Gibraltar Barbarians Rugby Union Football Club
Full nameGibraltar Barbarians Rugby Union Football Club
UnionGibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU)
Nickname(s)Gibraltar Rugby
Founded1945
RegionCadiz, Spain
Ground(s)Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro (Capacity: 100)
League(s)Primera Division Regional
2011-20121st
Team kit

The Gibraltar Barbarians Rugby Football Club (GRFC) is a Rugby union club from Gibraltar and the surrounding Campo in Spain, who play in the Andalucian League as Gibraltar Barbarians RFC. They play their home games in the town of Guadiaro near Sotogrande in the Cadiz province of Spain. They currently play in the 1 Division National of the Federacion Andaluza de Rugby (FAR). In 2010, Campo Gibraltar is now a Gibraltar-based team and its name has been changed to Gibraltar Barbarians RFC.

History

Gibraltar Rugby Football Club was established immediately after the Second World War. After the repatriation of displaced Gibraltarians locals who had learnt to play rugby either at English schools or whilst being in the forces started to play the resident teams from the Army, Navy and RAF in a pitch in neighbouring Spain (given the lack of grass pitches in Gibraltar). Initially the military sides were dominant but by the 1960s the Latin flair which became a trade mark of Gibraltar's style of rugby became evident and GRFC became the dominant force in the area. A local league consisting of GRFC, Army, Navy and RAF was set up in the mid-1960s which added a more structured and competitive framework within which to play.

The closure of the land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain in 1968 saw local rugby diminish in popularity but tag Rugby ensured that it did not entirely disappear. In 1985 the land frontier re-opened and with it the local league once again became an important part of Gibraltar's weekly sporting calendar with games being played in Spain on grass pitches mostly located within 15 minutes of Gibraltar. GRFC prospered within the local league and since 1985 with the exception of three years when the Duke of Wellington Regiment were posted to Gibraltar the GRFC won the league year after year. Games against Spanish sides during the 1980s were played on a friendly basis primarily against sides from Seville and Madrid. Spanish rugby grew in popularity and by 1990 the GRFC began to struggle against premier league sides but enjoyed very competitive games against First Division regional teams in Andalusia.

The reduction in military personnel in 1991/1992 and the positive approach by the Andalusian Rugby Federation that uniquely kept politics out of sport meant that it became clear that the GFRC future was playing within the Andalusian League and the 1992/93 season saw GRFC fully integrated into the Second Division of Andalusia. Players from forces sides joined the GRFC and by 1994 the GFRC were at their strongest historically. In that same year the GRFC were promoted to the First Division almost winning it in the first year. Throughout this period the GRFC toured regularly entering tournaments in Spain and Portugal with considerable success both at 15s and 7s. The highlight was winning the Benidorm 7s tournament Club section in 1996. Ireland won the national section.

By 2000, the retirement of a crop of players at the same time led to GRFC dropping to the Second Division where they stayed until 2004/05 when they were once again promoted. In their first year in the First Division they finished third but the failure to produce a youth side meant that they were relegated to the Second Division.

Season Tier League Place
1992-93[1] 4 Andalusian 2nd División 1st Gr. South
1993-94[2] 4 Andalusian 2nd División 1st Gr. South
1994-95[3] 4 Andalusian 2nd División unknown
1995-96[4] 4 Andalusian 2nd División 1st Gr. South (promoted)
1996-97[5] 3 Andalusian League 2nd Gr. A
1997-98[6] 3 Andalusian League 2nd Gr. A
1998-99[7] 3 Andalusian League 4th Gr. A (relegated)
1999-2000[8] 5[lower-alpha 1] Andalusian 2nd División 4th Gr. B
2000-01[9] 5 Andalusian 2nd División 3rd Gr. Est
2001-02 Didn't participated
2002-03[10] 5 Andalusian 2nd División 2nd Gr. West
2003-04[11] 5 Andalusian 2nd División 2nd
2004-05[12] 5 Andalusian 2nd División 1st (promoted)
2005-06[13] 4 Andalusian League 4th (relegated)[lower-alpha 2]
2006-07[14] 5 Andalusian 2nd División 1st (promoted)
Season Tier League Place
2007-08[15] 4 Andalusian League 3rd
2008-09[16] 4 Andalusian League 3rd
2009-10[17] 4 Andalusian League unknown
2010-11[18] 4 Andalusian League 3rd
2011-12[19] 4 Andalusian League 1st
2012-13[20] 3[lower-alpha 3] Andalusian League 1st
2013-14[21] 3 Andalusian League 2nd
2014-15[22] 3 Andalusian League unknown
2015-16[23] 3 Andalusian League unknown
2016-17[24] 3 Andalusian League unknown
2017-18[25] Only young teams
2018-19[26] Only young teams
2019-20[27] Only young teams
2020-21 on goin
  1. ↑ 1ra Nacional (tier 3) was created between Div. Honor B (tier 2) and regional leagues became tier 4.
  2. ↑ GBRC wes relegated at the end of the season cause they didn't accomplish the requirement of having a young team.
  3. ↑ 1ra Nacional (tier 3) was eliminated between Div. Honor B (tier 2) and regional leagues became tier 3.

