Wikipedia

Hartpury University R.F.C.

(Redirected from Hartpury College R.F.C.)

Hartpury University RFC is an English rugby union club. The men's first team play in the second tier of the English rugby union league system, the RFU Championship, having won promotion from National League 1 at the end of the 2016–17 season.

Hartpury University
Full nameHartpury University Rugby Football Club
UnionGloucestershire RFU
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
LocationHartpury, Gloucestershire, England
Ground(s)Hartpury University Stadium (Capacity: 2,000)
Coach(es)Mark Cornwell
Captain(s)Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier
Will Crane
League(s)RFU Championship
2022–237th
Team kit
Official website
www.hartpury.ac.uk/rugby/

The club is based at Hartpury University in Gloucestershire, England, and is made up primarily of the college's students and staff.[1] Hartpury University share a close relationship with Premiership Rugby side Gloucester, who use Hartpury's facilities as their permanent training base and provide a small number of academy players, all of whom are current or recently departed students, to supplement the Hartpury University team. Several Hartpury University players have gone on to play for Gloucester and other professional teams.[2] They also jointly run the Gloucester-Hartpury Women team in Women's Super Rugby.

History edit

Hartpury College Rugby Academy was formed in September 2000 in partnership with Gloucester Rugby, consisting of a University side that competed in the BUCS league system and under-18 teams. In 2004, The college's vision of a Saturday side came to fruition, and became known as Hartpury College RFC.

 
Women's rugby: Hartpury v Royal Navy match, May 2017

Starting in the eleventh tier of the league pyramid, Hartpury lost their first ever match in the Gloucester Three North league. That was to be the last time that the club lost a league match until 2009, when they lost to Thornbury after four consecutive promotions, an EDF Junior Vase and an EDF Senior Vase. That setback did not prevent Hartpury from gaining further promotions to National League 1. During this time the team both the level six Champions Cup and EDF Intermediate Cup at Twickenham.[citation needed] In the 2016–17 season, their third at Level 3, Hartpury created history in winning National League 1 with a 100% record — winning all thirty of their fixtures and only twice failing to secure a four-try bonus point.

As a result, the club now play in the Greene King IPA Championship. The first season saw them finish in 10th place, but comfortably clear of relegation. The finish continued Hartpury's remarkable record of having improved their final league position in every single year of their existence.

Honours edit

Current standings edit

2023–24 RFU Championship Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Losing bonus Points
1 Ealing Trailfinders 19 15 0 4 764 405 359 15 2 77 Champions
2 Coventry 20 14 0 6 698 428 270 15 2 73
3 Cornish Pirates 19 14 1 4 552 380 172 11 1 70
4 Bedford Blues 19 12 0 7 578 504 74 13 4 65
5 Doncaster Knights 19 11 1 7 495 486 9 9 2 57
6 Hartpury University 19 10 0 9 584 537 47 10 4 54
7 Ampthill 19 9 0 10 536 579 -43 13 2 51
8 Nottingham 19 7 0 12 459 607 -148 12 2 42
9 London Scottish 19 4 1 14 482 577 -95 9 7 34
10 Caldy 19 5 1 13 407 647 -240 8 1 31
11 Cambridge 19 2 0 17 354 759 -405 6 5 19
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background Champions (ineligible for Promotion play-off).
Updated: 11 May 2024
Source: "The Championship". England Rugby.

Current squad edit

For player movements before or during the 2023–24 season, see List of 2023–24 RFU Championship transfers § Hartpury University.

The Hartpury University squad for the 2023–24 season is:[3]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Will Crane Hooker   England
Will Goffey Hooker   England
Ethan Hunt Hooker   England
Rhys Davies Prop   Wales
Alex Gibson Prop   England
Brandon Jewell Prop   England
Joe Rees Prop   Wales
Joe Wrafter Prop   England
Cameron Cobbett Lock   Scotland
Jack Davies Lock   England
Dale Lemon Lock   England
Sam Lewis Lock   England
Harry Beddall Back row   Wales
Mitch Eadie Back row   Scotland
Josh Gray Back row   England
Ellis Hart Back row   Wales
Jarrad Hayler Back row   England
Harry Short Back row   England
Player Position Union
Mike Austin Scrum-half   England
Rhys Price Scrum-half   England
Owen Randall Scrum-half   England
Harry Bazalgette Fly-half   England
Nathan Chamberlain Fly-half   Scotland
Tommy Matthews Fly-half   England
Jack Johnson Centre   England
Robbie Smith Centre   England
Harry Tarling Centre   England
Brad Denty Wing   England
Sam Smith Wing   England
Matthew Ward Wing   England
Alex Morgan Fullback   Wales
Alex Forrester Fullback   England

Notable former players edit

James Merriman ( Bristol)

References edit

  1. ^ Team Homepage. Pitchero.com. Accessed 24 March 2012.
  2. ^ Hartpury College RFC. Schoolsrugby.co.uk. Accessed 24 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Team". Hartpury RFC. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hartpury College R.F.C..
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hartpury_University_R.F.C.&oldid=1223359352"