Club History
We are BBRFC Celtic!
A joining of two clubs
The formation of BBRFC Celtic marks a significant milestone in the rugby landscape of Belgium. This club is the result of a thoughtful merger between the Brussels Barbarians and the Brussels Celtics, reflecting a united vision to foster a comprehensive rugby environment.
The discussions leading to this union began in the spring of 2014, focusing on how two prominent clubs could collaborate to create a singular entity that supports diverse rugby communities. The inclusive approach aimed to benefit male, female, touch, and junior players, catering to all skill levels and playing styles.
In June 2014, the decision was made when members of both clubs voted unanimously to merge, solidifying their commitment to a shared future. BBRFC Celtic as you know it today was born!
We live by the motto,
“Once BC, always BC.”
— BBRFC Celtic
TIMELINE
Discover our rich history
Contributors: James Parker, James Candon & Graham Edwards
1968
Brussels British
In September 1968 James D Adams and fiancée Judy Robb formed Brussels British rugby club to play on Saturdays, unlike the Belgian League which played on Sundays, in order to celebrate after the match. As a result, the club did not play in the Belgian League but arranged fixtures with South Coast English sides, and British Army and Dutch teams.
1972
Brussels British
Won the Belgian Cup for the first time and beat the Belgian National team.
1974
Brussels British
Won the Belgian Cup for the second time.
Pics: 1974 BBRFC Belgian Cup Winning Captain - Geoff Goldie
1980
Brussels British
Entered the Belgian league structure at the 5th Level.
1982
Brussels British
Won the Belgian Cup for the third time.
1984
Brussels British
Promoted to Division 1.
1985
Brussels British
Became Belgian League Champions.
Pics: 1985 Belgian League Champions with winning Captain - Alan Blake
1986
Brussels British
Organized the first of several charity matches that took place over the next five years. In 1986 and 1987 the club hosted two charity matches against former British and Irish Lions featuring some of the best know British and Irish players from the 1970s and 80s to play against a Belgian Select team. Vince Fepuleai going on to play for Western Samoa against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in 1988. It was in 1985-6 that BBRFC changed from wearing all white to its current colours of red, blue and green.
Pics: Top: 1986 Vince Fepuleai BBRFC - for Belgian Select v Former British & Irish Lions Select
Below: 1986 Belgian Select v Former British & Irish Lions Select
1989
Brussels British
Stuart Dowsett (pictured middle with striped tie) became President of BBRFC. A role that he maintained until 2009.
Holding the ball is the much loved former mayor of Brussels, Freddy Thielmans, who was a proud player for the Brussels British.
1995
Brussels British (Ladies)
The formation of the Ladies’ Team took place.
1996
Brussels British (Mens)
Relegated from Division 1.
1998
Brussels Celtic
Founded by Conor Leach, Sharon Farron, Lucy Cronin, John Hume, Eoin Brophy, John Ramsay, Nicolas Ancot in reek filled backroom of what was then known as the Bank Pub, an Irish pub, on Rue de Baillie.
The newly formed Brussels Celtic was based at the BSB in Tervuren and is mostly peopled at first by various Irish lobbyists and Irish expats. First club president and sponsor is Sharon Farren, owner of The Bank. Within a month or two of our creation we participate in our first ever tournament, the Dendermonde 10s.
1998-1999
Brussels Celtic
Brussels Celtic participates in its first championship season and finishes mid-table even though we are forced to recruit weekend warriors from the pubs on the Saturday nights. Turns out this practice of playing unlicensed players was frowned upon by the Federation and we are demoted to last place at the end of the season. We go on our first tour in January via Eurotunnel to Canterbury.
