Home

Preview by Stephen Townend - Director of Rugby    Report   Photos

Welcome back to Brantingham Park for the new season and there is no better way to start than a local Derby with our near neighbours and friends from Hull RUFC. I would like to congratulate Hull on gaining promotion to the National Leagues at the end of last season and also welcome Tevita Vaikona, his coaching staff and players for what I am sure will be a keenly contested game.
Last week Hull made an excellent start in defeating much fancied Fylde 31-25, whilst we were at Preston Grasshoppers where we contrived to hand over the initiative in the last 10 minutes when leading 29-17 and then lost to a last minute penalty 30 points to 29.
It was an excellent performance by our players, full of enthusiasm, endeavour and no little skill and the lack of control we showed late in the game is understandable when taking into consideration the young age of some of our players. It was a disappointing and very harsh lesson but I’m sure we will learn from it.
Quite naturally there is always a lot of player movement during the summer months and certain players who were members of the Ionians squad last season have moved to new pastures – we wish them all well. We have also added a number of new players to this season’s squad and I would like to welcome them and their families and friends to Brantingham Park.
Pre-season has gone very well despite losing a number of players to a variety of injuries, however, we will need to improve our level of performance week on week as the league has been increased to 16 teams and I am sure the standard will be higher than last season, but first of all we must focus on today.
I hope you enjoy the game and stay for a beer after – up the I’s
Stephen Townend

