Harrogate RUFC

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A huge success! The CEO Big Sleepout at Harrogate Rugby Club (RUFC) has raised an incredible £10,000 for two vital local charities — Harrogate Homeless Project (HHP) and Just ‘B’.

Despite the rain on Thursday night, local business leaders braved the weather and took part in the Big Harrogate Sleepout, an inspiring event organised by Harrogate Spring Water, Harrogate Homeless Project, and Just ‘B’.

This year’s total marks a fourfold increase on last year’s event, showing the growing generosity and commitment of the Harrogate business community.

Sleeping Out to Make a Difference

Participants swapped boardrooms for sleeping bags, spending a cold, wet night outdoors at Harrogate Rugby Club to raise awareness and funds for homelessness and mental health support across North Yorkshire.

The evening included a challenging (but fun!) quiz hosted by Your Harrogate Radio, and everyone was warmly supported by Harrogate Rugby Club’s hospitality.

After a tough night, The Rapid Relief Team UK kindly provided a hot breakfast for everyone — a very welcome treat after sleeping under the stars.

A Message from Harrogate Homeless Project We slept out for one night to raise money so that we can support people who sleep rough every night,”

said Richard Cooper, CEO of Harrogate Homeless Project.

“We were sleeping rough after a meal, a few drinks, a quiz. We could come indoors if the weather became too much, and we had toilets available. Most of our clients have none of those advantages. They’re dealing with issues like addiction, poor health, and family breakdown.

That’s where Harrogate Homeless Project steps in — not just providing a roof, but long-term support through our Springboard Day Centre, helping people rebuild their lives and move forward.”

Raising Vital Funds for Local Charities

At the close of the event, the fundraising total stood at £9,110.74, with additional donations still coming in — pushing the total toward the £10,000 target.

Funds will be shared between Harrogate Homeless Project and Just ‘B’, which provides bereavement and emotional wellbeing support for people of all ages across North Yorkshire.

You can still donate to the Big Harrogate Sleepout here:
👉 Donate Now

About Just ‘B’

Just ‘B’ is a specialist service offering emotional wellbeing and bereavement support for children, young people, and adults.

It is part of North Yorkshire Hospice Care, which also includes Herriot Hospice Homecare and Saint Michael’s Hospice — providing vital hospice care and emotional support locally, regionally, and nationally.

A Huge Thank You

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the local businesses and sponsors who made this event possible:

Harrogate Spring Water | Harrogate Rugby Club | Your Harrogate Radio | Rapid Relief Team UK | Titan Wealth | MJ Ryder Limited | Swinton Estate | Skipton Building Society | Lido Leisure Park | Provenance Inns | Harrogate Claro Enterprises

Your time, effort, and generosity have made a real difference to people’s lives.

Get Involved Next Year

Would you like to take part in the next Big Harrogate Sleepout and help tackle homelessness in our community?
Contact Nicola at 📧 nicola@hhphostel.org to find out more.

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Flying Harrogate’s Colours Abroad

Harrogate Rugby Club player Fred Yates has taken the spirit of Harrogate all the way to Sri Lanka, where he’s volunteering through a sports development programme in Hikkaduwa, on the island’s southwest coast.

The 21-year-old, who has played at Harrogate RUFC since the age of nine, is spending several weeks working with Travelteer, an organisation offering volunteering opportunities across areas such as marine conservation, mental health, and sports development.

Supporting Schools and Inspiring Young Athletes

Fred’s daily work involves travelling between schools to help clean and maintain sports facilities, before coaching local children in a range of sports and activities.

He’s also brought a piece of Harrogate with him — distributing Harrogate Rugby Club shirts to underprivileged children.I was at Newcastle Uni when I saw an email offering grants to people volunteering abroad,” said Fred.

“I chose sports development because I’ve always loved sport, and this seemed like a great way to give something back.”

A Powerful Experience in Sri Lanka

Each school Fred visits is different — some are well equipped, others lack even the basics. He also spent time at an orphanage for disabled children, describing it as “really tough to see.

Despite the challenges, Fred says the experience has been incrediblThe kids absolutely love playing sport,” he said. “Seeing them laugh, smile, and take part in something I’ve helped make possible is amazing.

Harrogate RUFC Donates to Local Volleyball Club

During his placement, Fred visited a local volleyball club, where he handed out Harrogate RUFC shirts.Before I left, I contacted the organisers to ask if any schools ran rugby coaching,” he explained. “When they said yes, I got in touch with Aled Jones at Harrogate RUFC and asked for as many junior shirts as possible.

I decided to give them to the volleyball club — they were the poorest group we met.

The children were thrilled, shouting “hundai!” — the Sinhalese word for “good” — as they played touch rugby in their new shirts.

Harrogate’s Director of Rugby, Jake Brady, confirmed the club will also make a donation to support the volleyball club in Hikkaduwa.

An Unforgettable Journey

Reflecting on his time abroad, Fred said volunteering in Sri Lanka has been a life-changing experience.It’s been amazing — better than I ever could have imagined,” he said. “Sri Lanka is the most beautiful country I’ve ever visited, and everyone has been so friendly.

