Stocksbridge RUFC

Popular front row forward Mikey ‘Vegas’ Hartley has been added to the Coaching Team as Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby prepare for their Yorkshire 4 Counties league campaign. Hartley suffered a potential career ending ankle injury away at Halifax during the final game of last season, so a transition to Andy Lawrence’s Coaching Team will form part of his rehabilitation. His experience of the front row dark arts will be an asset to the Club’s up & coming front rowers.

Hartley has previous coaching experience having assisted with the Colts, but this will be a different challenge for him having played with most of the current playing roster. His playing experience began as a 7 yr old & he graduated to Senior Rugby from the age of 17, so there is plenty of real life experience to draw on. The 30 yr old hooker has a simple view on how the game should be played ‘run forward, pass backward & tackle low’ he says, adding, ‘follow the game plan & coaching instructions at all times !’. Like all Stocksbridge Rugby supporters, Hartley hopes to be able to add to the culture of the environment brought to the club by Kiwi Head Coach Andy Lawrence, ‘I want to see the boys enjoy their rugby, enjoy competing, play some fast, free flowing footie, but above all, finding someone who can throw a line out better than me !’, he adds with a typical Hartley grin.

There are a couple of friendlies to confirm before the league campaign begins on 2^nd Sept away to Aireborough Rugby.

Thumbs up from Hartley

Wrirren by Andrew Tyers.