Halifax Vandals RUFC

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Halifax Vandals
Halifax Vandals RUFC logo.jpg
Full nameHalifax Vandals Rugby Union Football Club
Union Yorkshire RFU
Nickname(s)Vandals, Van
Founded1923;101 years ago (1923)
Location Warley Town, Halifax, England
Region West Yorkshire
Ground(s) Mount Doom [1]
ChairmanNeil Crossley
Coach(es)James Wainright
Captain(s)Danny Mitchell (1st XV)
Ben Simms (2nd XV)
League(s) Counties 2 Yorkshire (1st XV)
AWW/Central/North Merit (2nd XV)
2023–24 2nd (promoted)
Official website
www.halifaxvandals.co.uk

Halifax Vandals RUFC is an amateur rugby union club based in Warley Town, Halifax. They currently run two senior sides. The 1st XV plays in Counties 2 Yorkshire while the 2nd XV plays in the AWW/Central/North Merit League. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

History

Formation

Halifax Vandals was formed in November 1923 when a group of college students met under a lamp post on Francis Street in Halifax to form a rugby club. The name "Vandal" is attributed to a warrior tribe who fought against the Roman Empire in 455 AD and came out victorious. [5]

Modern History

In the early days, their existence was somewhat nomadic, using the facilities in the village pub, The Maypole Inn, before acquiring the former school house opposite. With the formation of the national league system in 1987 Halifax Vandals was one of the original members of Yorkshire 5, being the first ever winners of the competition being promoted to Yorkshire 4.

In the 2003–04 season they were relegated back to Yorkshire 5 however was promoted back in Yorkshire 4 the following season. Once again in the 2007–08 season the Vandals were champions Yorkshire 5, this caused them to have the joint record for titles for the now defunct Yorkshire 5.

In 2015–16 they became champions of Yorkshire 4, and went onto go back to back becoming champions of Yorkshire 3. However they were relegated from Yorkshire 2 after only one season.

Rivalries

The Warley-based club have a long-standing rivalry with Old Rishworthians and more recently, with Halifax RUFC. With Halifax RUFC joining the Vandals in Counties 3 Yorkshire for the 2023–24 season now led by former player coach Jamie Bloem the rivalry between the two clubs grows even more.

Club honours

1st XV

Season summaries

Since 1998–99 season
SeasonLeaguePositionWDLPtsNotesCaptain
1998–99Yorkshire 23rd112524Tim Helliwell
1999–00Yorkshire 24th120624Jon Isherwood
2000–01Yorkshire 37th921120G A Pollard
2001–02Yorkshire 37th901318Tim Helliwell
2002–03Yorkshire 312th11202Relegated to Yorkshire 4Jon Isherwood
2003–04Yorkshire 411th611513Relegated to Yorkshire 5 North WestB Holden
2004–05Yorkshire 5 North West1st111223Champions, promoted to Yorkshire 4Jon Isherwood
2005–06Yorkshire 412th10212Relegated to Yorkshire 5 North WestDamian Whiteley
2006–07Yorkshire 5 North West3rd100620Rick Duffy
2007–08Yorkshire 5A1st121125Promoted to Yorkshire 4Andy Lyon
Yorkshire 5C2nd70116
2008–09Yorkshire 45th131827Promoted to Yorkshire Division ThreeM Lockwood
2009–10Yorkshire Division Three8th711315Paul Knapping
2010–11Yorkshire Division Three12th411723Andrew Murray
2011–12Yorkshire Division Three14th502124Relegated to Yorkshire Division Four
2012–13Yorkshire Division Four8th901342
2013–14Yorkshire Division Four5th131865Paul Jowett
2014–15Yorkshire Division Four6th121958
2015–16Yorkshire Division Four1st190390Promoted to Yorkshire Division Three
2016–17Yorkshire Division Three1st201595Promoted to Yorkshire Division Two
2017–18Yorkshire Division Two14th312221Relegated to Yorkshire Division Three
2018–19Yorkshire Division Three9th901745Jamie Richardson
2019–20Yorkshire Division Three9th1111061Play was stopped on the 16/03/20 due to COVID-19Tony Curtis
2020–21Yorkshire ThreeN/A0000No games were played due to the Pandemic
2021–22Yorkshire Three6th1311264Paul Jowett
2022–23Counties 3 Yorkshire6th1101151Ben Burnside
2023–24Counties 3 Yorkshire2nd200296Promoted to Counties 2 YorkshireDan Mitchell

Notable former players

Internationals

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References

  1. ↑ "Second Xv Secure Victory at Vandals".
  2. ↑ "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "Halifax Vandals RUFC 2nd XV". www.halifaxvandals.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Yorkshire RFU - AWW/Central/North Merit Table - AWW/Central/North Merit Table Table". yorkshirerfu.pitchero.com. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Davies, Chris. "Halifax Vandals Centenary Year Newsletter – Edition 4 September 2023". Halifax Vandals.
  6. ↑ "England squad for Hong Kong". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Former sevens star Davis lands presidency at Halifax Vandals". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 2 September 2023– via PressReader.
  8. ↑ "Chris Davis – Halifax Vandals RUFC 1st XV". www.halifaxvandals.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Jamie Bloem – Halifax Vandals RUFC 1st XV". www.halifaxvandals.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Rugby: Squad finalised for Asian Championship". The Express Tribune. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
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