Exmouth RFC was formed in 1873 and, along with clubs such as
Barnstaple and
Exeter, were instrumental in promoting the game of
rugby union in
Devon. Early games were played at Exmouth Cricket Ground and then Littleham Lane, until the club moved to more permanent lodgings at Archery Field (Cranford), where they would remain for the next 70 years. The club had some difficult times in its infancy, almost fading from existence in the early 20th century and having to merge with another local club (the Exmouth Echoes) in 1905. By the 1920s things had improved considerably and Exmouth became one of the top sides in the county, with the first team winning the
Devon Senior Cup in 1925 and reserves winning the
Devon Junior Cup three times between 1920 and 1926. Although the success of the 1920s was not reflected in the decades before and after the
Second World War, there were some moments of note including a home victory over a
Swansea side. In the 1960s Exmouth decided to leave Cranford to a more suitable location in town so that they were more accessible to supporters. In 1964 the club moved to its current home at the Imperial Recreation Ground. When the leagues were introduced in 1987–88 Exmouth were placed in
Cornwall/Devon at level 8 of the
English rugby union system. Although they were relegated to the Devon regional leagues at the end of 1988–89 they bounced back quickly and spent the remainder of the 1990s in Cornwall/Devon. At the end of the millennium Exmouth finally escaped from level 8 by winning promotion to
Western Counties West. The club also won the Devon Junior Cup twice during this period, including a league and cup double in 2000. During the early 21st century Exmouth started to rise up the league structure and become one of the counties premier sides. They achieved promotion from
Western Counties West at the end of 2002 and also won the clubs' first Devon Senior Cup title since 1925. A second promotion at the end of 2008, this time from
South West 2 West, saw Exmouth reach the lofty heights of level 5 rugby. On reaching level 5 Exmouth embarked on their most successful spell in the club's history, winning promotion to
National League 2 South twice (at tier 4, the highest level the club has reached), and becoming dominant in county rugby with five senior cup victories, including four in row between 2010 and 2014. The only downside during this period was that the club was unable to remain in National League 2 South for longer than a season on each occasion they were promoted to that league. ==Ground==