The first game for the newly formed Barnsley rugby union club was arranged for Saturday the 3rd of January 1903 at Honeywell Lane against Wakefield’s ‘A’ team. This first game for the new club was taking place just a week short of thirty nine years since the first ever game of rugby had been played in Barnsley. The first game played by Barnsley rugby union club resulted in a defeat by three tries to nil. The Barnsley Chronicle in its match report notes that Barnsley were unlucky not to score after twice losing the ball over the Wakefield goal line and also mentions notable contributions by Harrison, Brown and the two Nicholson’s in the backs. The report then states that the forwards struggled against a much heavier Wakefield pack and that ‘one or two followed up well but the rest were asleep occasionally.’ Despite the disappointing result, the return of rugby to the town was welcomed by the spectators in attendance that included many men who had either played for or supported the old Barnsley Football Club.
Barnsley rugby union club 1903
