Newton Abbot RFC

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Newton Abbot Rugby Club is an English rugby union team based near Newton Abbot, in Kingsteignton, Devon. They play at Rackerhayes, which holds about 1,150 spectators (roughly 1,000 standing and 150 seated). The club runs two senior teams, a ladies team, and a full set of junior teams.

Founded in 1878 as the Newton Rifle Volunteers, the club was renamed Newton Abbot Rugby Club in 1886. The early club produced England internationals Henry Tristram (1887) and Denys Dobson (1902). Before World War II, Newton Abbot hosted many international teams on tours, including the All Blacks (1905, 1924, 1935), the Springboks (1907), and Australia (1908). The Australian team earned the nickname “Wallabies” during their time playing here.

In the 1920s the club enjoyed success, winning the Devon Senior Cup in 1923, 1924 and 1927; their reserve side won the Devon Junior Cup in 1921 and 1925.

With the start of league rugby in 1987, Newton Abbot began in Cornwall/Devon (a tier-8 league). They were relegated to Devon League 1 after a tough first season. The club won the Havill Plate in 1990 and, after several years in Devon League 1, gained promotion as champions in 1997–98 and then again in 1998–99 to reach Western Counties West. In 2004 they won the Devon Senior Cup for the first time since 1927.

The 2005–06 season saw Newton Abbot finish second and win a promotion playoff against Walcot at Rackerhayes, earning advancement. In 2008–09 they finished as runners-up in Tribute South West 1, and in 2009–10 they won a promotion playoff against High Wycombe, 23–14, to reach National League 3 South West—the club’s highest level to date.

Historically the club played at Teign Marshes before moving to the Recreation Ground in 1897. In 1947, Newton Abbot Spurs AFC took that lease and Newton Abbot Rugby Club moved to Rackerhayes. The Rackerhayes ground is on the edge of an industrial area near the Newton Abbot Racecourse and is about two miles from town. It has three pitches, two training pitches, and backs onto the Rackerhayes fishing complex. As noted, the main pitch has space for about 1,000 standing and a covered stand for around 150 seated spectators, giving a total capacity of about 1,150. There is in-ground parking next to the clubhouse and additional parking nearby.