Post by Jamie Crawford on Sept 13, 2016 11:08:02 GMT
“Also joining Championship party for next (this) season are West-Londoners Richmond RFC who will by playing at the highest level since dropping to the ninth tier of English Rugby after entering administration almost 20-years-ago.
It was not a simple decision for Richmond to accept promotion and only after plenty of hesitation was the elevation accepted.
In a comment made by the Club in April Richmond stated. “After extensive consultation with members and players, and no little soul-searching, the club has decided that it will accept promotion to the second tier of English rugby, 17 years after its brief history as a professional club ended in administration, removal from the leagues and demotion to the ninth tier of the game.”
Richmond will remain a part-time amateur side next (this) season and claim no professional players will pull on the club’s jersey which will certainly make next season extremely challenging, competing against largely full time professional players in the Championship next season.
Not too much is known of the player movements for Richmond next season, however, they are sure to be bounded by having achieved against the odds and proudly wearing their underdog tag.” (RFU website)
“Richmond’s return to the big leagues heralded by being named Rugby Club of the Year 2015
Richmond FC was named Rugby Club of the Year at the National Rugby Awards at Twickenham Stadium last night, on the eve of the world’s second oldest open rugby club returning to the Championship as one of the country’s top 24 clubs…” (Richmond’s website)
Their opening game of the season saw Richmond lose at home to Jersey Reds 16-41 but it wasn’t plain sailing for Jersey at Richmond in the home side's first Championship game, they had to increase a one-point 10-9 lead after oranges. On reflection of the game Steve Hill, Richmond FC Director of Rugby said that the game was all about learning for Richmond; learning that they have the physicality and skillset required to play in the Championship but mistakes are punished more quickly, especially penalties. Next up was their baptism of fire when they faced ex-Premiership outfit London Irish and lost 36-12. Richmond scrum half Sam Stuart scored against the Reds after 61 minutes which full back Robert Kirby converted plus Kirby added three penalties before the try. Sean O’Hagan and flanker Jack Allcock scored tries against the Irish, one of which was converted by O’Hagan. O’Hagan is a fly-half or full-back, who has played professionally for Ulster and doesn’t appear on the Richmond website.
Richmond have learnt about ‘average’ Championship play against the Reds and then ex-Premiership quality of play against Irish but they will obviously still be still smarting from two defeats. Richmond will be looking to take a ‘significant scalp’ immediately to improve team morale and prove to other Championship teams that they are serious contenders to remain in English rugby’s send tier. The margin of defeat for Richmond placed Jersey top and Richmond bottom of the table after the first game. Their second defeat has kept them at the base and they will not want to get cemented there as other teams score league points and get more difficult to reach.
After only two games played three clubs remain unbeaten; London Irish, Jersey Reds and Leeds Carnegie. Four clubs have yet to record a win; Ealing Trailfinders, Bedford Blues, London Scottish and Richmond. Obviously this is no marker for future performance players as ‘settle in’ and gel with each other.
The Knights fell at the first hurdle in their first game of the season against the Irish exiles at their home, the Madejski Stadium in Reading. Success followed at Castle Park when the Knights beat local rivals the Titans 25-13. It was a game that crowned Latu Makaafi’s 100th appearance for the Knights. Lloyd Hayes sealed the win at the end against his old club. It’s now time to rise up from seventh (corrected, eighth) at the expense of Richmond’s defeat.
As Latu said on our website, ““Richmond have proved in the first two games that they can score points and can be dangerous so we need to look at what they are good at, where we can target them and listen to our coaches.”
Richmond might be the newcomers but they remain a bit of a mystery in terms of performance; beware of the unknown, untried and untested.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
It was not a simple decision for Richmond to accept promotion and only after plenty of hesitation was the elevation accepted.
In a comment made by the Club in April Richmond stated. “After extensive consultation with members and players, and no little soul-searching, the club has decided that it will accept promotion to the second tier of English rugby, 17 years after its brief history as a professional club ended in administration, removal from the leagues and demotion to the ninth tier of the game.”
Richmond will remain a part-time amateur side next (this) season and claim no professional players will pull on the club’s jersey which will certainly make next season extremely challenging, competing against largely full time professional players in the Championship next season.
Not too much is known of the player movements for Richmond next season, however, they are sure to be bounded by having achieved against the odds and proudly wearing their underdog tag.” (RFU website)
“Richmond’s return to the big leagues heralded by being named Rugby Club of the Year 2015
Richmond FC was named Rugby Club of the Year at the National Rugby Awards at Twickenham Stadium last night, on the eve of the world’s second oldest open rugby club returning to the Championship as one of the country’s top 24 clubs…” (Richmond’s website)
Their opening game of the season saw Richmond lose at home to Jersey Reds 16-41 but it wasn’t plain sailing for Jersey at Richmond in the home side's first Championship game, they had to increase a one-point 10-9 lead after oranges. On reflection of the game Steve Hill, Richmond FC Director of Rugby said that the game was all about learning for Richmond; learning that they have the physicality and skillset required to play in the Championship but mistakes are punished more quickly, especially penalties. Next up was their baptism of fire when they faced ex-Premiership outfit London Irish and lost 36-12. Richmond scrum half Sam Stuart scored against the Reds after 61 minutes which full back Robert Kirby converted plus Kirby added three penalties before the try. Sean O’Hagan and flanker Jack Allcock scored tries against the Irish, one of which was converted by O’Hagan. O’Hagan is a fly-half or full-back, who has played professionally for Ulster and doesn’t appear on the Richmond website.
Richmond have learnt about ‘average’ Championship play against the Reds and then ex-Premiership quality of play against Irish but they will obviously still be still smarting from two defeats. Richmond will be looking to take a ‘significant scalp’ immediately to improve team morale and prove to other Championship teams that they are serious contenders to remain in English rugby’s send tier. The margin of defeat for Richmond placed Jersey top and Richmond bottom of the table after the first game. Their second defeat has kept them at the base and they will not want to get cemented there as other teams score league points and get more difficult to reach.
After only two games played three clubs remain unbeaten; London Irish, Jersey Reds and Leeds Carnegie. Four clubs have yet to record a win; Ealing Trailfinders, Bedford Blues, London Scottish and Richmond. Obviously this is no marker for future performance players as ‘settle in’ and gel with each other.
The Knights fell at the first hurdle in their first game of the season against the Irish exiles at their home, the Madejski Stadium in Reading. Success followed at Castle Park when the Knights beat local rivals the Titans 25-13. It was a game that crowned Latu Makaafi’s 100th appearance for the Knights. Lloyd Hayes sealed the win at the end against his old club. It’s now time to rise up from seventh (corrected, eighth) at the expense of Richmond’s defeat.
As Latu said on our website, ““Richmond have proved in the first two games that they can score points and can be dangerous so we need to look at what they are good at, where we can target them and listen to our coaches.”
Richmond might be the newcomers but they remain a bit of a mystery in terms of performance; beware of the unknown, untried and untested.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
