DONCASTER PHOENIX
DONCASTER
PHOENIX
Based at Castle Park in South Yorkshire,
Doncaster Phoenix RUFC currently
competes in Yorkshire Division 1. Rugby
Club Magazine caught up with their
Secretary Bill Farley who told us about a
variety of different areas of their set-up.
Atmosphere
“The mood at the club is buoyant! Last season,
we narrowly missed out on Promotion to North
East Rugby finishing 3rd. As a club our bond
with Doncaster has strengthened and seen the
incoming of new Coach Ants Posa and influx of
new players formerly involved with Doncaster
Amateurs.”
Youth
“The Phoenix dynamic is that we don’t have a
Youth section purse, however we have forged
excellent links with Doncaster RFC Junior
section and look to encourage all Doncaster
Junior players to progress into their senior
Rugby at Phoenix – this we see as key and it is
crucial to keep and develop the 17-23 year olds
playing for Phoenix at Castle Park, this is seen
as a National Issue by the RFU but our aim is to
keep these players interested – so far Training
numbers are regularly 30 plus with a significant
number of players under 23 – the future looks
bright!”
Integration
“We have worked hard to maintain the links with
the Doncaster Junior Team Managers (many are
past players and comrades) we like to assist and
get involved on Sundays (I have refereed the
current U17s for the last 5 years).
This season also sees Ants Posa as the lynch
pin between Doncaster Junior and Doncaster
Phoenix, his role is more than Joint Head
Coach, he is also key in progressing the player
path way through Doncaster starting at U5s
through to Senior Rugby, and also look to
identify any individuals who have the ability to
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progress not just to Phoenix but as a full time
professional for Doncaster Knights.”
Progression
“We have some promising younger players now
starting to emerge from the Doncaster Junior
ranks in particular a back row Ed Miles who has
risen through the Doncaster Junior set up and
he started his senior career in the Seconds and
has progressed to pushing his way into the first
XV squad. I am sure will come on leaps and
bounds learning from ex-Knights Peacey, Kettle
and Planchant.
We have also now boosted our squad with the
return of some ex-Doncaster Amateur players
including: the three Steadman brothers – Mark,
Tom and Paul, Mike Hall, James Holland and
George Wood all of which I’m sure will feature
in the first XV this season.”
Facilities
Phoenix is in an unique position, we play out
of a Full time professional facility and all the
benefits that come with it first class changing,
gym access, stadium seating and newly
installed floodlighting (of which we played
a significant part in securing as part of a
community grant via the RFU).