A visit to the Salisbury Rugby Football ground can be a pleasure beyond watching the game, for the location of the field provides a splendid view of Old Sarum away to the north, and the south the tall spire of the cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands guard over the city.
However, this was not always the case. In the early years the Club, founded in 1923, was obliged to play its rugby at Norman Court, Tytherley, to the east of the city. The local council had decreed that the “barbaric” game should not be played within the city limits and the club was instructed to find a home at least ten miles out of town. Sponsorship however was the club’s saviour then. Norman’s Court’s owner was Mr. Washington Singer, one of the heirs of the sewing machine magnate, Isaac Singer, and he offered the club a ground on the edge of the prescribed ten mile limit: provided that they, then Norman Court Rugby Club, wore his racing colours of green and white. They still wear these colours today even though there are some who believe they should have swapped them for the city’s blue and gold, colours worn toady as a change strip.
The club transferred to the city prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. Matches were played on various pitches around Salisbury and the facilities of the Red Lion and Cathedral Hotels were enjoyed after the games. A permanent home at Castle road was leased to the Club by the Salisbury Council in 1951. The present Clubhouse was opened by the former President of the RFU and Sports Council, Dickie Jeeps, on 13th April 1980, at an auspicious ceremony attended by the 1986/1987 President of the RFU, Alan Grimsdell, and former Welsh outside half and President, Cliff Jones. Since 1980 the playing area has been levelled and floodlights installed. In 1988 a further extension to the club house, now the Tony Murley room, was added.
League rugby, then the Courage Club Championship, started in 1987. At the time Salisbury were classed as one of the top 50 – 60 clubs in the country and were deservedly allocated a place in Area League South, Level 4 of the national club hierarchy, a position they maintained until reorganisation of the leagues in 1990. Following reorganisation Salisbury has competed for a number of years in South West 1 & South West 1 (East), the level at which they currently play.
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