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Throughout the history of Rugby Union in the town, there has always been an inter-club organisation looking after the game played among the junior clubs and junior sides of the old Senior Club system.
The current Hartlepool and District RFU was formed in December, 1965 initially as the Hartlepool and District Committee, we couldn't use the title R.F.U. as the County objected! The Union re-formed with the demise of the South District Junior Union which change had resulted in the formation of the County Junior Clubs and County Colts organisations. The main reason for the reform was to deal with the vexations of Council pitch allocation but with the Pyman Cup in abeyance due to re-organisation of the County, that trophy was re started under local management again. Later, we took on the Lormor Cup and the West Shield, both of which have been a feature of Rugby in the town for over 80 years.
The Union was also prominent in the 60s - 80s with Colts Rugby, hard to believe at this moment in time, but we did have sufficient Colts players for local trials to be held feeding into the South District sides that enabled the Colts Committee put together the County XVs. Not forgetting that the Union has from time to time put together District XVs to play local Club sides to mark special anniversaries or on one occasion to play Durham County Under 21s, which side included a Philip De Glanville!
With the huge changes that have swept the game since the end of the 80s, the Unions core business is still the allocation of pitches, running the Pyman Cup and West Shield, the Lormor Cup is now competed for on a Countywide basis. Plus any other business that from time to time arises and needs Town Rugby view.
Millennium year, 2000 also marked the anniversary of 125 years of Rugby in the town and it was then that we decided to change to name of "Hartlepool and District R.F.U." as one of the ways of marking the 125th. Not that the title is new, with the revival of Rugby following the Great War: there was a Hartlepool and District R.F.U. in existence at that time. Indeed for a season they held full County Membership, so with no objection this time, the District Committee became the District RFU and joined the County Union as an occasional member!
The Committee of the Union has a representative from all nine Clubs in membership, Bill Featonby (Horden) is the current Chairman, with Chris McLoughlin (West Hartlepool TDSOB) as Secretary and Treasurer. The Clubs representatives are Dave Jones (Hartlepool), Jim Ainslie (Hartlepool Athletic), Keith Faint (Hartlepool B.B.O.B) Phil Mitchell (Hartlepool Rovers), Ken Braham (Seaton Carew), Tony Wilson (West Amateurs). Les.Smith (West Hartlepool) and John Dove (West Hartlepool TDSOB).
Contacts:
Chairman: Bill Featonby, 20 Morpeth Street, Horden, Peterlee, Co Durham, SR8 4BB.
Hon Secretary: Chris McLoughlin, 31 Tunstall Avenue, Hartlepool TS26 8NE.