# Hartpury University 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.
The club is based at Hartpury University in Gloucestershire, England, and is made up primarily of the university's students and staff. 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. 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

2024–25 RFU Championship table :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ealing Trailfinders | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 632 | 242 | +390 | 11 | 1 | 56 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Bedford Blues | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 332 | 265 | +67 | 7 | 0 | 43 | |
| 3 | Coventry | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 324 | 280 | +44 | 6 | 1 | 39 | |
| 4 | Nottingham | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 340 | 235 | +105 | 6 | 3 | 37 | |
| 5 | Hartpury University | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 344 | 316 | +28 | 7 | 2 | 37 | |
| 6 | Cornish Pirates | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 283 | 309 | −26 | 5 | 3 | 32 | |
| 7 | London Scottish | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 289 | 317 | −28 | 5 | 3 | 28 | |
| 8 | Doncaster Knights | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 293 | 285 | +8 | 4 | 3 | 27 | |
| 9 | Ampthill | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 257 | 410 | −153 | 5 | 3 | 24 | |
| 10 | Chinnor | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 255 | 272 | −17 | 3 | 3 | 22 | |
| 11 | Caldy | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 232 | 350 | −118 | 4 | 2 | 18 | |
| 12 | Cambridge | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 215 | 515 | −300 | 4 | 0 | 16 | |
* Number of matches won
* 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 2023–24 season is:
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
### International

* Louis Rees-Zammit (Kansas City Chiefs)
* Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby)