Old Haberdashers'

OLD HABS ARE PROMOTED!!!!!!! - Oh frabjous day!Callouh! Callay! [last updated 22/07/09]

The last few seasons have almost seemed like Groundhog Day for OHRFC, as we repeatedly succeeded in snatching mediocrity from the jaws of promotion on the final day of the season.  The most heartbreaking of these came on the last day of the 2008/9 season, when defeat at "how are they possibly in the same league as us?" Royston RFC left us languishing in H/M 2.  This year it was the turn of HAC to capitalise on our lapsed concentration (due the looming Club Dinner and ensuing summer of Saturday morning lie-ins). 

In inimitable style we proceeded to celebrate the season regardless - little did we know that such celebrations were to morph from pathetic to prophetic in just a few months.  Prolonged diplomatic efforts and 11th hour discussions resulted in the RFU acknowledging the "outstanding playing record" of OHRFC and awarding them their long-awaited place in H/M1 during a recent league reshuffle.

OHRFC welcome this decision, and relish the challenges this good fortune will surely bring.

(By Captain Andrew "Irish" Gray)

Lions Tour - last updated 22/07/09

Messers Beast, Fox, Mitch, Kaufers, Jared, Richmond, Taylor, Dobbin and Booth left ....... on a jet plane. You all saw them on the big screen at the Western Province, Coastal XV, 1st Test, Emerging Springboks and 2nd Tests.

A tour diary is to follow so stay posted here.

End of Season Tour to Canterbury (24-26th April 2009) - last updated 09/06/09

Click here for a Monkey's view of tour - Genius.

End of Season Dinner and Elections (4th April 2009) - last updated 11/05/09

The End of Season Dinner was, as ever, a triumph. Held at the clubhouse the drinking began with a few early games of Fives in the Sun culminating in a naked race between Beast and Sam, which looked for all the world like a Homosexual Baboon chasing a frightened Whippet.

The dinner itself was of the highest quality and the banter even started out quite genteel. The returning Old Boys added some good War Stories (Boer War) and the wine flowed, then the Port flowed, then some nasty pints, flowed, got spilt and flowed again. The night committed Hari Kari on the G&Ts in Club de Fromage but not before some momentous changes were signaled.

Prizes for the season were:

Player of the Season - Irish - This was Irish's breakout year. As ever he was dominant in the lineout, carried well when called upon, his defense was superb and support play this year was outstanding with his deceptive pace leading to some great tries and deserved second place on the season's try scorer's list.

Back of the Season - Simon Jones - Another superb season from Mr S Jones whose consistent injury blight can't stop him putting in game turning performances. Coruscating pace, a step off either foot and an eye for the gap made him the most potent threat in the backline all season. His two tries against Wasps away were an absolute joy and his take of the highball and offload to the fullback against HAC away was exhibition stuff. Top try scorer (8 from 11 games) doesn't lie. Get well soon.

Best New Player - Monkey - A central pivot in the best scrum in the league and the only player to play in every game in the season, Monkey has revolutionised the OHRFC pack. Some destructive scrummaging (Wasps away was a highlight), brilliant ball carrying and a fanatical adherence to "Personal Standards" made him a standout all season. A great dresssing room presence, a big voice and a superb tour mean he will missed in the off-season too.

Most Improved Player - Toni Chan - Toni's confidence has grown and grown all season and his once timid defence has been replaced with the kind of fierce tenacity that puts most of the forwards to shame. Added to that some silky running, a real turn of pace and potency under the high ball, he finished the season as one of the best players in the side and must be looking forward to next season with relish.

New Appointments:

President - The venerable Randal Whittaker Esq was appointed President in place of the eminant Andy Charles. Charlesy has served the club well since [ ] and will be sorely missed. Randal has deservedly been honoured for his contribution to the club and long may his reign continue.

