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Hackney RFC
Full name	Hackney Rugby Football Club
Founded	1963
Location	Hackney, England
Ground(s)	Springfield, Lower Clapton
League(s)	Herts/Middlesex 2
Official website
	www.hackneyrfc.co.uk

Hackney Rugby Football Club is a rugby club based in Hackney, London, England.

Hackney currently field two senior teams. The 1st XV compete in Herts/Middlesex Two (Level 9). The 2nd XV play in the Hertfordshire Merit League 6. The main aim of the club is create playing opportunities for every group within the London Borough of Hackney and surrounding areas, from mini (U9-U10) level continuously up to senior level. The local newspaper, the Hackney Gazette, regularly report on the clubs progress throughout the season.

Formation[edit]

The club as it is now was formed in 1963, when it was run as an old boys club for former pupils of Woodberry Down Comprehensive (now Stoke Newington School). Adopting the school’s 6th form logo, the club became known as The Griffins. Eventually the club was opened to all members of the community. As a consequence the club changed it’s name, becoming Hackney RFC, and based itself at Springhill Sports Ground - our home to this day.

Clubhouse Fire[edit]

The prospects for Hackney RFC were severely damaged when their clubhouse was destroyed by a fire in April 1999. At the beginning of that season, the club fielded 4 sides on a regular basis with the 1st XV competing in London 3 (Level 7). Without facilities, the club lost a large part of its playing base. The club plummeted down through the leagues and in 2004 were playing in Herts/Middlesex North 3 (Level 11) fulfilling their fixtures on an intermittent basis and often playing without a full compliment of 15 players. The club had no changing rooms and used the facilites of the Lea Valley Rowing Club. Post match hospitality was provided by The Swan Public House.

Recent History[edit]

In recent years the club has managed to reverse the decline through player enthusiasm and the unwavering commitment of the clubs committee. The 2004/05 and 2005/06 season saw the club fulfil every fixture. Building on this progress, the club won Herts/Middlesex North 3 but were not promoted to Level 10 due the the RFU restructuring the lower leagues. The club demonstrated that they belonged at a higher level by winning promotion again in the 2008/09 season. The 2008/09 season also saw the launch of a 2nd XV side, nicknamed the Hackney Gargoyles. In only their first season, they finished as runners up in the Hertfordshire Merit Table Plate Final, narrowly losing to Old Ashmoleans 3rd XV. The club's 7's side also finished runners up in the Middlesex Sevens Jug Competition.

Hackney continue to use the Lea Valley Rowing Club's changing facilities but in 2008 lost the use of The Swan Public house when the owners sold the premises to a local synagogue. The club are currently working with Hackney council to re-build a sports facility on the ground of the old clubhose. Hackney Bulls are the thriving youth section affiliated with the senior side, with over 120 children playing from aged 9 up to 16 years old.

Guinness Club Together[edit]

Hackney RFC were this years winners of the Guinness Club Together competition. The scheme is a free programme aimed at supporting grassroots rugby clubs across the UK. Hackney were awraded the title having doubled its playing membership over the last year, in spite of the lack of facilities. Hackney travelled to Twickenham on May 16th 2009. Starting with a training session with legendary coach Shaun Edwards (of London Wasps, Wales and The British and Irish Lions) the teams were driven to HQ and ran out onto the hallowed turf as a curtain raiser for the Guinness Premiership final. The Griffins beat the Gargoyles by 12 - 5,

Tours[edit]

Hackney RFC have recently toured to Madrid, Munich and Budapest playing against RFC Chaminade, Studentenstadt Munchen RFC and Medvek RFC respectively.

Formation[edit]

Clubhouse Fire[edit]

Recent History[edit]

Guinness Club Together[edit]

Tours[edit]

External links[edit]