Crookes based rugby club, Hallamshire RUFC, are on the lookout for a host of new players to fulfil plans of creating a second team come the start of the 2024/25 season.
The club welcomes players aged 18 or over with all levels of experience and prides itself on promoting a supportive and fun environment to help players develop their skills.
Head coach Michael Delamere, 31 from Fulwood, Sheffield said: “Why I joined isn’t as important as why I stayed. I just met a bunch of really lovely people … there’s a really good ethos here about making sure that players get to play and everyone feels part of it.”
The club trialled their plans to initiate a development team on Saturday 2nd March, running two teams on the same weekend for the first time. This resulted in a resounding success, with the first team drawing 3-3 against Dearne Valley RUFC, and the brand new second team running out comfortable 53-12 winners against Maltby RUFC development squad.
Speaking after the two matches, Mr Delamere spoke positively on the plans for the future.
He said: “It’s going to give us the chance to develop, grow our player base, make sure that we’ve got enough players to happily have a 1s and 2s team, that are both competitive and that are both part of the same club.”
Club chairman, Tom Helliwell, 43, was quick to highlight the benefits which take place off the pitch at Hallamshire as well as the success taking place on it.
He said: “We’ve supported a lot of our players through all sorts of issues, with mental health, with physical health, with relationships and all sorts.”
Mr Helliwell also had a positive outlook on the future plans of the club, outlining the benefits of running a development team as well as the first team.
He said: “Guys who maybe can’t commit because of family or work or like in my case, age, can still get to play the sport they love and develop without having to worry about the result as such.”
This will only add to the supportive and positive attitude which comes with representing the club, and acts as a further incentive for people considering getting involved with the game.
On the benefits of playing rugby, Mr Delamere said: “it’s just a good release, in terms of your normal 9-5 … it’s nice having that 80 minutes once a week where I can only think about one thing, it’s not work or chores.”
With training at 6.45 pm every Wednesday at the clubhouse on Northfield Road and matches most Saturdays, Hallamshire RUFC say it is a great place for people of all ages and abilities to try their hand at playing rugby and will only be improving in the future.
