Hucclecote and Painswick under-12 rugby players are celebrating after winning a prestigious award.

The two clubs combined their teams earlier this season – they are known as Hucclewick – due to a shortage of players and have been rewarded for their forward-thinking by becoming one of 12 winners of a nationwide competition.

The competition was launched by Gallagher, the title partner of Premiership Rugby, and as one of the 12 winning teams, Hucclewick will now have the opportunity to train with stars from their local Gallagher Premiership Rugby club, which in their case is obviously Gloucester.

Gallagher’s Train with Your Heroes competition was run over a three-week period in November and encouraged people to nominate their community rugby club or team by showing how it embodies the spirit and values of rugby both on and off the pitch.

Hucclecote and Painswick were nominated by parent Denise Darlow-Joy – whose son Stephen plays for Hucclewick Under-12s – “for their commitment, inclusivity, passion, energy and perseverance in overcoming adversity and embracing their merged team ‘Hucclewick’ in order to ensure they can always field enough players.”

And Julia Nigh, who is team manager of Hucclewick Under-12s, said: “It’s a pretty big thing for the club, we’re very pleased with it.

“The players are at the age where some schools want them to play just for them and it left both clubs short of players.

“The coaches and players have put in so much hard work and the one thing that we didn’t want was for the teams to fold so that is why we have merged.

“It’s not necessarily a permanent thing. It might be permanent but if the two clubs can find enough to players to field their own teams then we would separate, although we’d always be friends.”

Hucclewick Under-12s train on Sundays, alternating between Hucclecote and Painswick, and home matches are also played alternatively at the two venues.

“We split the home fixtures down the middle,” explained Nigh. “When we play at Painswick we play in Painswick’s colours, when we play at Hucclecote we play in Hucclecote’s colours. We also play away matches as well.

“We want to keep our own identities but the aim is to support each other so that both clubs can field a team.”

The two clubs have also merged their under-14 teams and a couple of girls’ teams this season and judging by the under-12s’ success, it is something that is clearly working.

There were almost 300 entries for the Gallagher competition and Hucclecote and Painswick Under-12s will now receive a skills-sharpening session, full of professional tips and guidance when Gloucester’s players visit later this season.

A date has yet to be set but Nigh, whose son Matthew plays for Hucklewick Under-12s – she is also team manager of Hucclecote Under-9s – said it would take place on a Monday or Thursday from 7-8pm.

If anyone has a Year 7 child who is interested in joining Hucklewick Under-12s, contact Julia Nigh on 07540 371916.


Full list of competition winners: Melksham Rugby U11s (Bath); Cheddar Valley U10s (Bristol); Crediton (Exeter); Hucclecote and Painswick U12s (Gloucester); Warlingham RFC U10s (Harlequins); Ilkeston U10s (Leicester); Darlington Mowdan Park U18 Girls (Newcastle Falcons); Northampton Outlaws (Northampton Saints); Lymm U15s (Sale Sharks); Harrow U14s (Saarcens); Kenliworth Ladies (Wasps); Wolverhampton RUFC U12s (Worcester Warriors).