OUR STORY
Hartpury’s Rugby Programme began in September 2000 in partnership with local Aviva Premiership side Gloucester Rugby and, since then, has gone from strength to strength. Hartpury employs depth and experience in the coaching and leadership of the programme, producing excellent results year on year. Players also benefit from a dedicated team of non-coaching rugby staff, including professional fitness and conditioning support personnel and physiotherapists who oversee the outstanding fitness training and testing facilities and provide a wide range of strength and conditioning support.
The strong relationship between Hartpury University and College and Gloucester Rugby Club has also led to the development of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) scheme on behalf of the RFU. The College AASE mens team won the league every year since it’s inception in 2009, before finally missing out in 2016. The record was set straight in 2017-18 and 2018-19, however, as Hartpury clinched their eighth and ninth AASE titles in ten seasons. The 2017-18 and 18-19 season also saw the squad appear at the World Schools Festival in South Africa. You can see historic league tables and results here.
Hartpury has also been strong in university rugby over recent seasons. The BUCS (then BUSA) Championship was first won in 2007 and, since then, success has come regularly, culminating in victory in the inaugural BUCS Super Rugby competition in 2016-17. Hartpury then repeated their Twickenham victories in both 2018 and 2019, meaning that the institution has been university play-off champions in eight of the past 13 campaigns.
Hartpury University RFC, now a semi-professional side still featuring a large number of student players and alumni, has made impressive progress through the English rugby pyramid since entry, at the bottom level, in 2004. In the season 2013-14, the club advanced into National League 1, where performances were encouraging – 5th place in the debut season was followed up by reaching the runners-up spot in 2015-16.
The season 2016-17 saw Hartpury University RFC make history, not only being promoted as champions but also remaining unbeaten throughout the entire league season – a feat never before performed at this level.
Hartpury University RFC spent their debut season Greene King IPA Championship proving themselves to be more than worthy of participation at this level, with some notable scalps collected along with some very narrow defeats.
The 2018-19 season proved to be extremely challenging. A decent start was followed by a long win-less spell, from October through to February, which saw the Red & Blacks adrift at the foot of the table. However, a strong finish to the campaign, which saw the side win five of their final seven matches, was just enough to ensure Championship participation for a further year. 2019-20 was more promising, in terms of performances if not results, however the season did not conclude due to the arrival of Covid-19.
OUR SPORTING SUCCESS
| Season | Competition |
|---|---|
| 2018/19 | Under 18 AASE League Champions |
| BUCS Super Rugby Champions | |
| 2017/18 | Under 18 AASE League Champions |
| BUCS Super Rugby Champions | |
| 2016/17 | RFU National League 1 Champions |
| BUCS Super Rugby Champions | |
| 2015/16 | Under-18s AASE League Champions |
| Under-18s AASE Sevens | |
| 2014/15 | Under-18s AASE League Champions |
| BUCS Rugby Sevens Champions | |
| 2013/14 | Under-18s AASE League National Champions |
| 1st XV Bucs British Universities & Colleges Champions | |
| RFU National Leagues 2 South Champions | |
| 1st xv British Universities and Colleges TEAM OF THE YEAR | |
| 2012/13 | Under 18 AASE League National Champions. |
| 2011/12 | • 1st XV British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) Champions; |
| Under 18 AASE League National Champions. | |
| 2010/11 | RFU National League 3 South Champions |
| Under 18 AASE League National Champions | |
| 2009/10 | RFU Level Six Champions Cup winners |
| Tribute South West 1 West League Champions | |
| Under 18 AASE League National Champions | |
| 2008/09 | 1st XV British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) Champions for the third year in succession |
| EDF Intermediate Cup Champions | |
| Western Counties North League Winners | |
| BBC West Sports Team of the Year | |
| 2007/08 | 1st XV British Universities (BUSA) Champions for the second consecutive year |
| EDF Senior Vase Champions | |
| Gloucester Premier League Winners | |
| 2006/07 | 1st XV British Universities (BUSA) Champions |
| EDF Junior Vase Champions | |
| Gloucester 1 League Winners | |
| 2005/06 | BUSA Rugby Premier Men’s South A League Winners |
| Gloucester 2 League Winners | |
| 2004/05 | BUSA Rugby Premier Men’s South A League Winners |
| Gloucester 3 North League Winners | |