Hartpury University R.F.C.

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Hartpury University

Full name	Hartpury University Rugby Football Club
Union	Gloucestershire RFU
Founded	2004; 19 years ago (2004)
Location	Hartpury, Gloucestershire, England
Ground(s)	ALPAS Arena (Capacity: 2,000)
Coach(es)	Mark Cornwell
Captain(s)	Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier Will Crane
League(s)	RFU Championship
2022–23	7th
Team kit
Official website
hartpuryrfc.co.uk

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.

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.^{[citation needed]}

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]

• RFU Gloucester Three North champions: 2004–05
• RFU Gloucester Two champions: 2005–06
• RFU Gloucester One champions: 2006–07
• EDF Junior Vase winners: 2006–07
• RFU Gloucester Premier champions: 2007–08
• EDF Senior Vase winners: 2007–08
• Tribute Western Counties North champions: 2008–09
• EDF Intermediate Cup winners: 2008–09
• Tribute South West Division 1 West champions: 2009–10
• RFU Level Six Champions Cup winners: 2009–10
• National Division Three South West champions: 2010–11
• National Division Two South champions: 2013–14
• National League 1 champions: 2016–17

Current standings[edit]

Current squad[edit]

The Hartpury University squad for the 2022–23 season is:^[3]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Will Crane (cc) Hooker England Luke Stratford Hooker England Harry Fry Prop Wales Peter McCabe Prop Ireland Sam Rodman Prop England Mitch Walsh Prop England Jack Davies Lock England Dale Lemon Lock England Manasa Cakau Back row Fiji Iain Grieve Back row England Xavier Hastings Back row England Oli Robinson Back row England Harry Short Back row England Aled Ward Back row Wales

Player Position Union Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier (cc) Scrum-half Wales Oscar Lennon Scrum-half England Charlie Foley Fly-half England Tommy Mathews Fly-half England Luke Eves Centre England Robbie Smith Centre England Jack Tovey Centre England James Williams Centre England Ben Foley Wing England Sam Goatley Wing England Matthew McNab Wing Zimbabwe Alex Forrester Fullback England George Simpson Fullback England

Notable former players[edit]

James Merriman ( Bristol)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Hartpury University
• Championship Rugby