Hartpury Rugby Club enters the new Elior Champ Rugby season determined to improve on last year’s play-off performance. Despite operating with one of the smaller budgets in the division, Hartpury secured a sixth-place finish last term, earning a spot in the inaugural second-tier play-offs. Their campaign ended with a narrow 28-25 defeat to Coventry, but the club remains optimistic about building on that achievement.
A key element of Hartpury’s success has been the strong squad culture that has enabled the team to compete fiercely throughout the demanding season, balancing commitments as a semi-professional side. Team captain Will Crane emphasises the absence of any “tall poppy syndrome” within the group, highlighting the collective mindset that values teamwork over individual acclaim.
Crane explained, “No one is bigger than the team. No matter what you do or where you’ve been, you’re at Hartpury, and we’re all waking up at 6:30 in the morning, training at 7am. It humbles you in a way. Everyone buys into it, and it keeps everyone accountable, and then that transfers on and off the pitch which is good.”
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Last season, Crane gained valuable experience on loan at Premiership side Gloucester during their injury crisis at hooker. The 32-year-old adapted well to the higher level and has brought back insights that he hopes will benefit Hartpury in the upcoming season.
“It was nice to represent Hartpury, myself and the league at that level. It was a really enjoyable experience. Learning how those top-flight professionals train, and then off the pitch, their recovery, some stuff that I have brought back to Hartpury,” Crane said. “Obviously we can’t do everything, but the little bits that I did learn, I fed it into the lads, so we’ll see if it proves dividends in the season.”
Hartpury’s close partnership with Gloucester continues to provide a pathway for young talent. Many Gloucester Academy players spend time at Hartpury to gain experience competing against seasoned players, with last season seeing notable contributions from prospects such as 19-year-old Will Knight, who also made his Premiership debut.
Back row Jack Davies highlighted the potential of several young players poised to make an impact this season. “One that’s probably earned an opportunity with Gloucester on the back of us, of how well he played for us last year, No. 8 Tom Watts. He’s been in training with Gloucester throughout pre-season, and I think he’s got the opportunity to go really well this year, big ball-carrying No. 8,” Davies said.
“Another one is loosehead Harrison Bellamy. He’s on Gloucester’s books, but will probably spend a lot of his time with us. He made a real big progression in his career last year with regular game time, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how he goes as well.”
While other clubs, such as Ealing Trailfinders, boast squads exceeding 60 players, Hartpury operates with a smaller group. However, Davies sees this as an advantage, fostering a close-knit environment driven by passion rather than financial incentives.
“It’s well documented that we don’t have the financial luxuries that the other teams have, but I think that’s almost one of our super strengths. You get a lot of boys playing because they love the club, because they love the game of rugby. It’s not a financial decision as such,” he explained. “It’s about the environment, the group and having the ability to work alongside it as well. So I think that really fosters a tight-knit culture, and that got us over the line in quite a few games last year.”
The Elior Champ Rugby remains a mix of professional and semi-professional players, serving as a valuable proving ground for future stars of the sport. Fans can watch every game live on Clubber TV and enjoy free-to-air coverage on BLAZE on Sunday afternoons.