Handsworth Rugby Football Club is a junior rugby club formed in 1887, originally in the area of Birmingham known as Handsworth but with its ground now in nearby Walsall. History The exact origins of Handsworth Rugby Club are unclear. However, according to old newspapers, reported statements and speeches it seems certain that Handsworth Football Club (Rugby Rules) existed in 1870, a year before the founding of the Rugby Union. They played on a field in Heathfield Road, Handsworth and had regular fixtures with Moseley and Gloucester. During 1874-75, Handsworth appears on the fixture card of Coventry RFC. The club then went through a lean period, before a more settled club was formed during 1886 and the Club Captain was Charlie Greener. In 1887, the club secured a piece of land at Brownes Green in Handsworth and the members laid the pitch and converted scaffold poles into goal posts. The changing rooms were situated at the Lamp Tavern Public House, Hamstead Road. The first President was Mr W.G.Griffiths. During the 1887/88 season, George Wade joined the Club. In June 1891 he made his first professional stage appearance as George Robey. George was to become one of the most successful comedians of the music hall stage, securing the nickname of The Prime Minister of Mirth. During the 1880s, Handsworth was still part of Staffordshire, hence the adoption of the Staffordshire Knot on the club tie. The club's playing shirt and colours were formally adopted at the AGM on 15 September 1905, although the records show that the players had been using red and white hooped shirts since 1894. In December 1904, Handsworth became involved in a national scandal that became known as The Parsons Affair. The club was fined £5 plus expenses of £8 19s 8d, for playing A T Parsons who was ineligible to play rugby union as he had previously represented Hull Kingston Rovers,a rugby league team, under the name of Robinson. In 1905, T B Batchelor joined as a holiday member, and was the club's only England International, playing against France before of a crowd of 6,000 at Richmond, with England winning 41 to 13. In the 1912 season, J.M.C. 'Clem' Lewis played for the club against Moseley, inspiring a rare victory against illustrious rivals. Clem, described as "one of the finest players who ever wore a Handsworth jersey", played for Wales against England on 20 January 1912 (lost