Plymouth Albion R.F.C.

Plymouth RFC

Formed 1876, the Plymouth Football Club, also known as Plymouth Albion, played at South Devon Place. In 1912, the Northern Union attempted to form a Western League of clubs in Devon and Cornwall. Huddersfield beat Oldham 31–26 in an exhibition game at South Devon Place in front of 7,000 spectators and as a result a meeting was held and the club joined the Northern Union. The first match under the new rules was lost, 22–17, against Coventry on Christmas Day. The club later re-emerged as part of a merger with Devonport Albion to become Plymouth Albion.

Devonport Albion RFC

Albion was formed in 1876 from apprentices at Devonport Dockyard and originally played at Devonport Park. After moving to Bladderly in 1887 they then moved to Home Park in 1893. The club stayed at Home Park for one season only, returning to Bladderley Lane in 1894, then, in 1896, Albion took a 14-year lease of Rectory grounds, (the current home of Devonport Services R.F.C.).

Current club

Devonport Albion continued at the Rectory until it merged with Plymouth RFC to become Plymouth Albion and moved in 1920 to Beacon Park. In 2003, they moved from the run-down Beacon Park ground to a newly built ground, The Brickfields, in Devonport. The Brickfields also has an adjacent athletics stadium.

Albion were a major force in English rugby union in the 1920s having five internationals on their books at one time. Around this time they attracted a crowd of 18,000 to a midweek game against Oxford University which established a record crowd for a club match in England which was not exceeded until the 1980s.

They were promoted to National Division One in 2002, and finished third in the 2003–04 season. Observers say it was Plymouth Albion's best position nationally since the 1920s. On their way to promotion, the team went on a two-season unbeaten streak of over 50 games, starting when the club was in Division Three South and ending after their promotion to National Division One.

The major local rivals are Exeter Chiefs who also have an impressive new stadium at Sandy Park perched above the services junction of the M5. Devon local derbies have become major popular events. Together these clubs have reinvigorated the passion for rugby in the county.

Albion currently play in the National League 1, the third tier of English club rugby. The club have financial problems and only avoided entering administration early in 2015 following a cash injection of £250,000 by local businesses. Albion entered administration on 8 April 2016 and were deducted 30 pts by the RFU. Following administration they were taken over by former players, Bruce Priday and David Venables who put forward a business case to the RFU. Since then, Priday has moved to pastures new, whilst Max Venables is the club's Managing Director.

The club also had a successful women's team and a new Under 18s Academy. They played their first game against a Cornwall XV in February 2019, finishing 50 – 7 victors.

Throughout the 2020s, Plymouth Albion RFC has continued to rebuild its status as a prominent rugby club in the English game. Competing in National League 1, the club has placed increasing emphasis on sustainable growth, talent development, and deeper community connections. Under head coach Ryan Lamb, Albion has worked to develop a competitive squad, blending experienced players with young, emerging talent.

The 2025–26 season marks a major milestone in the club’s long history — its 150th anniversary. Pre-season fixtures against Bridgend, Exeter Chiefs U23s, and St Austell form part of the club’s build-up to the new campaign. In May 2025, a testimonial event was held at Brickfields for prop Dan Pullinger, celebrating over a decade of service and more than 200 appearances in an Albion shirt.

The club has also strengthened its leadership team across key operational areas.

• Managing Director: Max Venables
• Commercial Director: James Greenacre
• General Manager: Nicola Westlake
• Media and Marketing Manager: Paul Nicholson
• Community Lead: Safiaa Ibrahim

This off-field leadership supports the club’s wider ambitions, helping to drive professional standards, grow its supporter base, and deliver strong matchday experiences at Brickfields.

Plymouth Albion has secured several new commercial partnerships ahead of the 2025–26 season, including Sanderson Weatherall, Agile Comms, and PQA Academy. These sponsorships align with the club’s focus on regional business collaboration and grassroots engagement. Former Albion captain Mark Slade, now Head of Agency at Sanderson Weatherall, was instrumental in re-establishing links between the firm and the club.

In parallel with on-field goals, Albion continues to invest in content creation, supporter engagement, and community outreach. The club’s growing media presence and community programmes reflect its long-standing role in Plymouth and the wider South West as a club rooted in heritage, yet focused firmly on the future.

Current standings

Season summary

Honours

• Devon Senior Cup winners (23): 1889, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1895, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1921, 1974, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
• Devon RFU Junior Cup winners: 1893 (reserve side)
• Courage League Division 3 champions: 1988–89
• National Division 3 South champions: 2000–01

Current squad

2019–20

Notable former players

• Argentina Martín Schusterman – Argentine international flanker
• Canada Aaron Carpenter – Canadian international flanker
• Canada Justin Mensah-Coker – Canadian international wing
• England Henry Slade – Exeter and current England international outside centre
• England Graham Dawe – Former England international hooker
• England Jimmy Peters – England fly-half
• England Dan Ward-Smith – England number 8
• Fiji Rupeni Nasiga – Fiji international lock
• Fiji Nat Saumi – Fiji international full back
• Namibia Jané du Toit – Namibian international prop
• Tonga David Palu – Tongan international scrum-half
• Wales William Davies – Wales international centre
• Wales Rory Watts-Jones – Wales 7s international player
• England Tom Bowen – Current England 7s international player
• CAN Sean-Michael Stephen – Canadian international back row forward
• FIJ Sam Matavesi – Northampton Saints and Fiji international hooker
• CAN Brett Beukeboom – Canada and Cornish Pirates second row

Notes

References

References

1. (2001). "The Official RFU Club Directory 2001-2002". Queen Anne Press.
2. (19 April 2015). "It's all over for Albion". Cornwall Independent.
3. (2 September 1910). "PLYMOUTH CLUB. TEAM FOR TO-MORROW.". [[Western Morning News]].
4. (24 December 1912). "OLDHAM v. HUDDERSFIELD.". [[Sporting Life (British newspaper).
5. (24 December 1912). "NORTHERN UNION. POSITION OF THE PLYMOUTH CLUB.". [[Sporting Life (British newspaper).
6. (28 December 1912). "THE NORTHERN UNION. PLYMOUTH v. COVENTRY.". [[The Sportsman (1865 newspaper).
7. "Devonport Albion RFC".
8. (2015-01-29). "Plymouth Albion: Troubled club avoids administration". [[BBC Sport]].
9. (8 April 2016). "Plymouth Albion taken over by David Venables and Bruce Priday".
10. (7 January 2006). "Powergen National Trophy 2005/06". Statbunker.
11. (24 March 2007). "EDF Energy National Cup 2006/07". Statbunker.
12. (15 March 2008). "EDF National Trophy 07/08". Statbunker.
13. (17 January 2009). "EDF National Trophy 08/09". Statbunker.
14. "Plymouth Albion taken over by David Venables and Bruce Priday". BBC Sport.
15. "RFU confirms league positions".
16. "DRFU Handbook 2011-12". Devon RFU.