Having risen at great pace from the anonymity of the lower leagues, I loved the way they tried to break up the Premiership cartel and their brave fight against overwhelming odds to be accepted. They refused to be cowed and belittled and kept knocking on the door of those who, frankly, wished they didn’t exist.
Three times they were ‘promoted’ to the very top tier via the torturous play-off system although only twice were they allowed to take their place. Both times they were relegated but, against huge odds, they fought the good fight and there were also moments in Europe to remember.
In the 2000-2001 season they won four of their six games in the European Shield including the double over Grenoble and a famous 20-19 win at Perpignan. Just for a while they dined at rugby’s top table.
You sensed it couldn’t last but wished them well nonetheless and when, having perhaps flown too close to the sun, they suddenly crashed and burned, some wondered for their very existence as they started to descend the leagues and fight for their very survival.
Not me, I should add. The Rotherham of my acquaintance were always a proper community-based rugby club, brim-full of enthusiastic volunteers and rugby tragics, who among other things served the best grub and ale on the circuit and afforded the warmest of Yorkshire welcomes to visiting media and supporters.
Denne historien er fra May 05, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 05, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.
