Winners
2000–01 Loch Lomond 7s Winners
2001–02 SRU National League Team of the Year presented at Murrayfield.
2001–02 National Div 4 Winners - Promoted to NL 3
2001–02 SRU National League Player of the Year - Kieran Verryt (Winger)
2004–05 Clydebank 10s Winners
2010–11 Clydebank 10s Winners
2011–12 SRU National Bowl Winners - Played at Murryfield
2011–12 West Regional Bowl Winners
2011–12 West Region League Division 2 Winners - SRU League reorganisation with Burgh assigned to West League 2
2023–24 West Region League Division 3 Runners Up - Promoted to Division 2
2025-26 West Region League Division 3 Winners - Promoted to Division 2
2025-26 West Bowl Winners
References
- ↑ "Contact - Helensburgh Rugby Club". www.helensburghcrfc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Helensburgh Heritage Trust". helensburgh-heritage.co.uk.
- ↑ "Club scene: Helensburgh celebrate their 50th with hope of many happy returns". HeraldScotland. 17 September 2013.
- ↑ "Throwback Thursday: Helensburgh Rugby Club's dads won 2004 'generation game'". Helensburgh Advertiser. 6 June 2019.
- ↑ "Helensburgh Rugby Club". www.lordlieutenantdunbartonshire.co.uk.
- ↑ "Helensburgh Sevens". 10 June 2019.
- ↑ "Rugby: Helensburgh sevens tournament to take place this weekend". 26 May 2022.
- ↑ "Helensburgh Sevens". Scottish Sevens tournaments. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ↑ "Royal Navy Northern Region Sevens". 30 June 2019.
- ↑ "News in brief: Lifeboat in action, National Theatre of Scotland, rugby sevens". 11 May 2017.