The Beginning
In 1968 John Osbourne put a note in the local paper to announce a public meeting at the Seven Stars pub in Barrack Street with the intention of forming a rugby club in Bridport.

The new club trained at Colfox School and played some of its first games in Colfox School shirts. The first scratch game was against Weymouth at Dorchester one evening. Subsequent games were in the evenings or on Sundays as some founder players were still with their original clubs. Teas were taken at the Marquis of Lorne pub. The club shared the old cricket pavilion at the Brewery ground with Bridport cricket club. There was an informal bar arrangement. The pavilion had one cold shower. The rugby club built an extension, installed a plunge bath and built a bar.

First Captain was Dave “Shandy” Williams.
First President was AAJ Palmer.
First Chairman was ACJ Williams (Shandy’s Dad)
First Vice Chairman was KC Jones.

Records of the very first season are sparse. It is believed that 10 games were played in that first season and 9 were won. Properly recorded club minutes began in the 69-70 season.

The 70’s
The club had 3 different newsletters/magazines through the mid to late 70’s. Some of these publications carried jokes that you just could not get away with today. The BRUC magazine of the late 70’s was a sports magazine for Bridport district. It carried reports on rugby, cricket,football,boxing,school teams,squash,badminton,swimming,archery,rifle shooting,water polo and darts.

The domestic 7’s tournament was first mentioned in 1972. Pub and school teams were involved. It was still running in 1977.
First mention of a second team was in 1972. John Spurek was the captain.

The social side of the club in the 70’s was very active. Magazines report sponsored walks, club fishing trips, car rallies, ladies nights as well as dances and disco’s. The club also put floats in the town carnival. Training was twice a week in 1977 !
There were “Gentlemen’s mornings” on Sundays at the old pavillion. Young ladies would get a sudden urge to disrobe at these gatherings !

Leagues first began in 1979. Bridport was placed in Dorset & Wilts. Division 1. There was also a Premier league and a second division.

The colts team first appeared in 1979 started by Bruno Mevel and George Norman. Trevor Mathews was the first colts manager. A notable colt was a debut game for the club by a fresh-faced kiwi called Guy Ewart. He was 24.

The 80’s
This is the thinnest recorded section of the club’s history. There must be more out there than these few snippets.

Bridport Colts were County finalists under the management of Steve Tuck. They lost narrowly to Swanage by 3 points. The Junior section was formed in1988.

The first floodlights were switched on in November 1989. Malcolm Heaver was chairman and the lights were one part of his ambitions for the club.

The 90’s
In October 1993 the new clubhouse was opened. Malcolm Heaver was chairman. Guy Ewart was the main contractor and Andy Duffy was the surveyor. It was built over 6 months.

A 25th anniversary game was played during the 94/95 season.

In 1993 the club sent a team to the Neuchatel 7’s in Switzerland. Two more visits in 94 and 95 followed. The club even put in a second side under the name of The West Bay Rebels. The trip was undertaken by road and many stories abound about these happy visits.

The new millennium 2000 and beyond
The first club tour (as distinct from the Swiss 7’s) went to Amsterdam in 2002.
Boxing Day 2003 saw the first Fillies v. Fossils match to raise funds for local charities.
In 2003, 22 young players went to South Africa to play 4 matches. This was a fantastic experience for all those who went. A later youth tour went even further, to New Zealand. In 2005 the under-16’s had a 2 day tour to Stratford upon Avon and had a load of fun without the jet lag. Our mini section traveled to tournaments in Guernsey, Ireland and Wales. The senior side toured to Limerick and Cologne.

Veterans…The Fossils play a fun game every Boxing Day but we did have an occasional Vets team called the Buffaloes. It was for over 40’s and the magnificent buffalo head graced the clubhouse for many years.

2008/09. Bridport’s 40th. Season. Dave “Shandy” Williams, our original club captain, was President through this milestone season. He had also been in his time, chairman and committee man. Dave stood down in May 2009 and the club is ever grateful for his efforts over its first 40 years.

And NOT to overlook…Phil Lathey for 26 years of service to the club in his St John uniform and his regular colleague, Carolyn Rendell with 19 years of service to the club. Bless them both.