Hartpury University R.F.C.
| Full name | Hartpury University Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Gloucestershire RFU | |
| Founded | 2004 | |
| Location | Hartpury, Gloucestershire, England | |
| Ground | Hartpury Stadium[1] (Capacity: 2,000) | |
| CEO | Daniel Bingham | |
| Coach | Mark Cornwell | |
| Captain | Will Crane | |
| League | Champ Rugby | |
| 2024-25 | 6th | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| hartpury.ac.uk/rugby | ||
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, Champ Rugby, 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 university's students and staff.[2] Several Hartpury University players have gone on to play for Gloucester and other professional teams.[3] They also jointly run Gloucester-Hartpury, who play in Premiership Women's Rugby, with Gloucester Rugby.
History
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.
Starting in the eleventh tier of the league pyramid, Hartpury lost its first–ever match in the Gloucester Three North league. That was 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. 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 plays in the Greene King IPA Championship. The first season saw them finish in 10th place, but comfortably clear of relegation. This finish continued Hartpury's remarkable record of having improved their final league position in every single year of their existence.
Honours
- 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
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ealing Trailfinders | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 899 | 322 | +577 | 18 | 0 | 98 | Play-off semi-finals |
| 2 | Worcester Warriors | 20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 737 | 458 | +279 | 16 | 5 | 73 | |
| 3 | Bedford Blues | 20 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 592 | 483 | +109 | 15 | 3 | 72 | Play-off quarter-finals |
| 4 | Coventry | 20 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 739 | 578 | +161 | 17 | 5 | 70 | |
| 5 | Cornish Pirates | 20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 618 | 490 | +128 | 13 | 3 | 62 | |
| 6 | Chinnor | 20 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 519 | 481 | +38 | 7 | 5 | 60 | |
| 7 | Hartpury | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 536 | 516 | +20 | 10 | 2 | 60 | |
| 8 | Nottingham | 20 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 475 | 418 | +57 | 11 | 7 | 60 | |
| 9 | Doncaster Knights | 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 521 | 495 | +26 | 10 | 4 | 48 | |
| 10 | Caldy | 20 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 477 | 587 | −110 | 11 | 3 | 46 | |
| 11 | Ampthill | 20 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 494 | 765 | −271 | 12 | 4 | 44 | |
| 12 | Richmond | 20 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 401 | 591 | −190 | 4 | 4 | 34 | Relegation play-off |
| 13 | London Scottish | 20 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 379 | 704 | −325 | 7 | 2 | 29 | |
| 14 | Cambridge | 20 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 346 | 845 | −499 | 6 | 4 | 12 | Relegated |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Number of matches drawn
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Current squad
The Hartpury University squad for the 2025–26 season is:[4][5][a][b]
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
Notable former players
Gallagher Premiership
|
Guinness Pro12
RFU Championship
|
International
- Alex Cuthbert (Exeter Chiefs, Wales & British & Irish Lions)
- Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, England & British & Irish Lions)
- Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs & Wales)
- Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby & England)
- Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby & Italy)
- Dan Norton (England 7s)
- Jake Polledri (Gloucester Rugby & Italy)
- Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears, Wales & British & Irish Lions)
- Dan Robson (Wasps RFC & England)
- Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby & England)
- Dan Tuohy (Ulster Rugby & Ireland)
References
- ^ "Hartpury Stadium renamed as Vodafone and 4Ed Foundation partnership unveiled". Hartpury University & College. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ Team Homepage. Pitchero.com. Accessed 24 March 2012.
- ^ Hartpury College RFC Archived 11 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Schoolsrugby.co.uk. Accessed 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Hartpury University RFC". www.hartpury.ac.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "Hartpury RFC squad for season 2025/2026". all.rugby. Retrieved 15 January 2026.