As the club approached the Millennium a team was building, under the guidance of Coach Graeme Walters and Director of Rugby Clive Mann, that would achieve stellar success in the Noughties. In 2000 League rugby was reorganized such that home and away matches were introduced for the first time. This had the affect of making the leagues the focus for all clubs and friendlies became peripheral. League success became paramount and Hertford had a team to challenge the leagues.

The decade began with two sevens wins – the Herts Sevens and the Benidorm International Sevens.

At the beginning of the decade we were at level 7. By 2004 the 1st XV had reached the dizzy heights of National 2 South (Level 4). In those 4 seasons only 12 games were lost, a remarkable achievement. The standard of rugby at Level 4 was very high and after a good first season where we went from relegation candidates at Christmas to a creditable fifth place finish, we found the going hard and in 2007 found ourselves back at Level 5.

The 1st XV won the Hertfordshire President’s Cup a record five consecutive seasons 2004-2008 beating St Albans, Letchworth and Stevenage ( 3 times).

2008 Herts President’s Cup Winners for 5th Consecutive Year

The crowning glory of the era was the victory in the final of the Powergen Intermediate Cup against St Mary’s Old Boys, from Bristol, at Twickenham in April 2003. In the previous 3 seasons we had lost to the eventual winners in the latter stages of the competition (Dunstablians, Old Patesians and Halifax). In front of 3000 baying Hertford supporters victory was a fitting climax to four outstanding years in the cup.

Intermediate Cup Winners 2003

To complete this great decade the club embarked on two outstanding tours, first to Cape Town in 2004 and then to Buenos Aires in 2008. Considering the social aspects of these tours they were pretty successful on the field and very successful off it.

Throughout the Noughties we were running 6 sides and a successful Veterans team the Youth and Mini Sections were flourishing and the strength of the club was emphasized in 2006 when the U16 and U17 teams hosted the Canadian National sides at Hoe Lane.

Hertford U16 with the Canadian National U16 team - 2006

During this decade a Girls and Ladies section was formed and achieved considerable success under the leadership of Mel Timpson, they even had their own Charity calendar!

Hertford Ladies XV 2008

The 2010s
The beginning of the decade saw Hertford pressing for promotion again and were rewarded with a return to National 3 South (level 4) in 2011 but in spite of superb victories over Redruth and Hartpury College we were relegated back to Level 5. Our general away form was poor and the side was not helped by an horrendous injury list with 61 different players having to be used throughout the campaign.

2011 also saw our last success in winning the Hertfordshire Presidents’ Cup for the ninth time. Sadly Hertford are no longer eligible to play in this competition due to our higher League status.

We played out the rest of the decade (until 2022) in the London & Southeast Premier League. League restructuring in 2022 moved us to Regional 1 South East (still level 5) where we play today. Throughout the decade the ambition for success in the leagues and promotion was still our main goal but whilst finishing in the top half in the majority of those seasons we were never able to quite clinch that promotion place.

Hertford 1st XV 2017

The real downside of these years is that we started the decade fielding 6 regular sides and finished with just 4 sides. Apart from a very successful 2nd XV and an enthusiastic and loyal Termites team (4th XV) there has been a steady decline in regular players in the middle part of the Club. This problem is nationwide and common across all sports and is a concern for our sport in particular, with many clubs in Hertfordshire now only fielding one or two sides. The Herts & Middlesex Merit Tables were established to provide competitive rugby for all club sides and this has helped in some part to provide a stable framework for all lower sides to play in. Hertford has consistently been successful in these leagues

Hertford 4th XV Herts Merit Table Champions 2016

Where rugby is flourishing is in the Youth & Mini Sections. Since 1974 when Mini and Youth rugby was first introduced the Club is now one of the largest Youth and Mini set ups in the County. The Youth and Mini sections run over 15 very enthusiastic and successful teams. On Sundays the pitches at Hoe Lane field teams from the Under 7’s to the Colts. So, on what is most peoples day of rest, you will find up to 600 youngsters and many, many Mums, Dads, Brothers and Sisters involved on the pitches and elsewhere. All age groups have qualified RFU coaches and many senior club players lend a hand with coaching the youngsters.

Hertford Minis

The over-riding principle is that rugby is a game for fun and to make friends; it is not so much the winning but the playing. This is especially so with young people who should be encouraged to enjoy themselves, to win with modesty and lose with dignity, so that after the game the fun continues and friendships are created.

We have also seen a revival in Ladies and Girls rugby and it is the aim to expand this section with good coaching and good facilities. With the hard work of many volunteers we have, in recent seasons, been able to provide Mixed Ability rugby. How do you describe them? Well, it is just another rugby team! It is not a disability team, players are not classified by physical, intellectual or mental disabilities or barriers. It is a team open to anyone who wants to play regular full contact rugby… for rugby’s sake.

In 1932 when the club formed it was a club of enthusiasts for the game of rugby.
Now, as a Community Club, we aim to represent all aspects of our local community and provide the framework for our 2,000 members to enjoy this wonderful game we love so much.