Havant RFC head coach Will Knight: It’s hard mentally going so long without league games

Havant RFC head coach Will Knight admits it is mentally tough to consider going 18 months without proper league matches.
Havant in action during their 2019/20 London Division 1 title-winning season against KCS Old Boys. Competitive league rugby won't return to Hooks Lane until September 2021 at the earliest. Picture: Vernon NashHavant in action during their 2019/20 London Division 1 title-winning season against KCS Old Boys. Competitive league rugby won't return to Hooks Lane until September 2021 at the earliest. Picture: Vernon Nash
Havant in action during their 2019/20 London Division 1 title-winning season against KCS Old Boys. Competitive league rugby won't return to Hooks Lane until September 2021 at the earliest. Picture: Vernon Nash

The team last played a competitive game in early March, and the RFU have taken the decision to cancel the 2020/21 grassroots league campaign.

While there is still hope some matches against local opposition could be arranged for the new year, Knight knows Havant won’t be playing a competitive league game until September 2021.

That is a long time to wait. A very long time indeed.

Havant RFC head coach Will Knight. Picture: Neil MarshallHavant RFC head coach Will Knight. Picture: Neil Marshall
Havant RFC head coach Will Knight. Picture: Neil Marshall
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The mental side of going so long without games is ‘the biggest challenge’ according to Knight.

Rugby is such a big part of the players’ lives,’ he remarked.

‘I know we have tried to mix things up in training, but the guys are missing going into battle with their mates on a Saturday.

‘It’s very difficult - we’ve been training since the middle of July and it’s hard when there’s no Saturdays to look forward to, no games.’

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The obvious fears for grassroots rugby clubs with no competitive matches on the horizon is losing players - be it at adult or colts level.

‘I think we’ll be ok, we’re in a slightly different position in that we won promotion and the players are looking forward to playing in a higher division,’ said Knight.

‘But generally some players could find other things to do.’

Knight admits trying to keep training interesting has not been easy either.

‘I think the backs have enjoyed it, they’ve been doing a lot of skills work they might not have had the chance to do,’ he explained.

‘For the forwards, it’s probably been a bit less enjoyable.

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‘They can’t do the line-outs, they can’t do the scrummaging, that physical confrontation they enjoy so much just hasn’t been there.

‘That’s been more of a challenge.

‘We’ve tried to keep training varied, we’ve tried to keep everyone upbeat, but it is what it is.

‘These are extraordinary times.’

Knight declared himself unsurprised by the RFU cancelling the 2020/21 grassroots campaign.

‘The squad is gutted, the coaches are gutted,’ he said, ‘but it was something we were expecting.

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‘The longer this went on, the less chance there was of a meaningful league season.

‘We’re just now waiting for the RFU to give us some clarity on what rugby there might be.’

The best chance of games would be in small groups of regionalised clubs, in the same way a truncated grassroots cricket season took place in the summer.

Havant could be grouped with the likes of Chichester, Brighton, Farnham and Bournemouth - clubs around their level.

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‘It would be good if we could get that, at least it would be something,’ said Knight.

‘It would be competitive games for the lads to get their teeth into.’

Ironically, given the lack of games, Havant enjoyed one of their best close seasons in terms of bringing in new players.

The recruitment team, led by Adam King, have brought in over 20 new faces to the squad.

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Matt Barrett has joined from the London Irish Academy, while Knight’s son, Jacob, has returned to the fold.

Havant have also brought in players due to their links with the University of Portsmouth and the Navy.

Services pair Gavin Hughan, a No 8 who has Scottish National 1 experience, and fellow Scot Tam Lindsay are among the new faces

Ex-Havant pair Nathan Bellman and Dan Morgan - the latter a former Academy captain - also returned following the club’s London 1 South title win in 2019/20.

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