The Cornish rugby tradition has deep roots, stretching back before the game was even codified. A form of folk football, known as
Cornish hurling was highly popular there, and is still played in two towns in Cornwall. It is possible that the former popularity of this game paved the way for the rugby code. Cornwall's original colours were yellow and red hoops on black jerseys. these were soon changed to yellow and black squares. During the 1894-5 seasons the side played in white jerseys, finally adopting the current black and gold hoops in the 1895-6 season. Cornish Rugby has had the honour to have played host to many international touring rugby teams over the years including
New Zealand,
Australia,
South Africa,
New Zealand Māori,
France,
Romania, the
USA,
Canada,
Japan and the Soviet Union. One of the most important times of the year in a Cornish rugby fan's calendar is the County Championship. Like the 1900 games, three teams entered:
Australasia (representing
Australia and
New Zealand),
France, and
Great Britain (which included the whole of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland). France pulled themselves from the event prior to the commencement of the tournament, being unable to field a representative team. Cornwall won the championship for the first time in 1908, when they played in front of 17,000 fans at
Redruth. The game was against Durham, also known for its mining, this time coal not tin. Cornwall won the game 17–3, scoring 5 tries. The added incentive for the winner was the chance to represent
Great Britain at the
1908 Summer Olympics. The choice of Cornwall was controversial, as only three of their players had ever represented
England, as well as the fact that Australia, who had been on a tour of the United Kingdom, had defeated them 18 points to five. Two other countries entered the
1908 Summer Olympics,
France and
Australasia, the name of a combined team from Australia and New Zealand. France withdrew before the tournament which left Great Britain (Cornwall) playing Australasia. The final score was 32–3 to Australasia with
Bert Solomon managing to score a try for Great Britain. Australasia's team, the
Wallabies, was already on tour in Britain, while the best Anglo-Welsh players were on tour in New Zealand at the time. Great Britain was therefore represented by the Cornwall county team, who were chosen by the RFU as an appropriate side after they defeated
Durham in the 1907 English county championship. As expected, Australasia defeated Great Britain, claiming the gold medal, the score being 32 points to three. The match at the White City Stadium was played under poor conditions, in
fog and with a slippery field. Cornwall reached the Championship final again in 1909, 1928, 1958, 1969 and 1989 but had to wait until 1991 before re-claiming the trophy. In a final that most Cornish fans will remember forever, Cornwall played
Yorkshire at Twickenham in front of 54,000 fans, the majority of which were supporting Cornwall. In a game that had everything, Cornwall found themselves trailing at 16-3 down after 54 minutes, having been tricked when Yorkshire ran a penalty that the Cornish believed they had indicated to kick. Cornwall fought back to draw level at 16-16 after 80 minutes, and even missed the conversion that would have given them victory in normal time. The game then went into extra time when Cornwall managed to continue their scoring. The final score was 29–20 to Cornwall which sent the fans into a state of total elation.
Richard Nanckivell's two tries were the inspiration that they could win and Tommy Bassett and Billy Peters put the icing on the cake in extra-time for Cornwall's first title since 1908. Cornwall managed to reach the final again in both 1992 and 1998, losing both, and it was not until 1999 when they met Gloucester in the final that Cornwall managed to win the Championship again. Cornwall play most of their home games at
Redruth R.F.C. and
Camborne RFC but matches have also been played at
Penzance & Newlyn and
Launceston. The premier club side in Cornwall are the
Cornish Pirates (recently renamed from Penzance & Newlyn RFC) who play in the
RFU Championship. They are hoping to increase their fanbase by appealing to
Cornish nationalist sentiment to help them gain promotion to the
Aviva Premiership.
Launceston Rugby Club ("The Cornish All Blacks") have recently (2007 season) been promoted to the National Division One.
Redruth R.F.C. ("The Reds") play in National Division Two and also get good support.
Mount's Bay have this season 2007–08 began their campaign in National Division Three, South, leading the league for the entire season they are at season end promoted to National Division Two for the 2008/09 season. The other major Cornish club sides who play in the South West 1, 2 West, Western Counties West and Cornwall & Devon leagues are
Bude,
Camborne,
Falmouth, Hayle, Newquay Hornets
Penryn,
St Austell,
St. Ives, Saltash,
Truro and
Wadebridge Camels. ==Motto==