Hartpury head into the new season with eyes on going one better

Despite having one of the smaller budgets in the division, Hartpury finished sixth in the table last season to earn a spot in the inaugural second tier Play-Offs where they narrowly fell to a 28-25 defeat to Coventry.

A key to their success last season was the squad’s culture, which allowed them to battle through the long and arduous Elior Champ Rugby season while playing for a semi-professional side.

Captain Will Crane is a key part of that culture and hopes fostering more good relationships in 26/27 will help them repeat their Play-Off push.

Crane said: “There’s no tall poppy syndrome. No one is bigger than the team. No matter what you do or where you’ve been, you're at Hartpury, and we’re all waking up at 6:30 in the morning, training at 7am.

"It humbles you in a way. Everyone buys into it, and it keeps everyone accountable, and then that transfers on and off the pitch which is good.”

It was well documented that Crane spent time away from the club on loan at Prem side Gloucester when the Cherry and Whites suffered an injury crisis at hooker.

The 32-year-old adapted well to the step up and has brought plenty of lessons back to the 4Ed Hartpury Stadium as they eye another strong campaign.

He said: “It was nice to represent Hartpury, myself and the league at that level. It was a really enjoyable experience. 

“Learning how those top-flight professionals train, and then off the pitch, their recovery, some stuff that I have brought back to Hartpury.

“Obviously we can't do everything, but the little bits that I did learn, I fed it into the lads, so we'll see if it proves dividends in the season.”

Along with Crane, a wave of young talent will come in from Gloucester, Hartpury’s strategic partners in the top flight.

Almost all of the Gloucester Academy spend time with Hartpury in one way or another as they adapt to playing against fully grown men, and last season was no different as the Champ continues to furnish its reputation as an important proving ground.

Highly rated 19-year-old Will Knight stood out in his three games for the club, while he also made his full Prem Rugby debut. 

More names will be donning a Hartpury jersey in 26/27, and back row Jack Davies already has an eye on a couple who could impress both at the Champ and Prem level. 

“One that's probably earned an opportunity with Gloucester on the back of us, of how well he played for us last year, No. 8 Tom Watts,” Davies added.

“He's been in training with Gloucester throughout pre-season, and I think he's got the opportunity to go really well this year, big ball-carrying No. 8.

“Another one is loosehead Harrison Bellamy. He’s on Gloucester's books, but will probably spend a lot of his time with us.

“He made a real big progression in his career last year with regular game time, so I'm really looking forward to seeing how he goes as well."

The youthful additions are a key part of Hartpury’s strategy.

Where the likes of Ealing Trailfinders may have a 60-plus strong playing group, Hartpury’s numbers are much thinner, arguably putting them on the back foot, but Davies sees it differently. 

He said: “It's well documented that we don't have the financial luxuries that the other teams have, but I think that's almost one of our super strengths.

“You get a lot of boys playing because they love the club, because they love the game of rugby. It's not a financial decision as such.

“It's about the environment, the group and having the ability to work alongside it as well. So I think that really fosters a tight-knit culture, and that got us over the line in quite a few games last year.”

Played by professional and semi-professional players, Elior Champ Rugby provides a ‘Proving Ground’ for future stars. Watch every game live on Clubber TV and free-to-air on BLAZE on Sunday afternoons.