Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.
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| Pertemps Bees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Solihull, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground(s) | Sharmans Cross Road | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 3,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach |  Russell Earnshaw |
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| Captain | Matt Long |
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| League | National Division Two | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-09 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Official website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| www.beesrugby.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Birmingham and Solihull Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing Birmingham and Solihull. It was formed in 1989 by a merger of the original Birmingham and Solihull rugby clubs, which were both established over 60 years ago. They play in National Division Two using the name Pertemps Bees, following a sponsorship deal with Pertemps, a local recruitment firm, owned by former Birmingham rugby player Tim Watts.
The club's original name was Birmingham and Solihull RFC, but in 2001 due to the club colours of black, white, red and gold, and the alliteration of the name, the club underwent a large scale rebranding, forming the moniker Bees Rugby. The team have since become known as the Bees (in the same way London Wasps were known as Wasps).
Pertemps Bees are remembered by many fans for their cup success of 2004, in which they caused the biggest upset in the professional rugby era by beating London Wasps 28-24 in the quarter final of the Powergen Cup overcoming odds of 250-1, known as "The Greatest Ever Sporting Upset", subsequently playing Newcastle Falcons in the semi final, live on BBC television. The club however hit rock bottom just two seasons later in 2005-06 when they finished last in National Division One but were saved from relegation because of league expansion.
In October 2006 it was announced that Pertemps Bees were in the planning stage of building a £60 million super stadium at their training ground known as Portway just off the M42 in Solihull. It would be one of the nation's largest sports villages to rival anything built for the 2012 Olympics. Plans include a regional sports academy, education and conference centre, 12,000 capacity stadium, seven all-weather rugby pitches, archery and shooting ranges and a watersports lake.
In June 2007 Bees coach Steve Williams left the club with one year still left on his contact to become assistant manager at Magners League side Ulster. Williams a former Northampton and London Irish player won 29 caps for Wales.
The 07/08 season began under a split coaching structure in which two former England Sevens internationals had equal control over the squad. Ben Harvey will coached the backs and Russell Earnshaw was player/forwards coach. The coaching structure however was widely viewed as unsuccessful and former Bees scrum-half Harvey was sacked shortly before Christmas. On a temporary basis former Rotherham head coach Andre Bester was appointed to take charge of the side before being replaced by former Wales A coach Allan Lewis.
In November 2007 it was announced that Pertemps Bees would sell their Sharmans Cross Road pitch and play at local football side Solihull Moors Damson Park as part of a groundshare arrangement.
On January 28th former Llanelli centre Allan Lewis was announced as the head coach of Pertemps Bees. Lewis brought experience to the club after previously holding the role of head coach at Celtic Warriors, Moseley, Newport and Bridgend. Lewis had also worked with the Welsh national squad working as selector, backs coach and Wales A head coach at different times throughout his career. However by 17th April it was reported that Lewis would not remain at the club past the 2007 - 2008 season and would return to his post at Hartpury College.
Pertemps Bees were relegated to National Division Two at the end of the 2007 - 2008 season finishing in 15th position.
[edit] Pertemps Bees Internationals
- *Craig Chalmers
Scotland - *Nick Baxter England Sevens, Barbarians
- Mark Cornwell England Saxons
- Ryan Lamb England Saxons
- *Tim Walsh
Australia Sevens - *Rod Petty Australia Sevens, U19, U21
- Paul Knight England Counties
- Dave Knight England Counties
- *Will Matthews England Sevens, Younger Sevens
- *Tom Beim England
- *Rob Hardwick England
- *Luke Nabaro
Fiji U21's, A, Sevens - *Hesse Fakatou
Tonga - *Tu Tamarua
Samoa and 
Pacific Islanders - *Ben Harvey England Sevens
- *Mark Linnett England
- *Akapusi Qera Fiji and Fiji core squad
- *Brodie Henderson
Canada and Canada Sevens - *Casey Dunning Canada
- *Hotili Asi Tonga
- *Rodney Mahe Tonga
- Matt Larsen
Wales U20's - Tristan Davies Wales U21's
- Matt Nuthall Wales U18, 19, 21's
- Alex Davidson Wales U21 & Students & England Counties
- Simon Martin England U21's
- Alan Hubbleday England U21's & Students
- Andy Gravil England U18, 19's
- Ed Orgee England Students
- *Jim Jenner England Sevens and GB Sevens
- Jim Thorp England U21's
- *Kevin Tkachuk Canada
- Matt Long England Students
- Rob Merritt England Colts
- *Geoff Gregory
Bahamas Sevens - Scott Read England U21's
- Shaun Woof England U21's
- *Leo Halavatau Tonga
- Mike Hook Wales U21's
- Brendan Lynch
Ireland U19 - Tom Court Ireland A and 1st XV Squad
- *Russell Earnshaw England Sevens
- *Uche Odouza England U18, 19, 21, Sevens
- Miles Benjamin England U19, National Academy
- *Uakazuwaka Kazombiaze
Namibia - *Marika Vakacugu Fiji
- *Aisea Havilli Tonga
- Duncan White England U16 Dev.
- Andrew Daish Wales U18 Youth, U18 Schools, U19 Dev.
* indicates full cap or sevens
[edit] See also
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