Halifax RUFC
Encyclopedia
Halifax RUFC is a rugby union club founded in 1919, after the 1st World War, when the British Expeditionary Force returned home victorious from France. Halifax RUFC holds the record for the most wins in the Yorkshire Challenge Cup
, having carried off the ancient trophy thirteen times including three times in succession in 1926-7-8. International honours for England
have been gained by Philip Horrocks-Taylor (nine caps - 1958/64), Harry Wilkinson (four caps - 1929/30) and Lt.Col. K.T. Faithfully (three caps - 1926/27), whilst Michael Campbell Lammerton (twenty three caps - 1961/66), gained great fame with Scotland
touring Australia
, New Zealand and South Africa
with the British Lions
whilst also receiving the supreme honour of Captain. Horrocks and Wilkie were also tourists to Australia and New Zealand. More recently, prop Richard Szabo the first Hungarian
International gaining two caps in 2004/2005.
With the arrival of League Rugby in 1987/88, Halifax gained promotion from North 2 to North 1 at the first attempt, before being relegated twice, back to North 2 in 1990/91 and to North East 1 in 1997/98. Then in three successive seasons, Halifax were crowned Champions of North East 1 in 1999/2000 and Champions of North 2 East in 2000/2001, and of North 1 in 2001/2002 reaching National League
status. In addition to winning North 1, and to crown a successful season, Halifax won through to the Final of the Powergen Intermediate Cup at Twickenham
where they triumphed over Gosport and Fareham
(43-19). This was a considerable achievement, considering that 512 clubs from throughout England entered the competition. Halifax had to win nine rounds to win the trophy, which included a memorable 20-19 win over the famous Richmond
Club in the Quarter Final.
After a substantial loss in funding, Halifax RUFC pulled out from the National League set-up and decided to start afresh in Yorkshire Six, the lowest possible league, in which they finished top with only one defeat in the last game away to Wetherby
. The club was forced to officially use the name Halifax Vikings for the Yorkshire Six campaign. The club had wanted to revert to the traditional name of Halifax RUFC. However, as the Vikings were already registered as the team that would compete in Yorkshire Six before the senior side pulled out of the National League set-up, the Ovenden Park club had to keep the Vikings label for that season.
The club successfully won the Yorkshire Six title, winning 11 out of 12 games - with Halifax promoted to Yorkshire Four as a result, with the old Yorkshire Six division merging with Yorkshire Five.
The Yorkshire RFU and Northern Competitions Committee of the RFU
have accepted the reversion back to Halifax RUFC for the 2010/11 campaign.
Yorkshire Cup (rugby union)
The Yorkshire Cup is an English Rugby Football Union competition founded in 1878. It is open to all eligible clubs in the Yorkshire area. It was initially known as the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.-History:...
, having carried off the ancient trophy thirteen times including three times in succession in 1926-7-8. International honours for England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
have been gained by Philip Horrocks-Taylor (nine caps - 1958/64), Harry Wilkinson (four caps - 1929/30) and Lt.Col. K.T. Faithfully (three caps - 1926/27), whilst Michael Campbell Lammerton (twenty three caps - 1961/66), gained great fame with Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
touring Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
, New Zealand and South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
with the British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
whilst also receiving the supreme honour of Captain. Horrocks and Wilkie were also tourists to Australia and New Zealand. More recently, prop Richard Szabo the first Hungarian
Hungary national rugby union team
The Hungary national rugby union team represents Hungary at rugby union. They are governed by the Magyar Rögbi Szövetség , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, although they have entered qualifiers for all the tournaments from the 1995 edition onwards...
International gaining two caps in 2004/2005.
With the arrival of League Rugby in 1987/88, Halifax gained promotion from North 2 to North 1 at the first attempt, before being relegated twice, back to North 2 in 1990/91 and to North East 1 in 1997/98. Then in three successive seasons, Halifax were crowned Champions of North East 1 in 1999/2000 and Champions of North 2 East in 2000/2001, and of North 1 in 2001/2002 reaching National League
English Rugby Union Leagues
This page contains all of the most current England Rugby Union templates for the various leagues. This will allow a ready reference for tracking the progress of the season...
status. In addition to winning North 1, and to crown a successful season, Halifax won through to the Final of the Powergen Intermediate Cup at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
where they triumphed over Gosport and Fareham
Gosport and Fareham R.F.C.
Gosport and Fareham R.F.C. is a Rugby Union club located in Gosport, England and founded in 1946.In 2004 the club built a new clubhouse at a cost £800,000 funded by Sport England and various Councils....
(43-19). This was a considerable achievement, considering that 512 clubs from throughout England entered the competition. Halifax had to win nine rounds to win the trophy, which included a memorable 20-19 win over the famous Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
Club in the Quarter Final.
After a substantial loss in funding, Halifax RUFC pulled out from the National League set-up and decided to start afresh in Yorkshire Six, the lowest possible league, in which they finished top with only one defeat in the last game away to Wetherby
Wetherby
Wetherby is a market town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, in West Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Wharfe, and has been for centuries a crossing place and staging post on the Great North Road, being mid-way between London and Edinburgh...
. The club was forced to officially use the name Halifax Vikings for the Yorkshire Six campaign. The club had wanted to revert to the traditional name of Halifax RUFC. However, as the Vikings were already registered as the team that would compete in Yorkshire Six before the senior side pulled out of the National League set-up, the Ovenden Park club had to keep the Vikings label for that season.
The club successfully won the Yorkshire Six title, winning 11 out of 12 games - with Halifax promoted to Yorkshire Four as a result, with the old Yorkshire Six division merging with Yorkshire Five.
The Yorkshire RFU and Northern Competitions Committee of the RFU
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
have accepted the reversion back to Halifax RUFC for the 2010/11 campaign.
External links
- http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/halifaxrufc/
- Halifax RUFC
- Halifax Evening Courier RUFC page
- Yorkshire RFU