Halifax Vandals RUFC is an amateur rugby union club based in Warley Town, Halifax. They currently run two senior sides. The 1st XV plays in Counties 2 Yorkshire while the 2nd XV plays in the AWW/Central/North Merit League.[2][3][4]
 | |
| Full name | Halifax Vandals Rugby Union Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Yorkshire RFU |
| Nickname(s) | Vandals, Van |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Location | Warley Town, Halifax, England |
| Region | West Yorkshire |
| Ground(s) | Mount Doom[1] |
| Chairman | Neil Crossley |
| Coach(es) | James Wainright |
| Captain(s) | Danny Mitchell (1st XV) Ben Simms (2nd XV) |
| League(s) | Counties 2 Yorkshire (1st XV) AWW/Central/North Merit (2nd XV) |
| 2023–24 | 2nd (promoted) |
| Official website | |
| www | |
History
editFormation
editHalifax Vandals was formed in November 1923 when a group of college students met under a lamp post on Francis Street in Halifax to form a rugby club. The name "Vandal" is attributed to a warrior tribe who fought against the Roman Empire in 455 AD and came out victorious.[5]
Modern History
editIn the early days, their existence was somewhat nomadic, using the facilities in the village pub, The Maypole Inn, before acquiring the former school house opposite. With the formation of the national league system in 1987 Halifax Vandals was one of the original members of Yorkshire 5, being the first ever winners of the competition being promoted to Yorkshire 4.
In the 2003–04 season they were relegated back to Yorkshire 5 however was promoted back in Yorkshire 4 the following season. Once again in the 2007–08 season the Vandals were champions Yorkshire 5, this caused them to have the joint record for titles for the now defunct Yorkshire 5.
In 2015–16 they became champions of Yorkshire 4, and went onto go back to back becoming champions of Yorkshire 3. However they were relegated from Yorkshire 2 after only one season.
Rivalries
editThe Warley-based club have a long-standing rivalry with Old Rishworthians and more recently, with Halifax RUFC. With Halifax RUFC joining the Vandals in Counties 3 Yorkshire for the 2023–24 season now led by former player coach Jamie Bloem the rivalry between the two clubs grows even more.
Club honours
edit1st XV
edit- Yorkshire Silver Trophy
- Champions: (1) 1991–92
- Yorkshire 5
- Champions: (3) 1987–88, 2004–05, 2007–08
- Counties 4 Yorkshire
- Champions: (1) 2015–16
- Runners-up: (1) 1991-92
- Counties 3 Yorkshire
- Champions: (1) 2016–17
- Runners-up: (1) 2023-24
Season summaries
edit| Season | League | Position | W | D | L | Pts | Notes | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Yorkshire 2 | 3rd | 11 | 2 | 5 | 24 | Tim Helliwell | |
| 1999–00 | Yorkshire 2 | 4th | 12 | 0 | 6 | 24 | Jon Isherwood | |
| 2000–01 | Yorkshire 3 | 7th | 9 | 2 | 11 | 20 | G A Pollard | |
| 2001–02 | Yorkshire 3 | 7th | 9 | 0 | 13 | 18 | Tim Helliwell | |
| 2002–03 | Yorkshire 3 | 12th | 1 | 1 | 20 | 2 | Relegated to Yorkshire 4 | Jon Isherwood |
| 2003–04 | Yorkshire 4 | 11th | 6 | 1 | 15 | 13 | Relegated to Yorkshire 5 North West | B Holden |
| 2004–05 | Yorkshire 5 North West | 1st | 11 | 1 | 2 | 23 | Champions, promoted to Yorkshire 4 | Jon Isherwood |
| 2005–06 | Yorkshire 4 | 12th | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 | Relegated to Yorkshire 5 North West | Damian Whiteley |
| 2006–07 | Yorkshire 5 North West | 3rd | 10 | 0 | 6 | 20 | Rick Duffy | |
| 2007–08 | Yorkshire 5A | 1st | 12 | 1 | 1 | 25 | Promoted to Yorkshire 4 | Andy Lyon |
| Yorkshire 5C | 2nd | 7 | 0 | 1 | 16 | |||
| 2008–09 | Yorkshire 4 | 5th | 13 | 1 | 8 | 27 | Promoted to Yorkshire Division Three | M Lockwood |
| 2009–10 | Yorkshire Division Three | 8th | 7 | 1 | 13 | 15 | Paul Knapping | |
| 2010–11 | Yorkshire Division Three | 12th | 4 | 1 | 17 | 23 | Andrew Murray | |
| 2011–12 | Yorkshire Division Three | 14th | 5 | 0 | 21 | 24 | Relegated to Yorkshire Division Four | |
| 2012–13 | Yorkshire Division Four | 8th | 9 | 0 | 13 | 42 | ||
| 2013–14 | Yorkshire Division Four | 5th | 13 | 1 | 8 | 65 | Paul Jowett | |
| 2014–15 | Yorkshire Division Four | 6th | 12 | 1 | 9 | 58 | ||
| 2015–16 | Yorkshire Division Four | 1st | 19 | 0 | 3 | 90 | Promoted to Yorkshire Division Three | |
| 2016–17 | Yorkshire Division Three | 1st | 20 | 1 | 5 | 95 | Promoted to Yorkshire Division Two | |
| 2017–18 | Yorkshire Division Two | 14th | 3 | 1 | 22 | 21 | Relegated to Yorkshire Division Three | |
| 2018–19 | Yorkshire Division Three | 9th | 9 | 0 | 17 | 45 | Jamie Richardson | |
| 2019–20 | Yorkshire Division Three | 9th | 11 | 1 | 10 | 61 | Play was stopped on the 16/03/20 due to COVID-19 | Tony Curtis |
| 2020–21 | Yorkshire Three | N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No games were played due to the Pandemic | |
| 2021–22 | Yorkshire Three | 6th | 13 | 1 | 12 | 64 | Paul Jowett | |
| 2022–23 | Counties 3 Yorkshire | 6th | 11 | 0 | 11 | 51 | Ben Burnside | |
| 2023–24 | Counties 3 Yorkshire | 2nd | 20 | 0 | 2 | 96 | Promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire | Dan Mitchell |
Notable former players
editInternationals
edit
Chris Davies, former England Sevens international also played for Cambridge University and Saracens,[6][7][8]
/ 
Jamie Bloem, former South Africa Rugby League captain as well as playing internationally for Scotland Rugby League. Bloem joined in 2013 as a player coach.[9]
Rehan Mansoor, 16 Cap Pakistan international joined Vandals as a player in 2022 and named forwards coach in 2023,[10][11]
References
edit- ^ "Second Xv Secure Victory at Vandals".
- ^ "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Halifax Vandals RUFC 2nd XV". www.halifaxvandals.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Yorkshire RFU - AWW/Central/North Merit Table - AWW/Central/North Merit Table Table". yorkshirerfu.pitchero.com. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ Davies, Chris. "Halifax Vandals Centenary Year Newsletter – Edition 4 September 2023". Halifax Vandals.
- ^ "England squad for Hong Kong". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Former sevens star Davis lands presidency at Halifax Vandals". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 2 September 2023 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Chris Davis – Halifax Vandals RUFC 1st XV". www.halifaxvandals.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Jamie Bloem – Halifax Vandals RUFC 1st XV". www.halifaxvandals.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Rugby: Squad finalised for Asian Championship". The Express Tribune. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
