Last season was almost perfect for Sheffield RUFC. Twenty-four wins out of 26 games saw them promoted to the third tier of the rugby pyramid – National 1 – for the first time since the league structure was introduced. 

It was a phenomenal achievement and one that chairman Andrew Langdale is incredibly proud of. 

“The irony was, I wasn’t actually there for the game where we clinched promotion, I was on holiday, 1500 miles away wishing I was there,” laughs Andrew, who has been the club’s steward for over 15 years.

After clinching promotion, Sheffield lost their 100 per cent record with defeats to Wharfedale and Otley, the latter fighting against relegation at the time. 

“There was no disgrace in losing those two games, fair credit to the two teams because on their day they were superb,” adds Andrew. “It did take a gloss off what would have been 26 out of 26, which no-one has ever done.”

But now the hard work starts.

Planning and preparation is already well underway for the new season which will see Sheffield come up against tougher opposition (naturally) as well as facing much longer travel distances. 

“Whereas before we played teams mainly in the northern sector, now we’re going to Plymouth, Cornwall, Tunbridge and London,” says Andrew. “We’ve just been working out which ones we’ll go by train, which ones by bus and which ones will need an overnight stay.”

Andrew and the team are relishing coming up against the likes of London Scottish, Leeds, Sale and Rosslyn Park but are under no illusions of how difficult this step up is going to be. Many of these teams have much bigger budgets and will be using academy players from Premiership teams but Sheffield is keen to reward those players that got them into National 1.

“We’ve earned our right to be at the table,” explains Andrew. “We’re determined that the boys that took us up will get the opportunities to play. 

“We’re still one of the youngest sides in the league by a long way but have one or two old horses like Dom Parsons and Ben Whitney, they’ve played at Championship level before, as has Zak Poole.”

Pre-season involves a squad of around 40 players, including the Colts (U20s) and some younger players. All teams at Sheffield RUFC follow the same patterns and structures of play so if they do get a promotion to the first team squad, they fit in automatically. In reality, such is the demand of the elevated level, the majority of players will get game time at some point. 

“The opportunity for a Colt to come and play level three rugby is just incredible, something to put on your CV and be proud of because there are very few people who will do that,” adds Andrew. “As a pathway for all the players, it’s huge.”

Beyond the first team, Sheffield RUFC have a mens’ second and third team – now playing in a new league structure – as well as ladies teams and grassroots teams all the way down to five and six years old. 

Although the men’s first team is semi-professional, the club, like many institutions up and down the country, rely on an army of volunteers and people like Andrew who are prepared to step up and drive the club forward. 

Alongside running his own financial services business, Andrew has been involved with Sheffield RUFC for a number of years as a player, coach and now chairman. Originally from Coventry, he came to the city in 1986 to do a PhD and, like many, never left.

When Andrew started his tenure, the club were in Yorkshire 1, which is level 7, and had very little money. Using his business contacts, he has been able to oversee a sustained period of investment and improvement which has seen changes to the pitch, the addition of fencing and floodlights and an improved matchday experience – and there’s much more to come. 

“It’s no longer a real battle, it’s not about trying to make a square peg fit a round hole,” says Andrew. “Sponsorships and gate revenue are vital. We’re not rich but we’ll be able to pay our bills this year and enjoy ourselves.”

Sheffield RUFC has already made an impressive start to the season by selling out all 13 matchday sponsorships and have just had a fantastic summer ball for the Lewis Moody Foundation with over 300 people in attendance. Andrew is already exploring how to improve the matchday experience and if the club can build on its average attendances of 250-300, even by 25 per cent, it would be in a healthy position.

“It’s a great advert for Sheffield RUFC and it’s a great advert for Sheffield businesses that turn up and sponsor us and want to be part of the club,” beams Andrew. 

As well as progressive pathways for players, this continual improvement has allowed the club to attract a better calibre of player and staff. Head coach Anthony Posa was coaching the Croatian national team and the University of Sheffield when he first joined but has now committed to the club full-time.

But Andrew points to a pivotal time in the club’s history which really kick-started this recent period of success. 

“We had a previous coach, Adam Byron, who won what we call the ‘Magnificent Seven’,” Andrew explains. “Having only won two games all season, we had to win our last seven to stay in Level 4 and we did.

“Then all of a sudden you get people like Dom Parsons joining us. A few years later we got Ryan Burrows, who’d retired from Coventry as Championship Player of the Year. His level of experience and professionalism lifted everyone else to a level they’d not seen before.”

After such a dominating 25-26 season, Andrew is under no illusion about the challenge ahead but is keen to see how the squad stand-up to increased adversity. Asked about goals for the upcoming competition, he adds: “Consolidation is a lovely word but in this instance it’s progression. If we can sit there and have a few nights where we can enjoy ourselves having got a couple of scalps, that would be fabulous.”

Next year will be a big year for the Abbeydale club in more ways than one as they will also be celebrating their 125^th anniversary. If Harold Willey and Billy Gray – credited with founding the club in 1902 – were still around, they would be very proud of what’s been achieved. And more excited about what’s to come. 

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