Plymouth Albion Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club who play in Plymouth, England. The present club was founded in 1920 from a merger between Plymouth RFC (founded 1876) and Devonport Albion RFC (founded 1876). Since 2003 they have played their home games at The Brickfields stadium. Albion's traditional strip and club colours are white, cherry and green.
After thirteen seasons in the second tier of English rugby union, Plymouth Albion finished last in the 2014–15 RFU Championship, and currently play in National League 1.
Plymouth RFC Formed 1876, the Plymouth Football Club, also known as Plymouth Albion, played at South Devon Place. In 1912, the Northern Union attempted to form a Western League of clubs in Devon and Cornwall. Huddersfield beat Oldham 31–26 in an exhibition game at South Devon Place in front of 7,000 spectators and as a result a meeting was held and the club joined the Northern Union. The first match under the new rules was lost, 22–17, against Coventry on Christmas Day. The club later re-emerged as part of a merger with Devonport Albion to become Plymouth Albion.
Devonport Albion RFC Albion was formed in 1876 from apprentices at Devonport Dockyard and originally played at Devonport Park. After moving to Bladderly in 1887 they then moved to Home Park in 1893. The club stayed at Home Park for one season only, returning to Bladderley Lane in 1894, then, in 1896, Albion took a 14-year lease of Rectory grounds, (the current home of Devonport Services R.F.C.).
Current club
Devonport Albion continued at the Rectory until it merged with Plymouth RFC to become Plymouth Albion and moved in 1920 to Beacon Park. In 2003, they moved from the run-down Beacon Park ground to a newly built ground, The Brickfields, in Devonport. The Brickfields also has an adjacent athletics stadium.
Albion were a major force in English rugby union in the 1920s having five internationals on their books at one time. Around this time they attracted a crowd of 18,000 to a midweek game against Oxford University which established a record crowd for a club match in England which was not exceeded until the 1980s.
They were promoted to National Division One in 2002, and finished third in the 2003–04 season. Observers say it was Plymouth Albion's best position nationally since the 1920s. On their way to promotion, the team went on a two-season unbeaten streak of over 50 games, starting when the club was in Division Three South and ending after their promotion to National Division One.
The club's principal local rival is the Exeter Chiefs, whose home ground is Sandy Park, located near the M5 motorway. Matches between the two clubs are considered local derbies within Devon rugby. The rivalry has contributed to increased interest in rugby union in the country.
Albion currently play in the National League 1, the third tier of English club rugby. The club have financial problems and only avoided entering administration early in 2015 following a cash injection of £250,000 by local businesses. Albion entered administration on 8 April 2016 and were deducted 30 pts by the RFU. Following administration they were taken over by former players, Bruce Priday and David Venables who put forward a business case to the RFU. Since then, Priday has moved to pastures new, whilst Max Venables is the club's Managing Director.
The club also had a successful women's team and a new Under 18s Academy. They played their first game against a Cornwall XV in February 2019, finishing 50 – 7 victors.
Throughout the 2020s, Plymouth Albion RFC has continued to rebuild its status as a prominent rugby club in the English game. Competing in National League 1, the club has placed increasing emphasis on sustainable growth, talent development, and deeper community connections. Under head coach Ryan Lamb, Albion has worked to develop a competitive squad, blending experienced players with young, emerging talent.
The 2025–26 season marks a major milestone in the club’s long history — its 150th anniversary. Pre-season fixtures against Bridgend, Exeter Chiefs U23s, and St Austell form part of the club’s build-up to the new campaign. In May 2025, a testimonial event was held at Brickfields for prop Dan Pullinger, celebrating over a decade of service and more than 200 appearances in an Albion shirt.
The club has also strengthened its leadership team across key operational areas. Managing Director: Max Venables Commercial Director: James Greenacre General Manager: Nicola Westlake Media and Marketing Manager: Paul Nicholson Community Lead: Safiaa Ibrahim
This off-field leadership supports the club’s wider ambitions, helping to drive professional standards, grow its supporter base, and deliver strong match day experiences at Brickfields.
Plymouth Albion has secured several new commercial partnerships ahead of the 2025–26 season, including Sanderson Weatherall, Agile Comms, and PQA Academy. Former Albion captain Mark Slade, now Head of Agency at Sanderson Weatherall, was instrumental in re-establishing links between the firm and the club.
