WESSEX RUGBY
FOOTBALL CLUB
HISTORY
Wessex RFC was formed in 1995, when it was felt that the community in Exeter could benefit from a rugby club where the true traditions of grassroots rugby could be played and enjoyed. The team at that time was mostly comprised of players from Exeter RFC's disbanded Extra B team,
During the first year, although not allowed to enter a league, the club was allowed to enter the Havill Plate (losers of the Devon Junior Cup). After defeating three Devon League 1 sides on the way, Wessex duly won the Cup by beating Newton Abbot in the final.
In the 1996/97 season Wessex were allowed to join Devon League 3 where, on a number of occasions the team ran up scores of over 100 points, and went on to become the winners of the League.
In Devon League 2 in the 1997/98 season, Wessex continued in their previous winning style and proceeded to come top of the league and to win the Havill Plate for the second time.
In the following season (1998/99), this time in Devon League 1 and only the fourth since the creation of the club, Wessex went through the season confidently and again gained promotion, this time to the Devon and Cornwall league.
This proved a harder league to be in, but the team did get to the final of the Devon Junior Cup in the 1999/2000 season, unfortunately not winning but going away with the Havill Plate instead.
In the 2000/2001 season, the team finished fourth in the league and managed to win the Withycombe Sevens.
In the 2002/02 season we started well, but we didn't live up to expectations in the second half of the season.
In our eighth season (2002/2003), we managed to keep going through the season, finished second and gained promotion to Western Counties West.
The 2003/04 season was tough and an eye-opener, but we hung in there and with the usual Wessex spirit, survived.
The 2004/05 unfortunately saw no improvement in our form and we went down to play in the Devon & Cornwall league again.
We hope in 2005/06 to do better!
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