1999-2000
Brussels Celtic
Fred Grard, then head of Altran Belgium, becomes new team captain and brings a considerable number of French engineers into the club. After a successful season we are promoted to the next division. Our 2nd ever tour was to Boston, USA for 10 days! We played in a 10s tournament on our first day there, a full 15-a-side match mid-week against Seacoast Rugby in Portsmouth, New Hampshire where we were lavishly hosted by the boys and girls of Seacoast and then a 7s tournament the day before we left in which we played against the US Eagles 7s squad. (We lost…) As an interesting side-note the tourers went to watch a Boston Red Sox match vs the Chicago White Sox (then and still now the team with the highest single-season scoring record in MLB) on July 23rd and witnessed the legendary Pedro Martinez shut out the White Sox. Whilst the streets of Boston erupted with joy and excitement our French and British tourers exited Fenway Park proclaiming that to have been extremely boring and they couldn’t understand why everyone was cheering!
2000
Brussels British / Brussels Barbarians
Voted to change the name of the club to Brussels Barbarians.
2000-2001
Brussels Celtic
Tour to Provence.
2001-2002
Brussels Celtic
Match the day after Munster were robbed against Stade Francais in Lille, 22 April 2001. Half of us had been on the session in Lille the night before. The game was in Huy. We only had 15 players and the game ended with 12 Celtics. There was a swamp at one end that almost drowned us. We had too many forwards, so Ali played 8 and Quentin played centre. Graham Edwards was 15. Steph Delhomme scrum half. David was outhalf. Great player. With 10 plus forwards, on that pitch, we bulldozed them. Tour to Heidelberg.
2002
Brussels Barbarians (Mens)
Promoted back to Division 1.
2002-2003
Brussels Celtic
After a memorable season played with an increasingly large number of surly Frenchmen we win the divisional championship and get promoted to D3. 1st club Ball to celebrate club’s 5-year anniversary in a venue in the centre of Brussels. Tour to Barcelona & Zaragoza.
2003-2004
Brussels Celtic
The club wins the Division 3 championship undefeated and gets promoted to D2. Meanwhile, under the encouragement and organization of Xavier Mazauric the club sets up Belgium’s first ever touch program and team. Tour to Limerick.
Pic: First website!
2005-2006
Brussels Celtic
After suffering a large number of retirements and departures we struggle in D2 and finish last and get demoted back to D3! But we host nonetheless one of our Ball extravaganzas at the Palais de Colonies in October 2005. Tour to Narbonne.
Watch YouTube video here.
2005
Brussels Barbarians (Mens)
Belgian Cup Final finalists, 3 of the men’s team represented Belgium that season.
ING Cup Final (Belgo-Dutch elite level tournament)
2006
Brussels Barbarians (Ladies)
Belgian League Champions. 7 of the Ladies’ team represented Belgium that season.
2006-2007
Brussels Celtic
Realizing the club’s need to grow and provide experienced young players to its senior teams Graham Edwards and Fred Michiels start the Brussels Celtic Rugby School in August @ Royale La Rasante in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. 24th of June Midsummer Night Ball again Palais des Colonies. Tour to Granada.
Watch YouTube video here.
2007
Brussels Barbarians (Mens)
Relegated from Division 1.
2007-2008
Brussels Celtic
We start training at Kituro in the mid-week sessions while still training at BSB on Fridays and playing matches there. Tour to Porto.
2008-2009
Brussels Celtic
10 Year Anniversary Ball at the Palais des Colonies in Tervuren in November. Tour to Roma.
2009-2010
Brussels Celtic
Tour to Heidelberg.
2010-2011
Brussels Celtic
New synthetic pitch is ready for use mid-season. We win the divisional title thus getting promoted into the new Federation National Division 3. This is our famous “undefeated” season, otherwise recognized as our 2nd undefeated season. Tour to Constanta & Bucharest.
Pic: Touch Team
2011-2012
Brussels Celtic
We survive a tough season in D3 national as we adjust to the new intensity of this level. We also form and maintain a 2nd team as is required in the National Divisions. The now legendary club house, The Ruck n’ Maul opens its doors for the first time in December 2011. Tour to Valencia.
2012-2013
Brussels Celtic
We start the season with a new experienced coach but the challenges of D3 remain too steep for us and we finish last and go back down to RV Regional 1. Tour to Budapest.
