Good Neighbours Helping Rugby Grow
Hartlepool Rugby Club has been going from strength to strength over the past seven years, growing from one children’s team to 12 covering all age groups.
They have achieved this by welcoming everyone, making rugby free for all youngsters, creating coaching links with local schools to grow and nurture talent, with 11 of their U16s playing for the county. This is making it a young and vibrant club.
Their 1893 Legacy Project, launched in 2018 to mark their 125th anniversary, aims to "build on solid foundations to deliver a sustainable future" through building capacity at Mayfield Park by improving the environment, rugby facilities, and investing in people.
A big benefit for Hartlepool has also been their close relationship with higher-placed Billingham RUFC, who like all good big brothers have been helping Hartlepool to grow and thrive.
When both clubs were short of U15s to play competitive rugby, they agreed to combine to grow the age group and nurture new players. When Billingham acquired their new AGP, they welcomed Hartlepool Academy players to train there at a reduced rate.
That resulted in parents reporting back that Billingham had a Duralock PVC fencing system in storage as their AGP had come with appropriate fencing. Billingham then agreed to make an offer of their surplus fencing and Hartlepool and volunteers from both clubs shifted the fencing to be installed at its new home.
Said Hartlepool’s Mini & Junior Rugby Chairman Stewart Hind: "Billingham is a really decent club and we can’t thank them enough for their help and support with this. Some of our fantastic volunteers and theirs helped to collect the fencing and unload it back at Mayfield Park. We plan to install it along the bottom short side of the main pitch and follow this by installing the remaining fencing down both sides of the bottom pitch. Early next year additional fencing will complete the remaining three sides and fully enclose the main pitch.
“As well as improving the look of Mayfield Park aesthetically and giving it a bit of a facelift, this development will bring about further sponsorship opportunities for the club, help us to fully comply with RFU regulations and improve the spectator experience."
Stewart Evans, Director of Rugby and in charge of facilities at Billingham said: “We were very fortunate to get our AGP and were glad that Hartlepool could also benefit as they are only 20 minutes away and having more young players at both clubs brings more playing opportunities. We are part of a local community of clubs and passed on our floodlights to another club when the AGP was created.
“Hartlepool have been working hard to get youngsters into the game and I can see them doing very well when this pandemic is over. As a club we try to do the right thing and to do what’s right for the game and our community. I just called in a favour from one of our lads to bring a van over and deliver a load of food to the local foodbank before lockdown.”
Before lockdown Hartlepool Rugby Club were strictly following the Covid-19 guidelines and will be looking to keep members and young players engaged over the next few weeks. During the first lockdown, youngsters were provided with mini balls and were filmed attempting skills and drills. They clapped for carers and, to keep a wide range of members involved, created a video featuring the Friends theme, really pertinent as they sang along to “So no one told you life was gonna be this waaaay..”
The club is determined to keep growing and the past expansion has been very much helped by continuing backing from club partners, Smith & Graham solicitors.
