WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE 21?

Blackheath Founded: 1858

Home ground: The Rectory Field and more recently Well Hall. Currently solid citizens of National League One, finishing fifth in 201920. An absolute powerhouse club for 100 years or more producing innumerable England stars and administrators but ultimately professionalism has not been for them and they concentrate on being the best amateur club they can and having a good time.

Richmond Founded: 1861

As with Blackheath a giant of the club game for well over a century – and a focus of women’s rugby from early times. Professional rugby ultimately proved a disaster for the club and Richmond went into administration in 1999. Since then they have climbed back from Herts/Middlesex 1 to the Championship where they are trying to compete on an expenses only basis.

Civil Service Founded: 1863

A major team for a few decades at the dawn of rugby time and for the first 20 years or so played rugby and football – as did Clapham Rovers – before the rugby section re-established itself. For a short while known as Crown RFC before they reverted to the Civil Service. Their home game against the French Civil Service in 1893 is thought to be the first visit of a French team to Britain. The club’s first tour in 1889 included games with Gloucester and Llanelli.

Wellington College

Founded: 1869

Despite the school being founded only in 1859 rugby was up and running midway through the decade and their prowess warranted an invite to the meeting. Nothing has changed, still one of the pre-eminent rugby playing schools in the country, arguably the world. Winners of the Rosslyn Park School Sevens on 11 occasions.

Guy’s Hospital Founded: 1843

Commonly accepted as the oldest rugby club in the world and in the 1920s and 30s were as formidable as any club in the land. Still exist in a hybrid fashion having merged with St Thomas and Kings College Hospital in 1999 and are now known colloquially as GKT. Won the United Hospitals Cup in 2019.

Harlequin FC

Founded: 1866

Home Ground the Stoop Memorial. The most successful and enduring of all the original clubs, still a force in the land and, save for one season, ever present in England’s top flight since leagues began. Won the title in 2012. Boasted eight players in the 1991 World Cup final – seven for England and one Australian. Enjoy a reputation for quick tempo, skilful rugby even in the professional era.

King’s College Hospital

Founded: 1869, merged with Guys in 1999 Never one of the strongest Hospital sides although they did reach four Hospital Cup finals, losing all four. Best known as the rugby home of the glamorous England and Lions captain Ronald Cove Smith in the 20s when they were a crack outfit with David MacMyn, another Lion, also in his pomp.

St Paul’s School

Founded: 1850

Although generally more known as a rowing school, St Paul’s were early exponents of rugby and one of two schools, along with Wellington College, to warrant an invite to the meeting. Before Covid were still fielding 20+ teams most weeks and their First XV toured Japan in 2018.

Clapham Rovers FC

Founded: 1869, Disbanded: 1896

Home Ground: Clapham Common. Clubhouse/Boozer: Hope Tavern Wandsworth. Colours: French grey and cerise. One of the great dual code powers of the land producing four England rugby internationals and 12 football internationals. Reginald Birkett played both codes for England and appeared in Clapham’s FA Cup-winning team of 1880.

The Law FC

Founded: 1870, Disbanded: 1873

Nomadic team who wore black jerseys with a red cross. As their name would indicate a rugby team based around lawyers at the Inns of Court in London. Home club of early England internationals Phil Wilkinson, Sydney Morse and Ernest Cheston.

Addison FC

Founded: 1869, Disbanded: 1875

Home ground: Redhouse Farm next to Wormwood Scrubs. Clubhouse/boozer: The Rifle pavilion close to Wormwood Scrubs. Colours: Black and Blue. Originated as a club in Kensington near Addison Road Holland Park, hence their name.

Marlborough Nomads

Founded 1868, Disbanded: 1911

Nomadic club but played a lot at Blackheath. Clubhouse/boozer: The Princess of Wales, Blackheath. Colours: Red, white and blue stripes. Old Boys club for former pupils of that rugby stronghold Marlborough College. Spawned ten England, Scotland and British Lions caps.

Lausanne FC Founded 1867, Disbanded 1881

Home Ground: The Rosemary Branch grounds, Peckham. Clubhouse/boozer: The Rosemary Branch, Peckham. Colours: Violet with an amber stripe on left arm. Regularly fielded two 20-a-side teams and a Soccer XI. Relocated to Dulwich in 1875 where the Greyhound pub became their headquarters.

Queens House FC

Founded 1867, Disbanded: 1883 Homeground: Blackheath. Clubhouse/boozer: The Dukes Head, Blackheath. Colours: Blue and white hooped jerseys with a blue crown on breast. For a few brief years Queens House were an absolute powerhouse club with the most feared forward pack in the country. As strong a club as London Scottish did not beat them in five matches.

West Kent FC

Founded: 1867, Disbanded 1886

Home ground: Chislehurst Common. Clubhouse/boozer: Imperial Arms, Chislehurst. Colours: Orange and black. Based on old boys of Rugby School but not exclusively so. Club stalwarts Arthur Guilemard and Joseph Green played in England’s first international against Scotland in 1871.

Gipsies FC Founded 1868, Disbanded 1883

Homeground: Peckham Rye. Clubhouse/boozer: The King’s Arms, Peckham Rye. Colours: Black and violet. Very strong Old Boys club based largely around ex pupils of Tonbridge School. Produced nine early England international players including John Luscombe, who played in that historic first Test against Scotland.

Belsize Park FC

Founded 1870 Disbanded 1881

Home ground: near to Swiss Cottage. Clubhouse/boozer: The Britannia Hotel. Colours: Lavender and Black. Blazed briefly before their demise after which most of their players moved to the newly-formed Rosslyn Park club with the remainder going to Harlequins.

Mohicans FC

Founded: 1869, Disbanded: 1874

Home Ground: Coleraine Park, Tottenham. Clubhouse/Boozer: The Red Lion, Tottenham. Colours: Chocolate and magenta. Mohicans were briefly strong enough to field two 20-aside teams but went into quick decline after moving from their original base in Lower Edmonton.

Flamingoes FC Founded: 1865, Disbanded: 1877

Home Ground: Battersea Park. Clubhouse/boozer: The Clockhouse, Lower Wandsworth Road. Colours: Red and dark blue stripes, red socks. Boasted a strong fixture list throughout their short history but disappeared virtually overnight with many players joining Harlequins.

Ravenscourt Park FC Founded: 1865, Disbanded: 1878

Homeground: Stamford Brook. Clubhouse/boozer: Queen of England, Hammersmith. Colours: Black. An old Boys club for Rugby School. Provided two players – Alfred Davenport and John Marshall Dugdale – for England in their first international against Scotland in 1871 and four other players were capped subsequently.

Wimbledon Hornets Founded: 1865

The club of L J Maton who wrote out the laws of rugby in long hand after the RFU were formed while recovering from a broken leg. Used to play on Wimbledon Common until World War 1. Still going strong as Wimbledon and finished third in the South East Premier League last season. Won the Surrey Cup as recently as 2018.