Hartpury University R.F.C.

Hartpury University RFC is an English rugby union club. The men's first team play in the second tier of the English rugby union league system, Champ Rugby, having won promotion from National League 1 at the end of the 2016–17 season.

Hartpury University

Full name	Hartpury University Rugby Football Club
Union	Gloucestershire RFU
Founded	2004; 21 years ago (2004)
Location	Hartpury, Gloucestershire, England
Ground(s)	Hartpury Stadium[1] (Capacity: 2,000)
CEO	Daniel Bingham
Coach(es)	Mark Cornwell
Captain(s)	Will Crane
League(s)	Champ Rugby
2024–25	6th
Team kit
Official website
www.hartpury.ac.uk/rugby/

The club is based at Hartpury University in Gloucestershire, England, and is made up primarily of the university's students and staff.^[2] Hartpury University shares a close relationship with Premiership Rugby side Gloucester, which uses Hartpury's facilities as their permanent training base and provides a small number of academy players, all of whom are current or recently departed students, to supplement the Hartpury University team. Several Hartpury University players have gone on to play for Gloucester and other professional teams.^[3] They also jointly run Gloucester–Hartpury, who play in Premiership Women's Rugby, with Gloucester Rugby.

History

Hartpury College Rugby Academy was formed in September 2000 in partnership with Gloucester Rugby, consisting of a university side that competed in the BUCS league system and under-18 teams. In 2004, the college's vision of a Saturday side came to fruition and became known as Hartpury College RFC.

Women's rugby: Hartpury v Royal Navy match, May 2017

Starting in the eleventh tier of the league pyramid, Hartpury lost its first–ever match in the Gloucester Three North league. That was the last time that the club lost a league match until 2009, when they lost to Thornbury after four consecutive promotions, an EDF Junior Vase and an EDF Senior Vase. That setback did not prevent Hartpury from gaining further promotions to National League 1. During this time the team both the Level Six Champions Cup and EDF Intermediate Cup at Twickenham.^{[citation needed]} In the 2016–17 season, their third at Level 3, Hartpury created history in winning National League 1 with a 100% record — winning all thirty of their fixtures and only twice failing to secure a four-try bonus point.

As a result, the club now plays in the Greene King IPA Championship. The first season saw them finish in 10th place, but comfortably clear of relegation. This finish continued Hartpury's remarkable record of having improved their final league position in every single year of their existence.

Honours

• RFU Gloucester Three North champions: 2004–05
• RFU Gloucester Two champions: 2005–06
• RFU Gloucester One champions: 2006–07
• EDF Junior Vase winners: 2006–07
• RFU Gloucester Premier champions: 2007–08
• EDF Senior Vase winners: 2007–08
• Tribute Western Counties North champions: 2008–09
• EDF Intermediate Cup winners: 2008–09
• Tribute South West Division 1 West champions: 2009–10
• RFU Level Six Champions Cup winners: 2009–10
• National Division Three South West champions: 2010–11
• National Division Two South champions: 2013–14
• National League 1 champions: 2016–17

Current standings

2025–26 Champ Rugby table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Ampthill	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off semi-finals
2	Bedford Blues	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Caldy	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off quarter-finals
4	Cambridge	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Chinnor	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Cornish Pirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Coventry	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Doncaster Knights	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Ealing Trailfinders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	Hartpury University	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	London Scottish	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Nottingham	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegation play-off
13	Richmond	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	Worcester Warriors	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegated

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. Number of matches won
2. Number of matches drawn
3. Difference between points for and against
4. Total number of points for
5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

Current squad

For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2024–25 RFU Championship transfers § Hartpury University.

The Hartpury University squad for the 2024–25 season is:^[4]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Will Crane Hooker England Ethan Hunt Hooker England Aristot Benz-Salomon Prop Spain Jono Benz-Salomon Prop Spain Harry Edwards Prop England James Gibbons Prop England Alex Gibson Prop England Cameron Cobbett Lock Scotland Jack Davies Lock Wales Dale Lemon Lock England Tom Cowan Back row England Josh Gray Back row England Ellis Hart Back row Wales Jarrard Hayler Back row England Sam Lewis Back row England Harry Short Back row England

Player Position Union Mike Austin Scrum-half England Kyle McGhie Scrum-half Scotland JJ Williams Scrum-half England Harry Bazalgette Fly-half England Nathan Chamberlain Fly-half Scotland Josiah Edwards-Giraud Centre England Jack Johnson Centre England Cam Scott Centre England Robbie Smith Centre England Bradley Denty Wing England Alex Forrester Wing England Ollie Holliday Wing England Alex Morgan Fullback Wales Mat Protheroe Fullback Wales

Notable former players

Gallagher Premiership Daffyd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs) Mat Gilbert (Bath Rugby) Dave Lewis (Harlequins) Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) Alex Cuthbert (Exeter Chiefs) Tom Savage (Gloucester Rugby) Jake Polledri (Gloucester Rugby) Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby) Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby) Dan Robson (Wasps RFC) Gareth Evans (Gloucester Rugby) Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby) Callum Braley (Gloucester Rugby) Richard Barrington (Saracens) Ed Shervington (Worcester Warriors) Ryan Mills (Worcester Warriors) Ben Vellacott (Gloucester Rugby) Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears) Callum Braley (Gloucester Rugby) Alex Wills (Sale Sharks) James Merriman (Bristol)

Guinness Pro12 Andries Pretorius (Cardiff Blues) Callum Black (Ulster Rugby) Dan Tuohy (Ulster Rugby) RFU Championship Tristan Roberts (Bristol Rugby) Matt Evans (Cornish Pirates) Alex Dancer (Cornish Pirates) Dean Brooker (Cornish Pirates) Jordi Pasqualin (London Scottish) Greg King (Moseley) Tom Calladine (Nottingham) Tom Harrison (Plymouth Albion) Paul Jarvis (Doncaster Knights)

International

• Louis Rees-Zammit (Kansas City Chiefs)
• Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby)