Rotherham R.U.F.C.
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| The Earth Titans | |
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| Full name | Rotherham Rugby Union Football Club |
| Emblem | Mitre |
| Colours | Claret and blue |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Sport | Rugby union |
| League | National Division One |
| Ground | Clifton Lane |
| Official website | www.rotherhamrugby.co.uk |
Rotherham Rugby Union Football Club, "The Titans", as they became known following a 2003 sponsorship deal, are a semi-professional rugby union team from Rotherham, Yorkshire, currently playing in the English National Division One, having been relegated from the top-flight of professional rugby union in 2003-2004 after only one season, disapointingly without winning a single match.
At the end of that season, Mike Yarlett, the owner who had bankrolled the club's rise through the leagues, withdrew his backing, and extinction looked a distinct possibility. The club was rescued by a local consortium using finance from businesses, supporters and Rotherham Council, and after a subsequent sponsorship from a finance company, took the name Earth Titans.
In the 2003-4 season, the Earth Titans shared Millmoor stadium with Rotherham United Football Club, however they have now returned to their traditional Clifton Lane home (Shared with Rotherham Cricket Club). Average crowds in the 2003-4 season were around 2,000 but have dropped to around 1000 since relegation.
The 2004-5 season started with 5 wins in a row for the Earth Titans, but the reality of their financial situation, and vast scale of squad changes this had caused, soon kicked in. The Earth Titans finished in a very respectable 8th position in the National Division One.
2005-6 saw Andre Bester take control of the club in the double role of Chief Executive and Head Coach. With attendances between 920 and 2250, The Earth Titans managed to finish the season in a high position of 4th in National Division One.
The next season (2006-7) that the Earth Titans face will be an interesting one. They have lost the likes of David Strettle, an England 7s star to Harlequin F.C., but have brought in players which Bester feel have the potential to help the Titans win National Division One, such as Ireland U21 International Gareth Steenson and Scotland 7’s Andrew Turnbull. More uncertainty will face all National Division One clubs this season though, as PRL and the RFU enter negotiations regarding among other things the possibility to ringfence the Guinness Premiership.
Regardless of the possibility of the ringfence situation, the Earth Titans need to resolve issues surrounding facilities. They have been turned down for promotion before due to this, and require better facilities if they are to be promoted. As aforementioned The Earth Titans have shared Millmoor stadium with Rotherham United Football Club in the past. Rotherham United Football Club’s Chairman, Dennis Coleman, has recently mentioned the possibility of sharing a new Community Stadium. Bester and the Earth Titans are fully supportive of these developments, as a huge part of the clubs future may rest upon them.
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| Federation: | Rugby Football Union |
| National teams: | England • England Saxons • England Sevens • British and Irish Lions |
| International Competitions: | Rugby World Cup • Six Nations Championship • Heineken Cup • European Challenge Cup • European Shield • Churchill Cup • Rugby World Cup Sevens • IRB Sevens World Series • London Sevens |
| Domestic Competitions: | Guinness Premiership • EDF Energy Cup |
| Guinness Premiership teams: | Bath • Bristol • Gloucester • Harlequins • Leicester Tigers • London Irish • Newcastle Falcons • Northampton Saints • Sale Sharks • Saracens • London Wasps • Worcester Warriors |
| National Division One teams: | Bedford • Cornish Pirates • Coventry • Doncaster • Exeter Chiefs • Leeds Tykes • London Welsh • Moseley • Newbury • Nottingham • Otley • Pertemps Bees • Plymouth Albion • Rotherham • Sedgley Park • Waterloo |
