Carlisle Colts first appeared in the late 1970's as a response to the decline of rugby in schools and the need for the Club to produce its own talent. The driving force behind this development was Cyril Hankey. By the early 1980's the side had established a formidable reputation across the North of England. Highlight of these early years was the 1983 side, many of whom were part of the Cumbria County team that won the Colts County Championship beating Devon in the final at Carlisle in front of a partisan home crowd. Of that team John Orr went on to captain England in that seasons Colts International Championship.

The Colts became part of the fabric of the Club. Dave Rawlings took over the running of the side in the mid 1980s, assisted and followed by Ray Singleton, Keith Hall, and Tim Bradbury. A strong fixture list became firmly established and the Colts became the major supplier of players for the Club’s senior sides. Mark Bradley, Colin Jackson, Paul Singleton, Martin Plummer, Simon Little, Lee Wall, and Ally Bell were among the names that played for the Colts.

The success the team had, was not really reflected in the silverware return. There were numerous County Cup Final appearances at U17 and U19 level, but we always seemed to be runners-up! The success of the side was seen in the success of more senior Club sides in the late 1980's and early 1990's: two league titles for the 1st XV, two Shield triumphs for the 2nd XV, and the U21 County Cup success of 1988.

By the mid 1990,s, however, the team was not playing as regularly and by the late 1990,s the side had disappeared from the Club fixture list. Mini and Junior rugby was beginning to take off, but the Club just couldn’t seem to get a regular Colts side going. Part of this was due to the increase in higher education uptake and that many of Carlisle’s school leavers were moving away from the area to go to University. Colts had been run largely for the U19s age group and it became difficult to find enough players.

It was Phil Healy who along with Sandy Butler took up the challenge of re-establishing the Colts team. In 2001-02 their was enough of a player base, largely because of the Junior sections activities to justify the re-introduction of a full fixture programme but at U18 level rather than the U19s of previous seasons. That first year was a struggle, but with the addition of Dave Cowgill to the coaching team as Head Coach in 2002-03 and a strong squad of players coming through the programme really began to take off. Success soon followed and the side won through to the inaugural Northern U18 Championship Final where unfortunately we lost; that experience was repeated in 2003-04. At U17 level we recorded our first successes with a County Cup win in 2002-03 and the trophy retained in 2003-04.

Phil Healy was now joined by Steve Alecock as the coaching team, and in 2005-6 we again reached the Northern U18 Championship final and shared the trophy following a thrilling 27-27 tie with Percy Park; our equalizing score coming with the last kick of the game! We were now getting some success at national level too in the National Colts Cup. In 2005 we reached the quarter finals but were beaten at Beverley. In 2006 we again reached the quarter finals, but this time went down at Northampton. On the local front we continued to be one of the top teams although silverware was still proving elusive. But in 2008 the County Colts Cup was finally won to bring this impressive trophy back to Carlisle for the first time.

For the 2009-10 season Mike Howe and Paul Minnet took over the coaching responsibilities and the team continued to be regarded as one of the best in the North of England. In 2010 the County Colts cup was again won, and in 2012 the team beat Preston Grasshoppers 16-15 to win the Cock-o-the-North Bowl.

At the start of the 2012-13 season two former Colts took over the coaching responsibilities. Dave Stout and Mel Cooper were members on the early teams. Dave brings his experiences of playing and coaching at high level in the Midlands whilst Mel had a outstanding 1st XV playing career here at Carlisle. They have overseen operations over the past two seasons and masterminded the run to the semi-finals of the National Colts Cup for the first time. This years class are still involved in County Cups at U 17 and U 18s and are unbeaten in the Northern Sunday league.

Ultimately however, the success of the Colts is measured by the quality of players coming through to senior rugby, and there have been some high quality players of late. Joe Graham, Matthew Charters, Grant & Max Connon, Matthew Shields, Chris Harris, George & Gary Graham, and Nathan Morris are a few who having played Colts and 1st XV rugby have gone on to the professional or semi-professional game. Many of the current 1st XV are Colts products, including current captain Bobby Sherlock, Tom Graham, Dan & Josh Holmes, Alex Neal, James Rocke, Tim Hughes, Andy Glendinning, and Mark Barron; 1st XV assistant coach Colin Jackson is also a former Colt. Many former Colts also dominate our Crusader and Hornets sides. Others have continued in the game but at other clubs, but remembered all the same.

Current club chairman (and former 1st XV captain) Martin Plummer came to the club through the Colts. Our Director of Rugby Ben Blain is a recent product of our junior rugby and Colts development. Colts rugby is the lifeblood of the club; long may its success continue.

Thanks to the Sponsors of the Semi Final- P.K.Engineering, Premier Electrical, Harrison Holdings, Simtor, Neil Wainwright, Costa Coffee, Connexions, Dodd & Co, Whitecroft Lighting and Coulthard & Co.

A page with all the weeks news about the Colts will be compiled when all the information comes in.