‘Mergers, Professionalism and all that’
A personal view from Chris Taylor – Ex Hull & East Riding RUFC and Hull Ionians RUFC.
This season Hull Ionians RUFC celebrates the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Club. Any anniversary is always a time to reflect on previous years. Some people, generally those that would prefer the past to stay in the past, say ‘why bring up the past’. But I say ‘why not’. It is what we did yesterday that shapes and creates what we are today and I think that this would be an appropriate day to remember our history and reflect on where and how it all started for Hull Ionians RUFC and, for Hull RUFC.
As an ex-player of Hull & East Riding RUFC I can only recall events from a ‘Riding’ perspective and apologise if the following should seem a little one sided.
In the season 1988/89 Hull & East Riding, at The Circle on Anlaby Road, were the senior Rugby Club in the East Yorkshire area, the flag ship of Rugby Union in this area but, all was not well at the Riding.
Riding did not own it’s ground, it was struggling financially. This was beginning to be reflected on the field. Riding fielded only one side and struggled to maintain a 1st XV squad that could compete in North Division 1. Although professional rugby union was some years away, quality players were attracted elsewhere and Riding could not compete with the open chequebooks of certain South & West Yorkshire Club’s – much like today!
During the previous season there had been some talk of moving or even merging with a local Club. Some meetings were held locally but, there was no progress at this time.
However, the idea of a merger grew in strength and in the spring of 1989 some enlightened people within the local Rugby community suggested that a merger between Hull & East Riding RUFC and Ionians RUFC just might work.
With no disrespect, Ionians were only in Yorkshire Division 3 but, they had their own ground out at Elloughton, they fielded a number of senior sides, they had a good social side to the club and, most importantly, they had a thriving mini junior section.
Talks between the two Clubs were held and common ground was established. Riding brought experience and North 1 Rugby to the table. Ionians brought the ideal base and the foundations of youth. It was obvious to those involved that this was the way forward for both rugby clubs.
Back in 1989, the merger of two local Rugby Clubs was not commonplace and some parties viewed the idea with disdain and said it would never work. They were proved to be wrong.
Members of the Riding met at the Circle to vote on the issue of a merger. The Riding
President addressed the members and said “What ever happens here tonight, however we may vote, we should all stick together”. He was right but sadly, he was not true to his own words. A majority of Riding members voted for the merger with Ionians RUFC. Disappointingly and despite his grand words, the Riding President stayed with the few that chose not to move to Elloughton.
I think that I speak for most when I say that it was not without some regret and reluctance that the majority of members of Hull & East Riding, including the cream of the players, decided to leave The Circle.
It was not done for any personal gain, remember this was pre the professional era. It was an unselfish act that was seen as the only way to preserve North Division 1 rugby in the Hull and East Yorkshire area, the right thing to do at the time and the right thing for local rugby. History now shows that we have been proved to be right.
As the majority of members of both clubs had voted for the merger, in the summer of 1989, a new rugby club ‘Hull Ionians RUFC’ was born.
Despite the Riding President’s lack of conviction and total ‘U’ turn, those of us that left The Circle had nothing but respect for the minority of members who stayed to form a new rugby club ‘Hull & East Riding 1989’.
This new rugby club had none of the history associated with the original Hull & East
Riding, established in 1875. All that went with the merger, to Elloughton. But, for a short while, this new club carried a name that commanded respect in Rugby circles.
‘Hull & East Riding 1989’ began in the September of 1989 with fixtures in Yorkshire Division 6. They had some initial success but had a mountain to climb to achieve North Division Rugby again. Many of the players who had stayed were the wrong side of 30 and Hull & East Riding 1989 soon began to have resource problems.
After only 3 seasons in existence, they were struggling.
If, at this point, the members of Hull & East Riding 1989 had said “right, we tried, it has not worked, now lets join with the ex-Riding members down at Elloughton” I am sure that they would have been warmly welcomed, with all due respect. But, they did quite the opposite and, in July 1992, Hull & East Riding 1989 announced that they were to merge with Old Hymerians RUFC and form a new club again, Hull RUFC.
It was sad that the members of Hull & East Riding 1989 did not approach their former comrades and together, work out a means of joining with them at Hull Ionians, a means that would have been acceptable to both parties, with no loss of respect.
However, for various reasons, this 2nd merger went ahead.
I believe, it is this merger that for some years to come will divide the local rugby union community and, in my opinion, it has had the effect of delaying and even preventing, the expected development of Rugby Union in this area.
There is rumour that Hull RUFC will at some point rename to ‘Hull & East Riding’.
(I wonder what the members who are ex-Old Hymerians think of that?)
‘What will be will be’ but, what is certain, is that you can never reclaim history that is not yours. Just like a new Roundhay or a new Headingley would never be the Rugby Club that previously bore that name.
With no disrespect to our ex-Ionian members and to quote a well respected ex-Riding captain, “Hull & East Riding is alive and well at Brantingham Park”.
Now, a lot of water has passed under the bridge and, in season 2009/10, both Hull Ionians RUFC and Hull RUFC find themselves in National Division 2 North.
Hull Ionians have been the senior rugby club in the Hull and East Yorkshire area since its formation, just like its predecessor, the original Hull & East Riding.
However, Hull Ionians have no divine right to this position. History shows that we have previously had to see off serious challenges for the No. 1 spot, from Bridlington RUFC, Driffield RUFC and Hull RUFC. We now find ourselves again challenged for this position, by our opponents today, Hull RUFC.
Professional rugby is here to stay and there is little room for tradition. The reality of Rugby Union today is that, a Rugby Club’s league position is directly linked to the ‘on field’ financial capability of the respective Club, or Club sponsors.
The financial incentives now being offered to players to ply their trade at one club rather than another are increasing to seriously unrealistic amounts.
While we are not talking of anything like the obscene world of professional football, we are seeing players being enticed by offers that are well above the ‘open market value’ for a player, playing in any particular league.
Some Rugby Club’s, or their sponsors, are guilty of distorting and inflating the market value of players. They knowingly pay ‘over the odds’ for a player’s services. I would ask, how far are you prepared to go, where do you stop and, is it worth it? Surely they must realise that only the paid player benefits, and then only in the short term, as they will be long gone when times get hard.
Too many established and respected Rugby Club’s are now struggling due to over committing themselves financially. Some Rugby Club’s are learning the hard way i.e. Halifax RUFC. They are realising that they should not have tried to keep up with other Club’s that enjoy greater financial backing. The fact is that some Rugby Club's should step back and let the others get on with it and, if it means dropping down a league to enjoy your rugby, then so be it.
Professionalism means we can no longer ‘expect’ to reap the rewards of the time and effort we put into our junior players. We coach them, we help them to improve and we wave some of them off to deservedly play at a higher level. We follow their careers with interest in the hope that when they can no longer compete at such a level, they will come back to their home club and give it the benefit of their experience.
Sadly, these days have gone. What we see now is that players who know little else but professional rugby will continue to look after their interests financially for as long as possible. They will go to the highest bidder. Disappointing but who can blame them?
I might be being a little sentimental but I can’t help thinking that they are missing out on something, something money cannot buy.
In my opinion, you cannot compare being a paid servant with the loyalty and comradeship found at the Rugby Club where you first learned your trade. There is a vast difference between being a member of a Rugby Club and a ‘Money Pit’.
If I were to give any advice to Hull Ionians present committee, coaching staff and players it would be that they should not dwell on local competition. Beating them is great but they only provide 2 of the 30 league matches we have to play this season and, winning one or two battles does not guarantee that you will win the war.
It was not so long ago that Driffield RUFC beat Hull Ionians home and away, but were still relegated from North 1.‘Bragging rights’ are a thing for the Bar and for the poorly produced headlines of the local newspapers.
We hope that we are treated to a good game today and, I would wish both teams the best of luck. However, I would be failing in my duty if I did not say that a home win would be preferable.