Hartpury University R.F.C.

Hartpury University
Full nameHartpury University Rugby Football Club
UnionGloucestershire RFU
Founded2004; 22 years ago (2004)
LocationHartpury, Gloucestershire, England
GroundHartpury Stadium[1] (Capacity: 2,000)
CEODaniel Bingham
CoachMark Cornwell
CaptainWill Crane
LeagueChamp Rugby
2024–256th
Team kit
Official website
www.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] Hartpury University shares a close relationship with Premiership Rugby side Gloucester, which uses Hartpury's facilities as their permanent training base and provides 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.[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.

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

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.[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 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

Current standings

2025–26 Champ Rugby table
PosTeam
PldWDLPFPAPDTBLBPtsQualification
1Ealing Trailfinders131300580209+37112064Play-off
semi-finals
2Bedford Blues12912390285+10511150
3Worcester Warriors13805444318+12611447Play-off
quarter-finals
4Coventry13805497385+11211245
5Hartpury13814373338+357142
6Chinnor12804319265+545340
7Nottingham13616345317+2810440
8Caldy13607309351−428234
9Ampthill13607334497−1638234
10Cornish Pirates13517345343+28333
11Doncaster Knights13427328342−146329
12Richmond133010267356−892418Relegation play-off
13London Scottish133010252411−1594218
14Cambridge130013230596−366437Relegated
Updated to match(es) played on 3 January 2026. Source: England Rugby
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of matches drawn
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. 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]

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

PlayerPositionUnion
Will CraneHookerEngland England
Ethan HuntHookerEngland England
Casey WilliamsHookerWales Wales
Harrison BellamyPropEngland England
Jono Benz-SalomonPropSpain Spain
Alex GibsonPropEngland England
Oliver MinnisPropEngland England
Louis TrevittPropEngland England
Cameron CobbettLockScotland Scotland
Jack DaviesLockWales Wales
Dale LemonLockEngland England
Peter ParamoreLockEngland England
Freddie StevensLockEngland England
Josh GrayBack rowEngland England
Ellis HartBack rowWales Wales
Jarrard HaylerBack rowEngland England
Harry ShortBack rowEngland England
Tom WortsBack rowEngland England
PlayerPositionUnion
Cai GealyScrum-halfEngland England
Oscar LennonScrum-halfScotland Scotland
Rhys PriceScrum-halfEngland England
Harry BazalgetteFly-halfEngland England
Ollie AllsoppCentreEngland England
Max KnightCentreEngland England
Robbie SmithCentreEngland England
Bradley DentyWingEngland England
Alex ForresterWingEngland England
Ollie HollidayWingEngland England
Alex MorganFullbackWales Wales

Notable former players

International

References

  1. ^ "Hartpury Stadium renamed as Vodafone and 4Ed Foundation partnership unveiled". Hartpury University & College. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  2. ^ Team Homepage. Pitchero.com. Accessed 24 March 2012.
  3. ^ Hartpury College RFC Archived 11 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Schoolsrugby.co.uk. Accessed 24 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Team". Hartpury RFC. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
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