Current standings
Season summary Season League National Cup(s) County Cup(s) Competition (Level) Position Points Competition Performance Competition Performance 1987–88 Courage 3 (3) 3rd 16 John Player Cup Quarter-finals Devon Senior Cup Winners 1988–89 Courage 3 (3) 1st (promoted) 22 Pilkington Cup 3rd Round 1989–90 Courage 2 (2) 7th 10 Pilkington Cup 3rd Round 1990–91 Courage 2 (2) 11th 8 Pilkington Cup 2nd Round 1991–92 Courage 2 (2) 12th (relegated) 6 Pilkington Cup 2nd Round 1992–93 Courage 3 (3) 12th (relegated) 0 Pilkington Cup 2nd Round 1993–94 Courage 4 (4) 4th 18 Pilkington Cup 3rd Round 1994–95 Courage 4 (4) 8th 10 Pilkington Cup 2nd Round 1995–96 Courage 4 (4) 10th 8 Pilkington Cup 2nd Round 1996–97 Courage 4 South (4) 6th 29 Pilkington Cup 2nd Round 1997–98 National 2 South (4) 13th 12 Tetley's Bitter Cup 1st Round 1998–99 National 2 South (4) 12th 15 Tetley's Bitter Cup 2nd Round 1999–00 National 2 South (4) 4th 36 Tetley's Bitter Cup 1st Round 2000–01 National 3 South (4) 1st (promoted) 52 Tetley's Bitter Cup 4th Round 2001–02 National 2 (3) 2nd (promoted) 46 Powergen Cup 2nd Round 2002–03 National 1 (2) 9th 60 Powergen Cup 5th Round 2003–04 National 1 (2) 3rd 92 Powergen Cup 4th Round 2004–05 National 1 (2) 3rd 94 Powergen Cup 6th Round 2005–06 National 1 (2) 5th 75 Powergen Trophy Quarter-finals 2006–07 National 1 (2) 6th 97 EDF Energy Cup Semi-finals 2007–08 National 1 (2) 8th 64 EDF Energy Trophy Semi-finals 2008–09 National 1 (2) 11th 66 EDF Energy Trophy 4th Round 2009–10 RFU Championship (2) 8th 48 British & Irish Cup Pool Stage 2010–11 RFU Championship (2) 10th 36 British & Irish Cup Pool Stage 2011–12 RFU Championship (2) 11th 30 British & Irish Cup Pool Stage 2012–13 RFU Championship (2) 9th 40 British & Irish Cup Pool Stage 2013–14 RFU Championship (2) 8th 40 British & Irish Cup Quarter-finals 2014–15 RFU Championship (2) 12th (relegated) 21 British & Irish Cup Pool Stage 2015–16 National League 1 (3) 7th 72 2016–17 National League 1 (3) 2nd 118 2017–18 National League 1 (3) 3rd 108 2018–19 National League 1 (3) 5th 83 2019–20 National League 1 (3) 6th 89.13 2020–21 National League 1 (3) Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom 2021–22 National League 1 (3) 11th 60 2022-23 National League 1 (3) 5th 78 2023–24 National League 1 (3) 4th 77 2024–25 National League 1 (3) 4th 91 2025–26 National League 1 (3) Green background stands for either league champions (with promotion) or cup winners. Blue background stands for promotion without winning league or losing cup finalists. Pink background stands for relegation.
Honours Devon Senior Cup winners (23): 1889, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1895, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1921, 1974, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 Devon RFU Junior Cup winners: 1893 (reserve side) Courage League Division 3 champions: 1988–89 National Division 3 South champions: 2000–01
Notable former players Martín Schusterman – Argentine international flanker Aaron Carpenter – Canadian international flanker Justin Mensah-Coker – Canadian international wing Henry Slade – Exeter and current England international outside centre Graham Dawe – Former England international hooker Jimmy Peters – England fly-half Dan Ward-Smith – England number 8 Rupeni Nasiga – Fiji international lock Nat Saumi – Fiji international full back Jané du Toit – Namibian international prop David Palu – Tongan international scrum-half William Davies – Wales international centre Rory Watts-Jones – Wales 7s international player Tom Bowen – Current England 7s international player Sean-Michael Stephen – Canadian international back row forward Sam Matavesi – Northampton Saints and Fiji international hooker Brett Beukeboom – Canada and Cornish Pirates second row Fred Knight – England international, played in England's first game against Australia in 1909
See also Devon Rugby Football Union
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