2013-2014
Brussels Celtic
We find ourselves in Regional 1 with our old nemesis [Brussels Barbarians] but future club-mates and win the division and go back up into D3 National where we have been ever since. Wanting to best prepare for our return to D3 National and desperately wanting to add a Ladies’s section to our successful Men’s section and rugby school and after many previous failed attempts to come to an equitable arrangement the Brussels Celtics finally merge with the Brussels Barbarians. Tour to Lisbon.
2014
Brussels British / Brussels Celtic
Last game between Brussels Barbarians and Brussels Celtic before the merger.
2014
BBRFC Celtic
Merger of the two clubs to form BBRFC Celtic.
2025
BBRFC Celtic
Rockin’ the Belgian rugby scene in the heart of Brussels with an exciting future ahead!
ORIGIN STORIES
An in depth look
AN ORIGIN STORY
Brussels Celtic
The thing about origin stories is that often there are more than one for each origin. What follows is one such history for BrusselsCeltic.
Maybe some of the reasoning behind how we arrived at the name “Celtic” may have been lost or forgotten. Back when the club was being formed, there was a lot of debate about what to call it. Granted, the largest minority of the founders were Irish. We didn’t want to simply call the club “Brussels Irish” or “Irish overseas” or “Brussels Exiles” as we felt this would be too restrictive an identity for the club. We were conscious of being in Belgium, land of the Belges first and foremost. We were also conscious of being in Brussels, the capital of Europe. So, we wanted a name that Belgians could identify with as well as something that broader swathe of people from Europe and beyond (even Americans) can identify with.
We looked deep into the history of the region, and also to the present. The Romans as evinced by Julius Caesar had enormous respect for the Celtic peoples here in Belgium:
Horum omnium fortissimo sunt Belgae!
Julius César, Bellum Gallus 52bc
Van alle stammen van Gallië zijn de Belgen de dapperste.
De tous les peuples de la Gaule, les Belges sont les plus braves.
Of all the tribes of Gaul, the Belgians are the bravest.
Those tribes here were represented by the Eburons and Nerviens among others. We do not have to look far to see that they have not been forgotten around here. There is the Ave des Celtes which is just off Merode as is Ave des Nerviens. There is Rue des Eburons which joins with the famous Square Ambiorix which is named after the leader of the Eburons who stood up to the Romans. There is a statue to him in Tongres (which, by the way, claims to be the oldest town in Belgium).
Of course, the Celts ranged all over Europe as well and traces of their cultures have even been found further afield in what is now modern day Russia, Turkey and England too (Queen Boudicea, the legendary heroine also stood up to the Romans, her name derived from the Celtic term “Bua” for victory can be said to be the origin of the name Victoria). This is why we felt and still feel, with great passion, that Celtic is a name that anybody and everybody can relate to. The Celts revered physical, athletic prowess as evidenced by the legends of men and women who could jump rivers or throw javelins over mountains. People who would run for three days and three nights to make it to a party before the mead ran out. Slight exaggerations of course but you get the picture.
So, we hope you can see the logic and thought behind the name Celtic. It is an identity that is broad enough for all members of the club. Something that can fire up players and supporters alike on match days when we want to play at our best and tap into our athletic ability to the maximum. To channel all the training, all the skills and fitness development, all the organisation that goes into making that possible. To feel the strength of purpose that the Celts felt when they were going into battle against the Roman’s or anyone else that sought to oppress them. They feared nobody and neither should any member of this club!
AN ORIGIN STORY
Brussels British / Brussels Barbarians Rugby Club (BBRFC)
The Brussels Barbarians Rugby Football Club (BBRFC), often called the "Babas," holds a storied place in Belgian rugby history. Established in 1968 by James D. Adams, his fiancée, Judy Robb, and Tom Morris the club was founded with a unique vision: to play matches on Saturdays rather than Sundays, as was customary in the Belgian League, creating opportunities for post-match camaraderie and celebrations.
