Hull RUFC Preview

Jamie Crawford
Director of Rugby

Posts: 1,859

Hull RUFC Preview Aug 8, 2015 12:03:46 GMT

Quote

Post by Jamie Crawford on Aug 8, 2015 12:03:46 GMT

I’ll post this early to whet your appetite before the start of the rugby (pre)season.

Hull RUFC is a rugby union club based in Hull in East Yorkshire and currently plays in National Division 3 North, following relegation last season. Hull are expected to bounce back to National 2 North at the first time of asking and then who knows, they have high aspirations. They are currently based at Hull YPI having relocated there for the 2009–2010 season.
Gary Pierce (ex Welsh Fly-Half) is their Director of rugby and Martin Webdale (Director of Sport at Hill House school) is their head coach.

The club was formed in 1992 as a result of two clubs - Old Hymerians RUFC and Hull & East Riding RUFC (1989). The club has progressed up the rugby union pyramid, beginning life in the old North East 2, and won promotion to National League 2 North in 2009. (Wikipedia 24/06/15)

At the end of last season Hull Ionians and Ampthill were promoted to National 1 with Birmingham Solihull, Hull RUFC and Stockport being relegated.

Hull RUFC have done much restructuring and signed some players to enable them to bounce back to National 2 North. They have signed Ex Knight and ex-Titan scrum half Will Robinson, two younger Doncaster players (who?), a hooker and a centre from promotion-winning Hull Ionians, an ex-RAF player and a fly half from super 14's in South Africa. The Knights could face more than they bargained for.

Playing a Championship team like the Knights will test their mettle before their new season and it will be a test for the new-look Knights in their first pre-season game. The Knights and Hull worked together closely last season and so the game should benefit both teams; a stern test for Hull and an easier (but not easy) test for the Knights. The Knights are going to combine the fixture with their pre-season training weekend. Of course Hull will be looking to take a Championship scalp even though it’s pre-season.

Next up sees Sedgley Park return to Castle Park. The Tigers finished the 2014/15 National 2 North campaign in third and will be one of the favourites to reach promotion to National One in this new season. On paper a more difficult test to ease the Knights into their playing style. Commenting on the fixture Clive said. “Sedgley are very ambitious to get into National One next season and will arrive at Castle Park wanting to prove their credentials.”

August 29th sees old foe Blaydon RFC travel to Castle Park. The Knights suffered a second defeat of the season at Blaydon’s Hexham Road home in the promotion winning 2013/14 season and will hope to take a pre-season scalp when they visit South Yorkshire in late August. Bladon ended last season in mid-place in National League 1, so again on paper a tougher test than the Tigers. We compete against a team in in National 3 North then National 2 North then National 1. The Knights would like to start the Championship with a full team of uninjured players, with set pieces, drills and defence well-practised.

As Clive has said, it’s difficult to get games at Castle Park pre-season but we’ve got two out of three.

There are arguments both for and against opposition in the Premiership v opposition in leagues below us regarding greater risk of injury v enough of a challenge etc, etc.
I think that these pre-season games are great being mainly home games and theoretically increasing the challenge by a step in league position in each game. There’s not much that can be worse than starting a season with injured players and we are in a better position than we were last season with virtually all players training together for all of pre-season.

Ex-Championship scrum half Will Robinson will return to playing rugby after his ban for Hull against his old teammates (if there are any left in the team). Will is going to play for Hull in a semi-professional capacity whist still owning and running Bawtry gym plus maintaining his horse riding career.
Will has not let his muscles turn to fat in recent years, Will offers personal training at his gym and has ridden for England at Mounted Games and in fact Will was one of five in the European and World Championship winning Team in 2011. Will is definitely a very fit and agile young man as you must be to compete in Mounted Games, see the Official Promo video for Mounted Games!: Mounted Games promo video (14:11 mins)
Or the Wikipedia description: Description

Last Edit: Aug 9, 2015 9:45:43 GMT by Jamie Crawford

thomasmachin Player Posts: 336	Hull RUFC Preview Aug 10, 2015 7:57:23 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by thomasmachin on Aug 10, 2015 7:57:23 GMT Just got back from holiday yesterday. Did anything happen at Hull on Saturday or am I a week early ?

oldeknight Player Posts: 281	Hull RUFC Preview Aug 10, 2015 9:12:52 GMT Mundiz and John Bale like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by oldeknight on Aug 10, 2015 9:12:52 GMT You can watch it live next week Mach. must be your age, I'll keep an eye on you so you dont wander off. see you on the coach

Jamie Crawford
Director of Rugby

Posts: 1,859

Hull RUFC Preview Aug 13, 2015 16:50:53 GMT

Quote

Post by Jamie Crawford on Aug 13, 2015 16:50:53 GMT

Apparently ex-Knight scrum half Will Robinson will be playing on the wing for Hull this Saturday plus the ref pulled SLady Gardenhorpe (alters Scunny to this!) up often for feeding in the scrum in Hull’s pre-season game against them! Potentially the ref’s are going to penalise feeding but we’ll see how long that lasts!

