Academy overview

Hartpury Rugby Academy is comprised of three elements, the RFC league side, the BUCS universities 1^st XV and the U18 1^st XV. All these teams are supported by a full time staff of coaches, conditioners and medical practitioners. The standard of the players who represent these teams is exceptionally high and competition is fierce. Many of the players who represent these sides will go on to receive international honours and play club rugby at the highest level.

Hartpury RFC was founded in 2004 with a team comprised of university students and a few college staff. The university 1^st XV has won the British Universities championship on three occasions and the U18 1^st XV have been national champions for the past two years. They were also the recipients of the prestigious Rugby World Team of the Year award in 2011.

The RFC has enjoyed unprecedented success during the past 10 years, earning a number of consecutive promotions through the national league system, as well as retaining its position as one of the best performing university rugby centres in the country. In more recent times, the achievements of the U18 team in winning the RFU AASE League two years running has started to match the successes of their senior counterparts. The RFC now plays in National Division 2 South meaning that the club now ranks amongst the top 72 clubs in the country.

Many current and ex-Hartpury have gained international honours in recent years. A full list of these students can be viewed on our honours page. Our ‘Where are they now?’ page also shows our ex-students who have gone on to play in the English Premiership and Pro 12 League.

The foundations of this success is due in no small measure to the work of previous Directors of Rugby at Hartpury, many of whom have moved on to work at the elite end of the game, including Sean Holley (Ospreys Head Coach), Andrew Stanley (Worcester Academy Manager) and Geraint John (Canada High Performance Director).

It is important to recognise that we are a college and university with an outstanding rugby element. It is also important for everyone to understand that Hartpury Rugby is there to develop student players, whilst still being able to follow a rigorous academic programme. There is, however, no doubt that the few staff members who supplement Hartpury College RFC play a significant part in developing those players and our students are very fortunate to be able to benefit from their vast experience of the game.