‘Going Forward’ was the name of our match programme when we moved to Lockwood Park in 1997. Twenty years on with the First XV re-established at Level 4 it is what we are in the business of there now….
HRUFC is proud to announce the appointment of centre Mark Pease as the new backs and attack coach. Mark is a talented, vastly experienced and highly respected player who will bring his knowledge of the game to bear for the furtherance of the team ambition.
Dickie Piper will be backing him up as the new First XV captain with young Lewis (The Butcher) Bradley as his vice. Dickie and Lewis have proved highly successful back row partners this season and both are very well thought of by team mates and supporters alike. The combination of youth and experience is sure to have positive impact on things ‘going forward’.
In the summer strength and conditioning coach Jason McGivern will be assisting Head Coach Gaz Lewis and Mark in preparing the team for the challenges of the 2018/19 season. His expertise as a highly successful personal trainer will literally help the lads hit the ground running in September.
Massive thanks go to the lads who are stepping down. Skipper Alex Battye and backs coach Phil Gostling have held the reins through some very memorable seasons and deserve huge credit for their individual roles in the team’s overall success.
Another stalwart who is moving into a back seat is Joel Hinchliffe. The popular scrum half is something of a ‘veteran’ in the team who has earned himself a fine reputation in the National Leagues over the years. Work commitments in his new post as Deputy Head at Newsome High and the impending arrival of a baby for him and wife Natalie means that he can’t commit to the full demands of First XV rugby next year. We wish him well and hope to see him at the club along with his new family when things re-commence.