Captain - Irish has been appointed to replace Mitch (now on secondment to Abu Dhabi RFC) and after his player of the season award it could go to no more deserving a man. Irish commands a lot of respect amongst the squad and his ability to lead by example will set us in good stead for the new season. Special mention should go to Mitch who has captained the side through many a successful campaign. We look forward to welcoming him back as a player as soon as his loan contract expires.

End of 2008/2009 Season Round-Up - last updated 09/06/09

Old Haberdashers 2008/9 Season Report

Another great season of rugby for all that were involved this year at Habs. There was an air of disappointment with coming 4th in the League and for the second year in a row missing out on promotion by one spot - however, this was tempered with some great games, at points cruising against the top teams in the League and at other times getting stuck in with the guys down at the bottom.  Such is the nature of Habs' barbarian style of the beautiful game and the inevitable result of such a high turn over of players throughout the season.  Without doubt, consistency will be the key to gaining the elusive step up next season.

Some statistics: Played 16 Won 9 Drawn 2 Lost 5 For 279 Against 182.

All that was good about the season started from the front line - the forwards, notably the front 5, were peerless in the League making our scrums and line-outs a sure thing every time, which was a privelege to watch and play behind.  Irish, Player of the Season and Captain Elect, was dominant in each and every area of the park for the entirety, as were the omnipresent Monkey, Randal and Ian, 1/3 each of one of the most charming front row combinations that the club has witnessed in recent years (according to Randal). Some of the most impressive carries of the season were laid down by Bobby Forrest and Flan, and some of the stirling defensive work by Kaufman, Tom Adams and Beast was lion-esque.  Peel was key in both forward and goal-kicking duties and was way ahead in the race for the Golden Boot award. Foxy always deployed the infamous "big no thank you" to great effect and on their day the pack were brutally efficient. 

A key position in the last 2 seasons has been scrum-half, and Ghandhi continued his fine form on the pitch (and with the ladies), marshalling the forwards well and providing a great delivery to his number 10.  The backs played some excellent rugby at points, but were perhaps guilty of not making the most of the platform given to them by the forwards.  Games such as Wasps away and Mill Hill stick in the mind for providing some of the most outrageous tries since Austin Healey hung up his boots, but on occasions a lack of coherence was symptomatic of the failure to get the same guys out week in week out.  Si Jones was as always at the fore, top try scorer for the season despite playing most of the games outside an inside centre none to keen on passing (hence the interception count).  Nathan Williams continually opened up defences and Toni Chan made strong ground on the wing which saw him pick up Most Improved Player of the Season. Butts showed us when he wasn't in Hong Kong why he was badly missed when he was. Many guys played in many positions throughout the season in order to get the strongest team out and their enthusiasm to do so was a credit to them and the team.

The end of season tour to Canterbury was a fitting finale, with a great turn out a number of stories that were worthy of their own report/short stories.  Winning by so many points after a G&T breakfast loosener was considered fortunate by the coaching staff of Jones & Jones and not to be continued into the serious business of the League campaign next season. Commentators have suggested that this embargo may be lifted around April time next year for one weekend only.  What the tour, and indeed end of season dinner (which were very similar in many ways), proved beyond doubt was that Habs are a team full of good guys who know what they like doing and who they like doing it with (on a weekly basis).  An absolute pleasure for all involved (apart from the other passengers on the 8 am train back to London on the Sunday) - a special mention to Ian for organising it and Jones and Kaufman for a spectacular failure to miss their ladies running the London Marathon.

The return of a few key players from injury/overseas should make competition fierce next season.  Under the leadership of Irish we are bound for great things if it all clicks into place.  I have no doubt that we have all of the required skills to playing a couple of Leagues above where we are, but to achieve this will take continued enthusiasm and commitment from each member of the squad. Most importantly, I hope that we can continue to play some great rugby and make the most of all the social events that we have ahead of us - after all, playing a high-quality and hard game of rugby with such a top bunch of guys is a pleasure and privilege.