About us
History
A brief history lesson :
Rugby League came to Hemel Hempstead on the 3rd April, 1981 when Hemel played their first match at Pennine Way against Walthamstowe-based McEntee, losing 38-0. After a series of friendly fixtures during the summer of 1981 the club was formally constituted and joined the Second Division of the South Amateur Rugby League.
During the club's early seasons, success on the field was hard to come by. Nethertheless the club was determined to prosper and in their fourth season they opened their first social club at Pennine Way in February 1985 - a modest self-build affair.
A move to the Midlands & South West Rugby League brought playing success and on the club's return to the London Amateur Rugby League in 1987 the club became the dominant force in amateur rugby league in the South.
Their clubhouse was doubled in size in 1987 and by 1990 Hemel were ready to move up to the national stage of rugby league. In 1991 the club was admitted to the Rugby League Alliance playing the reserve teams of professional clubs. At the same time the Club appointed Chris Tate as their first full-time Development Officer with the task of developing junior and youth players in Hemel.
Growing confidence in the club saw the opening of a completely new social club with the old clubhouse being converted to changing rooms.
A move to the National Conference League saw the club narrowly miss promotion to the professional ranks in 1993. In 1994, the club had its finest day when they played London Broncos in the Regal Trophy. Superby coached by David Ellis- who went on to become defence coach of the French National Rugby Union team - they led the Broncos 18-6 at half time only to succumb in the final 10 minutes. The club's playing depth that day was emphaised when, in the curtain-raiser, their reserves won the Southern Counties Cup against the all-Kiwi South London Warriors.
A switch to summer rugby and a return to the Rugby League Alliance in 1997 brought success under player-coach Jay Turrner who secured the First Division title in1998 and the right to play Super League Alliance in 1999.
Ground difficulties meant the club had to drop down to the Rugby League Conference in 1999 and in 2003 became founder members of National League Three, later to become the Rugby League Conference National. A Grand Final spot under new coach Troy Perkins was achieved in 2006 with the club losing to old rivals Bramley Buffaloes.
The arrival of Callum Irving as Community Rugby League Coach in 2006 revitalised junior rugby league in Hemel and subsequently led to the club joining the prestigious Gillette National Youth League in 2008
From 2002 onwards the club had begun to address the ground issues at Pennine Way. In September 2008 they obtained planning permission for a small stadium at Pennine Way and in 2010 the first stage was completed with the enclosure of the ground and the opening of an all-weather training pitch and the floodlighting of the main pitch.
HISTORY
1981 - First match 3 April, 1981 v McEntee
1981-83 London League Division II
2000 RLC Eastern Division Champions
2001 RLC Harry Jepson Trophy Semi-Finalists,RLC Eastern Counties Cup Winners, RLC Central Southern Champions
2002 RLC Harry Jepson Trophy Grand Finalists, RLC Central Southern Champions
2003 Entered National League Three
2005 Entered Northern Rail National Cup
2006 Grand Finalists National League Three
2006 Awarded Club Mark status at the Super League Grand Final
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