Coventry RLFC was a semi-professional rugby league team based in Coventry, West Midlands, England that played in the Northern Rugby Football Union League in the 1910–11, 1911–12, and 1912–13 seasons.
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The beginning
In 1874, a Coventry XV, which included members of Stoke Cricket Club, took part in what could be described as the first organised game of Rugby football in Coventry. It was played against Allesley Park College at Allesley. With the game in its infancy, one half was played to Rugby rules, the other to Association.
The first headquarters were set up at the Old Bull Fields and for the first two seasons the club were unbeaten. The ground became known as "The Butts" when part of the Old Bull Fields was enclosed, the first match being against Stourbridge in October 1880. The club won the Midland Counties Cup five times in the first seven years.
Northern Union
The club converted to Northern Union in time for the start of the 1910-11 season. The new league club continued to play at the Butts. Results on the field were poor and as a consequence, so were attendances. Receipts were not sufficient to sustain the club and Coventry RLFC folded after completion of the 1912-13 season.
On the collapse of Coventry RLFC in 1913, a new club was re-constituted to play rugby union and until the outbreak of the first world war in 1914, played on a new ground at London Road made available by Col Sir William Wyley, a ground on which the government purchased and built on during the First World War.
Today
Rugby league is still played in Coventry. The semi-professional Coventry Bears are currently playing in the third tier League 1.
Club League Record
For the 1910–11 to 1912–13 seasons, Coventry RLFC achieved the following record:
Notable players
J. Tomes won a cap for England while at Coventry in 1910 against Wales.