In 1887 The Esplanade Hotel opened, a grand hotel that would become the infamous home of the Barbarian rugby team for over 75 years. Every Easter the team stayed at "The Esp" for their Easter tour of Wales. The annual Good Friday game against the Barbarians was the highlight of the year for Penarth Rugby club. The first match took place in 1901, and over the next seventy-five encounters. Penarth won eleven games, drew four and lost sixty.