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Halifax fall from Grace - RU club plunges to the bottom of the pile
HALIFAX RUFC have withdrawn from the National League set up and will start next season in Yorkshire Six – the lowest level of league rugby in the county.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the club committee at Ovenden Park last night for financial reasons.
The move leaves North One East pair Old Brodleians and Old Crossleyans as the senior clubs in the town with Heath in Yorkshire One and Halifax operating three divisions below Old Rishworthians and Halifax Vandals.
But key figures at the club insist a complete restart is the best way to rebuild the club for the future.
A statement, issued by chairman Grayham Smith, explained the decision which will see Halifax return to a purely amateur status and effectively start again from the bottom of the ladder playing alongside Otley Knights, Rawmarsh, Rossington Hornets, Sheffield Oaks, University Of Leeds and Wetherby.
They have also appointed John Henry as coach following a successful season with the club's Vikings side.
The decision to quit the National Leagues and return to the regional ranks marks a massive fall from grace for Halifax who enjoyed a meteoric rise through the pyramid system culminating in a three season stay in National Two – rugby union's third tier.
They also won the Intermediate Cup at Twickenham under coach Kevin McCallion and the Yorkshire Cup twice.
However, the death of main benefactor David Brook, along with spiralling costs, a difficult economic climate and a lack of strength in depth, sent the club into an unstoppable decline.
They endured a torrid National Three (North) campaign last time out, finishing bottom of the table with just one win - a final day 11-10 success over Harrogate.
Former player Tim Greenwood, who is expected to take over the role of club president from Tom Hoyle next season, was saddened by the decision, but optimistic that the club did have a future.
"The most important thing to my mind is that there is still a Halifax rugby union football club," said Greenwood.
"We could so easily have gone the way of others who have folded completely, and that would have been disastrous.
"But we do feel this has to be the way forward. It means having to start again, but it could have been a lot worse.
"Of course we all wanted to see Halifax retain its position as the senior club in the town. But we have given the club every chance of surviving and building a new future."
Last season's coach Dave Harrison has already rejoined his former club Cleckheaton and several of the squad from the last campaign have been linked with other clubs.
Tomorrow: the rise and fall of Halifax RUFC - special report
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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