Hinckley R.F.C. is committing to increasing rugby opportunities for all age groups and with that in mind, we are proud and excited to launch the Hornets U20’s team for the 2021/22 season.

Analysis of the rugby landscape has shown that there is a significant gap in the opportunity provided for young players following finishing Colts Rugby at 18/19 years of age, with many not quite ready to take the step up to 1st or 2nd XV rugby whilst at the same time still wanting to have the ability to play with a number of the players they have grown up with whilst transitioning to senior rugby. At the same time, with a number of players at this age going to university, there is limited opportunity for them to play for their home clubs when home for weekends or in holiday periods, leading to them being lost their clubs.

The creation of this team aims to plug these holes – the side will play league rugby on a Saturday afternoon alongside the 1st XV and Staghounds teams, competing in one of the Leicestershire Senior League against other 2nd and 3rd XVs. The set up will then allow easy transition of players who are back from university and be supportive of players who want to miss a week to allow them to explore other opportunities – something very important for the young modern-day player.

The team will be lead by former 1st XV captain Ben Ashfield who will step up from his role as Colts coach, with training sessions taking place on the same evening as 1st XV squad sessions, with the whole of the 1st XV coaching team also being heavily involved in sessions on a weekly basis taking responsibility for different areas of the team's development.

Director of Rugby Scott Hamilton, whose rugby journey to become an All Black was significantly developed by a similar system in New Zealand said "I'm passionate about how grass-root clubs invest in the development of younger players who are looking to transition into senior rugby. We are lucky enough to have a strong coaching squad as well as good buy-in from our senior players, so I'm very excited to see the Hornet U20's take off this season".

This is a great opportunity that is openly extended to all interested and eligible players.

Training sessions will be run alongside the 1st XV when rugby activity returns to HRFC in April, before formal pre-season begins later in the summer.

Anyone interested in joining the team should contact Ben Ashfield (07841 334 208) or last year’s Colts captain Dan Johnson (07522 296 003).

HRFC