Promotion into the First Division

During the 2006-2007 season the club played in Group A of the Andalucian Regional League 2, they finished top of the league winning 7 out of 8 games in the process and then went on to beat local rivals Marbella 3-0 in a playoff final on 15 April for promotion back to Regional League 1. The GRFC organised a youth section of the club to ensure they gained their rightful place in the First Division.

Team Games Played Games Won Games Drawn Games Lost Points For Points Against Points
Campo Gibraltar 8 7 0 1 207 66 14
CR Atletico Portuense 8 6 0 2 305 92 12
Marbella RC 8 3 1 4 101 129 7
CR Malaga 8 2 1 5 95 263 5
CR Ciudad San Roque 89 8 1 0 7 51 209 0

Rugby in the Primera Division Regional

Since their promotion into the First Division, Gibraltar have been one of the most consistent teams in their league, maintaining a position in the top half of the table. They finished third behind Malaga and San Jeronimo in the 2009/2010 season.

Youth Rugby

To maintain their position within the First Division in Andalucia, the GBRFC organised an Under 19s team to be entered into the league. The team was known as the GRFC Colts. The Andalucian Rugby Federation changed the age groups for the 2010/2011 season meaning that the Under 19s would become Under 20s. The GBRFC entered both an Under 18s and 20s team into the Andalucian leagues. The Under 18s would be known as the Gibraltar CG Ice Barbarians and the Under 20s would be known as the Gibraltar CepsaGib Barbarians.

2013/2014 season

The Barbarians kicked off the 2013/2014 season with a 53-18 home win over long-standing rivals, San Jeronimo of Seville.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (1993). Memoria institucional 1992-93 (PDF). Andalucía. pp. 9, 10.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (1994). Memoria institucional 1993-94 (PDF). Andalucía. pp. 11, 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (1995). Memoria institucional 1994-95 (PDF). Andalucía.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (1996). Memoria institucional 1995-96 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (1997). Memoria institucional 1996-97 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 12.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (1998). Memoria institucional 1997-98 (PDF). p. 14.
  7. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (1999). Memoria institucional 1998-99 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2000). Memoria institucional 1999-2000 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2001). Memoria institucional 2000-01 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2003). Memoria institucional 2002-03 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 14.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2004). Memoria institucional 2003-04 (PDF). Andalucía. pp. 15, 17.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  12. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2005). Memoria institucional 2004-05 (PDF). Andalucía. pp. 19, 21.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2006). Memoria institucional 2005-06 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2007). Memoria institucional 2006-07 (PDF). Andalucía: FAR. p. 13.
  15. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2008). Memoria institucional 2007-08 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 16.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  16. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2009). Memoria institucional 2008-09 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 17.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  17. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2010). Memoria institucional 2009-10 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  18. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2011). Memoria institucional 2010-11 (PDF). Andalucía.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  19. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2012). Memoria institucional 2011-12 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  20. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2013). Memoria institucional 2012-13 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  21. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2014). Memoria institucional 2013-14 (PDF). Andalucía. p. 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  22. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2015). Memoria institucional 2014-15 (PDF). Andalucía.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  23. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2016). Memoria institucional 2015-16 (PDF). Andalucía.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  24. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2017). Memoria institucional 2016-17 (PDF). Andalucía.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  25. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2018). Memoria institucional 2017-18 (PDF). Andalucía.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  26. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2019). Memoria institucional 2018-19 (PDF). Andalucía.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  27. ↑ Federación Andaluza de Rugby (2020). Memoria institucional 2019-20 (PDF). Andalucía.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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