On Saturday Symo had the luxury of being able to pick and choose from 26 true 2nd team players. This means we could - with a little help from friends - conceivably field a 3rd XV sometime this season.

This is great news and has to be a target.

In case you didn't know we used to have 3 saturday teams, 1 sunday and 1 wednesday team at various times. They were

. Wanderers = 2nd XV
. Drifters = 3rd XV
. Floaters = Sunday XV
. Barbarians = Wednesday XV

The term Chiefs for the 1sts is relatively new, it certainly wasn't around when I joined the club in '77 and may have come in together with the rebranding of Exeter in the early 90's.
Can anyone shed light on this?

Using the magic of the search facility (see left hand side) I picked up this little nugget Barney from the 1903-04 season.

On 5th March, the 2nd XV beat Plymouth and Mannamead College 36-0. Argaum played several Chiefs (1st XV players) there being no mention of a 1st XV fixture on that date.

So it appears that the Chiefs nickname has been around for a while although it does appear to be not universally used throughout the club's history.

I would agree that a 3rd team would be an excellent and acheivable target provided we could find an additional team manager, however I wonder how many suitable fixtures would be out there, I guess we won't know until we try.

why not be a bonafide veterans side, I'm sure there are other crazy buggars out there who would love a game

There's a few vets sides around, might be worth having a look at what they do at Totnes with games once a month.

http://www.totnesrfc.co.uk/vets.php

at what age do you need to be to achieve the right to become a veteran?
I will ammend my D.O.B accordingly !

richard wrote:

QUOTE:
Using the magic of the search facility (see left hand side) I picked up this little nugget Barney from the 1903-04 season.

On 5th March, the 2nd XV beat Plymouth and Mannamead College 36-0. Argaum played several Chiefs (1st XV players) there being no mention of a 1st XV fixture on that date.

So it appears that the Chiefs nickname has been around for a while although it does appear to be not universally used throughout the club's history.

Well I be ...... I stand corrected

willsy wrote:

QUOTE:
at what age do you need to be to achieve the right to become a veteran?
I will ammend my D.O.B accordingly !

Better of amending your passing facility. See if someone can find out where to turn it ON !

Been doing some research & checked the history. I can't say for certain but perhaps the reference to chiefs early on was editorial input - The following does appear in the 60's section of our history

QUOTE:
1965-66
It was decided to re-name the adult sides - other than the 1st XV, the A side becoming Plymouth Argaum Wanderers, the Extra A XV the Drifters and with a steady influx of playing members, another (over 18) side was formed rejoicing in the title of the Floaters.

It could well be that the Chiefs reference was written from a late 1980s viewpoint. I don't think I added it to the online version, it might be worth checking against your written copy.

As an aside I will be starting to put together an updated version in time for the clubs 125th Anniversary - 2012 (I've got a bit of time yet ). I have got plenty from the late 90's/2000's but not much previous (1988-1997), so I'll have to do a bit of trawling done at the library at some point whilst also collecting info through other players (PAPA ). I have also got a lot more photographs and bits of memorabilia which I will be incorporating into the online history when time allows.

richard wrote:

QUOTE:
As an aside I will be starting to put together an updated version in time for the clubs 125th Anniversary - 2012 (I've got a bit of time yet ;) ). I have got plenty from the late 90's/2000's but not much previous (1988-1997), so I'll have to do a bit of trawling done at the library at some point whilst also collecting info through other players (PAPA:) ). I have also got a lot more photographs and bits of memorabilia which I will be incorporating into the online history when time allows.

I may have some info to help - stored above the garage - it comes from the time I was Secretary 1992/3??? and may have some historical info in there. The Hucclecote fixture in the provincial cup needs a mention as well as Ian Ramsays last minute fixture against St Ives!!!!

BARNEY wrote:

QUOTE:

I may have some info to help - stored above the garage - it comes from the time I was Secretary 1992/3??? and may have some historical info in there. The Hucclecote fixture in the provincial cup needs a mention as well as Ian Ramsays last minute fixture against St Ives!!!!:dry:

Sounds like good stuff for the History Barney (by the way like the new avatar).