History
Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon (Caernarfon Rugby Club) was established in 1973 following a committee meeting in the old Marbryn.
That year is the club's official birthday but Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon had a bank account as far back as 1960.
As the first captain of the club, Alun Roberts, explains:
"A group of us played against Llandudno every Boxing Day," said Alun 'Cwstard' Roberts, Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon's first captain.
"A game in the afternoon, followed by a big 'do' in Harland Greenshields's house in Caeathro then down to the Royal for dancing. We did this for many years but never succeeded in having enough players to establish a proper club each time."
"The bank account was quite healthy but eventually we shared the money with Llandudno just prior to establishing the club officially."
That was in 1973. The committee met in the Marbryn with people such as the late Des Treen, Stuart Gifford and Wally Hewer present.
"I was there, along with Einion Angel and Clive James if I remember correctly," said Alun.
Einion was the Club's first secretary, and it may surprise some that the fitness coach was Wyn Davies, Mr Football, and Syr Hugh's PE teacher.
"Wyn was great, and Einion and I were responsible for the meagre tactics we had," Alun reminisced. "At the beginning we met in Hole in the Wall but we moved around town - from Twtil to the Blac - before buying the old club in St Helen's Road."
The First Team 1974/75
That legendary building became home to the club for nearly eighteen years.
Many memories lie within its walls: Bara Caws productions, monthly French soirees without forgetting the amazing National Eisteddfod week in 1979. More than twenty thousand pounds was taken over the bar during the week and Alun will never forget the first Sunday night. The town was 'dry' on a Sunday at that time and a queue had built up from the direction of the Albert and across the railway line towards the Club when Alun arrived - on his own, to open up.
Yes, many barrels were emptied that week even though the Club was not always renowned for the standard of its beer. Alun remembers well the discussion regarding buying coolers. The matter for debate was coolers or scrummaging machine. The coolers had it by one vote - luckily. Alun had already ordered them before the vote! We hasten to add that a scrummaging machine also arrived soon after.
In 1980 the Club had new rugby fields on the Morfa, near Eryri Hospital. In 1989 the Club was granted planning permission to build a new clubhouse on the Morfa, and a new extension was opened for New Year's Eve 1990.
Regarding facilities, the Club continues to develop the clubhouse on the Morfa, with the planned addition of women's changing rooms.