Last Edit: Aug 13, 2015 16:52:38 GMT by Jamie Crawford

Jamie Crawford
Director of Rugby

Posts: 1,859

Hull RUFC Preview Aug 17, 2015 8:00:27 GMT

Quote

Post by Jamie Crawford on Aug 17, 2015 8:00:27 GMT

Obviously the boys didn’t get more than they bargained for and although the score is irrelevant in a pre-season game against weaker opposition, it’s still nice to score a few tries and to nil them. Hull could have scored on a few occasions but our resolute defence couldn’t be breached. We looked the more physically impressive team even before the game started. Overall a job well done with great defence and try-scoring moves executed well. Bring on the Welsh.

On Friday 14th the Welsh beat Esher 19 – 45 at Molesey road. OK Esher are in National 1 not National 3 North like Hull this season but still a less resounding victory. I’m more impressed with our win and any team could work a few moves to slip in a score but Hull didn’t manage to.

John Bale Director of Rugby Posts: 1,771	Hull RUFC Preview Aug 17, 2015 9:52:35 GMT via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by John Bale on Aug 17, 2015 9:52:35 GMT Encouraging start, the new boys look like good acquisitions, let's see what we do next week.

John Bale Director of Rugby Posts: 1,771	Hull RUFC Preview Aug 19, 2015 19:53:39 GMT via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by John Bale on Aug 19, 2015 19:53:39 GMT Quite a lot of discussion on the RM about this game and whether young Sprotson will go out on loan to hull.

billhunt Player Posts: 492	Hull RUFC Preview Aug 20, 2015 15:36:01 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by billhunt on Aug 20, 2015 15:36:01 GMT Sprotson cannot go on loan to Hull - they are three leagues lower than Knights and regulations permit only two I think.

johnlowe Global Moderator Posts: 1,495	Hull RUFC Preview Aug 20, 2015 16:30:23 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by johnlowe on Aug 20, 2015 16:30:23 GMT Bill - I think you will find that the two league gap only applies to dual registered players although I could be wrong. If we lend a player to a club more than a certain number of leagues below us we have to pay £500 to resign him

martinc Director of Rugby Posts: 1,738	Hull RUFC Preview Aug 21, 2015 7:02:23 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by martinc on Aug 21, 2015 7:02:23 GMT That seems a bit to far down the leagues to send a player, especially as said player had a very successful season at Nat 2 last season.........I would love to hear the logic behind that decision, but I realise that is unlikely to happen.

johnlowe
Global Moderator

Posts: 1,495

Hull RUFC Preview Aug 21, 2015 7:14:59 GMT

Quote

Post by johnlowe on Aug 21, 2015 7:14:59 GMT

Martin

I don't necessarily believe everything you read on RM. However, whether true or not, I don't think we should discuss potential player movements such as this until they become fact: these rumours can be very unsettling for the player and that is the last thing we want. If it does happen I am sure Griff will explain why.

John

Ps. Roll on tomorrow!

Last Edit: Aug 21, 2015 7:19:30 GMT by johnlowe

John Bale Director of Rugby Posts: 1,771	Hull RUFC Preview Aug 21, 2015 8:24:18 GMT via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by John Bale on Aug 21, 2015 8:24:18 GMT From my understanding the logic behind sending a player like Sprotson or any other is game time.

thomasmachin: It would appear that if we are to replace the departing players we had better be quick or all the available players will be signed by Ealing ,Coventry and Cornish Pirates! Apr 20, 2018 8:14:16 GMT

donnyknightsfan: that was absolutely dire today almost from start to finish apart from a spell in the 2nd half when we looked OK. players don't look motivated enough to me. they need a kick up the backside. the next two games v Bedford and Irish look a tough ask now. Oct 6, 2018 21:04:32 GMT

rodders: A bit random this one but are any Knights fans travelling to the Jersey game on Friday 1st March flying from East Midlands on the 10.55 flight out. 2 of us are looking for a lift to East Midlands airport unexpectedly. Happy to share costs of travel Feb 17, 2019 19:52:21 GMT