In today's world, West Hartlepool R.F.C. has gained unprecedented relevance. Whether on a personal, professional or social level, West Hartlepool R.F.C. has become a topic of constant interest and debate. Its impact ranges from the way we relate to others to the way we carry out our daily activities. In this article, we will explore in depth the importance of West Hartlepool R.F.C. and how its influence has brought about significant changes in various aspects of our lives. From its origins to its future projection, West Hartlepool R.F.C. will continue to be a topic of study and reflection that deserves our full attention.
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Full name | West Hartlepool Rugby Football Club | |
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Union | Durham County RFU | |
Founded | 1881 | |
Location | Hartlepool, County Durham, England | |
Ground(s) | Brinkburn (Capacity: 1,000 (76 seats)) | |
Coach(es) | Jamie Connolly | |
League(s) | Durham/Northumberland 1 | |
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Official website | ||
official |
54°40′35″N 1°14′5″W / 54.67639°N 1.23472°W West Hartlepool Rugby Football Club (nicknamed West) is an English rugby union club who play in Regional 2 North in the sixth tier of the English rugby union system.
West Hartlepool Rugby Football Club was formed in 1881.
Before the game turned professional, the club enjoyed several seasons in the Courage League and Allied Dunbar premiership during the 1990s before finally being relegated in the 1998–99 season. There followed a drop through the divisions over the next three years that took them out of the national leagues and into the regional leagues.
In the 1990s, when the club was at its peak positions they played at Brierton Lane. When the ground was sold they entered into one year ground share agreements, first with Hartlepool United Football Club at Victoria Park and then with Hartlepool Rovers RFC.
The club's Junior Section then went on to play at West Hartlepool Technical Day School Old Boys RUFC (Tech) for a few years and in the early 2000s there was an agreement with the Hartlepool Sixth Form College for the whole club to play at Brinkburn which is located on Catcote Road.
West have two Senior Teams within the club.
Nationality | Player | Honours |
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Carl Aarvold | England | |
Sammy Morfitt | England | |
Tim Stimpson | England (and British & Irish Lions) | |
Jack Taylor | England (captain) | |
Rob Wainwright | Scotland (captain) (and British & Irish Lions) | |
Leonard West | Scotland | |
Mike Mullins | Ireland | |
Alan Whetton (AJ) | New Zealand | |
Gary Whetton | New Zealand (Captain) | |
Mike Brewer | New Zealand | |
Micky Young | England Sevens and England Saxons | |
Chris Murphy | England Colts, England Students, U-21 (Captain) & England A |
Nationality | Player | Honours |
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Micky Young | England U-16 & U-18, England Saxons | |
Sean Dougall | Ireland U18s, U19s & U20s |
West have a very successful mini & junior set up with teams from Little Deers to under-18 with a large percentage going on to represent Durham County & The North.
West Little Deers we’re introduced in 2017 and are for children aged 2-6 - introducing them to Rugby.
In the 1990s when West Hartlepool were in the top leagues there was a rivalry with Newcastle Gosforth (now the Newcastle Falcons). However the real derby matches were with Hartlepool Rovers. Even though Rovers have always been in lower leagues the historical Boxing Day match between the sides has continued and Rovers have always given West Hartlepool good competitive matches and beat West in the 2008 Boxing Day derby but West have won all the other years. In recent years the games have come down to the last few seconds or injury time before the eventual winners were known, with side line conversions winning or losing matches.