Early Growth and Achievements
Initially known as Brussels British RFC, the club began by arranging fixtures against teams from England’s South Coast, the British Army, and the Netherlands. Rapidly gaining popularity, the club formed a second team by 1970 and achieved its first major triumph in 1972 by winning the Belgian Cup and defeating the Belgian National side. The addition of a third team in 1973 marked its growing reputation, with notable fixtures against prestigious clubs such as Coventry, Blackheath, Newbridge, and the Public-School Wanderers.
BBRFC's success continued with a second Belgian Cup win in 1974. By 1980, the club entered the Belgian League’s fifth division and achieved an extraordinary rise, gaining consecutive promotions and ultimately being crowned Belgian Premier Division champions in 1985. Along the way, the team embarked on memorable tours, including a seven-match unbeaten tour of the USA in 1978 and further excursions to Spain, Czechoslovakia, Canada, and Majorca. The club’s third Belgian Cup victory followed in 1982, solidifying its status as a powerhouse in Belgian rugby.
International Charity Matches and Community Impact
The 1980s and 1990s saw BBRFC contributing significantly to charitable causes through international matches. Between 1986 and 1991, the club organized high-profile charity games featuring stars from the Five Nations of the 1970s and 1980s playing against a Belgian Select side. These events raised over 2.5 million Belgian Francs for various charities, including a 1991 match supporting the family of former captain Leslie Joyce following his untimely death.
A Diverse and Inclusive Team
BBRFC quickly became a hub for international rugby talent. Players hailed from Great Britain, Ireland, and beyond, including all three sons of the Western Samoa ambassador, with the eldest, Vince Fepulea’i, (Vincent Fepulea'i - Wikipedia) representing Western Samoa against Wales in 1988. By the 1990s, the first XV boasted players from 11 different countries, and by 2003, membership had grown to include individuals from 22 nations, including regions without strong rugby traditions. Notable alumni include Freddy Thielemans, who later became Mayor of Brussels in 1994. In 2008, Mathew Hocken, a BBRFC player, represented Belgium against Barbarians FC and was later honoured with the opportunity to play for the Barbarians FC himself. Mathew William Hocken - Barbarians
Evolution of the Club
The club officially rebranded from Brussels British RFC to Brussels Barbarians RFC in 2000. Notably, in 1995, BBRFC established a Ladies Section, becoming one of Belgium’s first clubs to include women’s rugby, a pioneering step for the sport in the country.
The club embarked on numerous international tours, enhancing its global presence. Destinations included Philadelphia, Boston, and New York in 1978, Calgary and Vancouver in 1982, Colorado in 1985, Barcelona in 1989 and 1999, Prague in 1992 and 2000, Tallinn in 2002, and more exotic locales like Athens, Sofia, and Madrid in later years.
Changing Grounds and the Path to the Merger
BBRFC's early playing venues were varied. The club initially played at the Quai des Usines in Schaerbeek, then moved to British Army facilities in Grobbendonk. Subsequent relocations included pitches at the International School in Bierges, the army field in Leefdaal, and eventually the British School in Tervuren. At one point, the club even leased land in Wolvertem to establish two dedicated pitches.
Despite these moves, BBRFC eventually returned to the British School of Brussels in Tervuren, where it played until 2014. That year, the club merged with Brussels Celtic RFC to form BBRFC Celtic, uniting two of Brussels’ most prominent rugby clubs under one banner and relocating to the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
Legacy and Impact
BBRFC’s legacy remains etched in Belgian rugby history. The club achieved early prominence by winning the Belgian Premier Division in its first season (1984–1985) in the division, three Belgian Cups (1972, 1974, 1982) and organizing numerous tours and international matches. Today, as part of BBRFC Celtic, the club continues to thrive, supporting men’s, women’s, and junior rugby, and fostering a vibrant, inclusive rugby community in Brussels.
From humble beginnings to international acclaim, the story of BBRFC is one of resilience, innovation, and a deep love for the game.