I’d recommend Travelteer’s volunteering programmes to anyone who loves sport and wants to make a difference.

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Sedbergh Rugby Camp is back at Harrogate

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Match Report: Lymm 57 – 24 Harrogate

Lymm Roars Back to Form with Dominant Win Over Harrogate

Lymm RFC reclaimed their position at the top of the league with an impressive 57-24 victory against Harrogate RFC at home on Saturday. The match, played on a pristine 4G pitch, highlighted Lymm’s attacking capabilities and their knack for capitalizing on turnovers.

The home side wasted no time in asserting their dominance, with Ben Thompson scoring the opening try in the 10th minute, quickly followed by a try from captain Nathan Beesley. Thomas Shard’s accurate conversions set the tone for a strong start for Lymm.

Despite the early pressure, Harrogate responded valiantly. Charlie Head and Jacob Percival both crossed the line for tries, and Tom Steene’s precise kicking kept Harrogate within reach. However, Lymm’s fluid play and effective transitions allowed them to take a commanding 26-14 lead into halftime.

The second half unfolded in a similar manner, as Lymm extended their advantage with further tries from Beesley, Callum Morris, and Sam Wadsworth. Although Harrogate put up a spirited defense, Lymm’s relentless pressure led to additional scores from Harry Martin and James Pitcher.

Harrogate did manage to secure a vital bonus point through late tries from Amrit Sharma and Martin Dodds, demonstrating their resilience despite facing a formidable opponent. Ultimately, Lymm’s clinical finishing and effective set-piece execution secured their victory with a final score of 57-24.

Key Performances and Turning Points

Lymm’s Clinical Attack: Nathan Beesley led the charge with a standout performance, supported by Thomas Shard’s accurate kicking, as Lymm consistently converted turnovers into points.

Harrogate’s Resilience: Despite the scoreline, Harrogate fought back with notable contributions from Charlie Head, Jacob Percival, Amrit Sharma, and Martin Dodds, ensuring they remained competitive until the final whistle.

Game-Changing Moments: Lymm’s ability to turn turnovers into scoring opportunities and their adept use of the 4G surface were pivotal in their success.

Next Steps

Looking ahead, Harrogate will aim to bounce back in their upcoming fixture against Chester RFC at Rudding Lane, hoping to translate their improved home form into a positive result.

Teams

Lymm: (List of players and replacements)

Harrogate: (List of players and replacements)

Referees:

Referee: Michael Harris (RFU)

Assistant Referees: James Gray (RFU), Steve Halliday (RFU)

Conclusion

Lymm RFC’s comprehensive performance against Harrogate RFC reinforces their status as league leaders, while Harrogate can take heart from their bonus point and look to build momentum in future matches.

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History of Harrogate RUFC

Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club (Harrogate RUFC) – A Proud Yorkshire Legacy

Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club (Harrogate RUFC) stands among the oldest rugby clubs in Yorkshire and England, founded in 1871 — the same year the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was established.
Originally called Harrogate Football Club, the team played its first match on 16 December 1871, marking the start of over 150 years of rugby heritage in Harrogate.

Early History and First Grounds

The club’s early years saw it move from Dragon Fields (1875) to Claro Road (1896), where it remained for 119 years.
In 1903, Harrogate hosted a touring Canadian rugby team, and in 1905, the club won its first Yorkshire Cup, setting the stage for future success.

Formation of Harrogate RUFC

By 1914, Harrogate decided to focus on football, leading the rugby members to form Harrogate Old Boys RFC.
A new rugby side, Harrogate RUFC, emerged in 1923. When the two clubs merged in 1936, they laid the foundation for today’s Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club, officially adopting the name in 1945.

The Harrogate Georgians Era

In 1957, Harrogate RUFC merged with Harrogate Georgians RFC.
To honour the Georgians’ legacy, the club’s second XV team continues to be known as Harrogate Georgians, maintaining a long-standing local rugby tradition.

Rise Through the Rugby Leagues

When the English rugby league system was introduced in 1987, Harrogate RUFC began in North 1.
By 1994–95, the team had been promoted to the third tier of English rugby, where it remained for 13 seasons.

The 2001–02 season marked a golden year for the club — finishing fourth in the league, winning the Yorkshire Cup, and claiming the National Sevens Championship.
In 2015, Harrogate lifted the Yorkshire Cup once again, bringing their total to 10 wins.

A New Home at Rudding Lane

After more than a century at Claro Road, the club moved to its modern facilities at Rudding Lane, Harrogate, in 2015.
The opening match on 15 September 2015 saw Harrogate defeat local rivals Otley RFC 15–10 before a record crowd of 1,050 in the National League 2 North.

This move marked the start of a new era, with improved facilities and a renewed community focus for players, families, and supporters alike.

Harrogate RUFC Today

Today, Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club continues to be a cornerstone of Yorkshire rugby, offering top-quality rugby, coaching, and youth development at its Rudding Lane base.

The club proudly combines historic roots with a forward-thinking community spirit, promoting the values of teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.

Harrogate RUFC