Old Brodleians RUFC (or Brods, as they are known) are an English rugby union club from Hipperholme, near Halifax, West Yorkshire. The club currently operates three senior men's teams. In the past there was a veterans side whose regular European Tour tradition has been carried on by the club's third team, The Beavers. There club runs a full range of junior teams for both boys and girls.as well as five netball teams.[1]
 | |
| Full name | Old Brodleians RUFC |
|---|---|
| Union | Yorkshire RFU |
| Nickname(s) | Brods |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Location | Hipperholme, West Yorkshire, England |
| Ground(s) | Woodhead Park |
| Chairman | Andrew Mear |
| President | Richard 'Bruce' Turner |
| Coach(es) | Oliver Akroyd |
| League(s) | Regional 2 North East |
| 2023–24 | 3rd |
| Official website | |
| www | |
History
editOld Brodleians was founded in 1930 by former pupils of the Hipperholme Grammar School. As the school was endowed in the will of a local man, Matthew Brodley hence, the 'Old Brodleians' was chosen as the club's name. In the early years they struggled to raise a full team and almost went out of existence in 1934. By 1939 the Brods ran two teams and had established themselves as a prominent junior club with a reputation for scrappy rugby.
When league rugby was introduced in 1987, Brods were placed in North East One. They stayed in that league until they were placed in Yorkshire 1 when the 1998 restructuring took place.[2] They are back in Yorkshire 1 after a short spell in the North 1 East league, after achieving promotion from Yorkshire 1 at the end of the 2008–09 season. The club returned to North One East after coming top of Yorkshire 1 in 2019–20.
Grounds
editThe club play their matches at Woodhead ground in Hipperholme. A gas decontamination centre behind the council offices at Hipperholme was transformed into changing rooms and clubhouse after the war. Whilst these facilities were adequate the aim was to own and develop the club's own facilities. The chance to purchase the 18 acre (later extended to 23 acre) Woodhead ground was taken, supported by an RFU loan, and in 1963 the old hut was erected. The hut was an old RAF hospital wooden structure purchased for £700. It took two years but club members beavered away and a homely clubhouse with changing rooms and bath was the result. Many members have fond memories of the old hut but 27 April 2003 marked the end of an era when Charlie Hodgson cut the ribbon to open the rebuilt clubhouse.[3] The new clubhouse stands as a permanent memorial to Colin Green who wrote " Although it seemed obvious to me that the club must start to plan for gradual replacement of its timber framed clubhouse. I was quick to learn that the old building was very dear to the hearts of older members and much loved by current players. So I trod carefully."
Honours
edit- Yorkshire 2 champions: 2007–08
- Yorkshire 1 champions (2): 2008–09, 2019–20
- Yorkshire Shield Winners 2018–19
Notable players
edit
Dominic Georgiou – Cypriot international- Chris Georgiou – Cypriot international
Tom Inman – plays for Halifax Panthers[4]- Tom Parkin – plays for Doncaster Knights[5]
- Charlie Hodgson – Sale Sharks, Saracens and England international
- Jacob Umaga – Wasps, Benetton and England international[6]
- Zach Mercer – Gloucester, Bath, Montpellier and England international[7]
- Lee Imiolek – Sale Sharks, England under-20[8][9]
- Alan Rhodes – Bradford Northern, Halifax, Hudddersfield Giants[10]
References
edit- ^ Club website
- ^ club website history page
- ^ Clubhouse development pictures
- ^ "Well done Tom!". www.oldbrodleians.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Tom Parkin". Doncaster Knights. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ World, Rugby (2 March 2018). "Hotshot: Wasps centre Jacob Umaga". Rugby World. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ World, Rugby (25 January 2017). "Hotshot: Bath No 8 Zach Mercer". Rugby World. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "New Coach – Lee Imiolek". www.oldbrodleians.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Brods 28 – 22 Malton & Norton". www.oldbrodleians.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "RIP Alan Rhodes". www.oldbrodleians.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2023.