Lost Leeds rugby union clubs

2025-08-26T19:01:53+01:00

There were a number of clubs formed in the ‘rugby boom’ of the 1920s that became well established, but were in existence, in some cases, for less than twenty years and had disappeared by the start of the Second World War. It appears that none of the lost clubs had the infrastructure or support necessary to challenge some of their more established neighbours, but were playing regularly. The lost clubs featured in this article are Cross Gates, The Bohemians, Leeds Rifles, Pudsey and the Hostel of the Resurrection.

Cross Gates

1933/34 Season

Cross Gates appeared to be a vibrant organisation that was able to field three teams most seasons, but struggled to find a ground that was close to Cross Gates, which in those days was a village on the outskirts of Leeds, rather than the suburb it is today. Cross Gates competed successfully with many other junior clubs in Yorkshire, but ironically towards the end of the 1930s just after the club had managed to find a home ground in the village, Cross Gates stopped playing fixtures. It is impossible to speculate on the reason why a club fielding three teams should suddenly disappear. In the 1930s there were lots of rugby clubs in Leeds so when Cross Gates folded I am sure there were plenty of local clubs happy to welcome their players.

Bohemians

The Bohemians were another club that struggled to find a home ground. They moved a number of times across the City without any obvious loss of members. Despite their lack of a settled home ground Bohemians continued to field three teams for most of the 1930s and were one of the more successful junior clubs. They had a good playing record most seasons and often made progress in the Yorkshire Cup and Shield competitions. Bohemians had a full fixture list for the 1939/40 season, but due to the start of World War Two none of the fixtures were played. When rugby re-started in 1945 Bohemians had disappeared. Were they one of many rugby clubs that lost players and some of their leading officials in World War Two?

Leeds Rifles

Leeds Rifles, as their name suggests, were a military team and played their games on the Military Field in Roundhay, later to be named Soldiers Field. They were based at the Carlton Barracks. Despite being a club obviously based on an army battalion they were an integral part of the rugby scene in Leeds in the 1920s with a fixture list that was mainly made up of club teams. Leeds Rifles disappeared from the scene in the late 1920s. Perhaps the Leeds battalion was disbanded and the players moved to battalions in other parts of the country.

1926/27 Season

Pudsey

Pudsey rugby club was located in the small town of the same name between Leeds and Bradford. Like two of the clubs I mention earlier they had problems finding a settled base. They moved grounds regularly in the 1920s and the early 1930s. It may have been that constantly moving grounds and competition from its neighbours Bramley Old Boys that caused its early demise. The club didn’t make it to the end of the 1930s.

1931/32 Season

The Hostel of the Resurrection

The Hostel of the Resurrection had connections to the Mirfield based College of the Resurrection. The Hostel housed students who were studying for theology degrees at Leeds University. The hostel building was on Springfield Mount in Leeds and the club played its home games at the Leeds University Sports Grounds at Weetwood. The Hostel of the Resurrection didn’t have a very strong fixture list and didn’t reappear after World War Two. The College of the Resurrection did play regular fixtures after the War so, perhaps all the Leeds based students moved to Mirfield and played rugby there.