Harrogate RUFC sure to 'relish' step up in class following promotion to National Two

The Rudding Lane outfit’s promotion to National Two was confirmed last week despite the 2019/20 season being abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Gate sat third in the North Premier standings when competition was suspended in mid-March, but had played a game less than both of the sides above them and would have gone on to win the title had they claimed maximum points from their five remaining fixtures.

In the end, the Rugby Football Union used a ‘best playing record formula’ to determine the final league positions, meaning that the Aces were promoted behind top-of-the-table Blaydon.

As a result, Doherty’s men will take their place in English rugby’s fourth tier in 2020/21, a division that, on paper, looks set to be an extremely competitive one and is packed with Yorkshire clubs.

Ex-Premiership outfit Rotherham Titans were relegated into National Two North from National One alongside Hull Ionians, and both teams will be expected to challenge at the top end of the table alongside Fylde, Hinckley and Sedgley Park – the league’s three stand-out sides this term after runaway champions Caldy.

“It’s going to be a real dogfight in National Two next season, but we’re really excited about it ,” said Doherty, whose troops will also come up against White Rose rivals Wharfedale, Huddersfield, Hull and Sheffield Tigers.

“Obviously it’s a big step up. In terms of physicality and organisation, there is a big difference to what we’ve been faced with in the North Premier, though this challenge is one that I know the boys will relish.”

Harrogate’s return to National Two North comes following a three-year absence.

They were relegated on the final day of 2016/17 , Doherty’s first season at the helm, and one that the Aces chief learned plenty from.

He is aware that he will need to strengthen in certain areas during the close season, but insists that he won’t be making wholesale changes.

“One thing we will definitely do is stay loyal to the boys who got us promoted,” he added.

"There are a number of them who have been here for three, four years or longer and have proved that they wanted to play for this club, so this is their reward for that loyalty. Like I say, they're now looking forward for the chance to test themselves in a higher division.

“Our philosophy, as a club, is to try and bring players through our academy and into the 1st XV, and we don’t want to move away from that. Regardless of the division we are playing in, that's our model. We won't go out and start throwing cash around.

“We need strength in depth, so we’ll look to bring in a few in particular positions, but there won’t be wholesale changes.

"You see sides who get promoted and look to change almost their entire team, but we don't need to do that due to quality of players we already have.

"The only concern is that if you end up with five or six first-team players injured or unavailable at the same time - something which happened to us a couple of times this season - then you'll get taken apart in National Two, so we will have to add to the group."