“To be among a large crowd at a National League match at Wharfedale Rugby Club. . . was to have found sporting nirvana. If there’s a more wonderful sporting venue in the country for serious competitive sport, I’ve yet to visit it.” John Inverdale, Daily Telegraph

“Wharfedale . . epitomises all that is good about our great game”  Newbury match programme

“One of the best views in rugby union” Stourbridge match report

Our History

Wharfedale was founded in 1923, its first ground at Wood Lane where the cricket ground is now situated.

Without its own facilities, the Wilson Arms and the Black Horse served at various times as headquarters.

The War years saw a temporary suspension in operations, but the club re-formed and in due course changed its HQ to a third public house, the Foresters Arms.

The gradually improving club’s first tangible reward came in 1957, when it won the Yorkshire Shield against Moortown at Otley. Just twelve months later a Colts side was formed, the foundation of the junior section, seen as the cornerstone of the club’s playing development.  The club continued to prosper on the field and in 1964, when it moved to its current facilities,  it reached the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup.

Club President John Spencer

The inception of league rugby saw Wharfedale positioned in North East Two (level seven). The opportunity to play against clubs which at that time had a more illustrious fixture list proved incentive enough for the club to win that league, then three more in following eight seasons to achieve its current place at level three. Season 2009/10 is Wharfedale’s fourteenth in the top 40 clubs in England.

Wharfedale prides itself on its homegrown talent, and over the years its players have been awarded representative honours at all levels of the game. Its President John Spencer, British Lion, Barbarian and England captain, continued to play for various Wharfedale teams for many years after the end of his international career. No club playing at Wharfedale’s level fields so many local players, testament to the vigour and ethos of all those involved, and in particular to the single-minded devotion of the Harrison dynasty