The club confirmed they are reversing the partnership and staying local. I am completely drained after this fight but the Stags remain ours. We still have to keep a close eye on their future plans.
November 23, 2016
Final supporters
Hemel Stags are a rugby league club that has been in operation since 1981. It is the longest serving rugby league club in the South of England and has a healthy minis, juniors and open age section in addition to a semi professional side who has played in league 1 since their induction in 2013.
Following the end of the 2016 season, the decision was made, with zero consultation with the players, volunteers, sponsors and supporters of both the professional and amateur club, to form a partnership with Championship side Dewsbury Rams. This partnership will result in Hemel Stags holding ALL their training sessions in Dewsbury - 170 miles from Hemel, whilst continuing to play their home games at Pennine Way, home of the Stags. As a result, any players aspiring to play in league 1 will have to make a 340 mile round trip, 3 times per week, should they wish to be considered for selection. Furthermore, the team will be made up of Northern based players, with no loyalty, involvement or understanding of the history of the Stags, who will travel down to play their home games at Pennine way.
As a result there is no longer a professional 'Hemel' team for local players to represent, for members of the community to support and for the minis and juniors to one day aspire play for. Furthermore there is a strong belief among people residing in Hemel (whether they are involved with the club or not) and the wider rugby league community that the powers in charge of the club have made a terrible decision that goes against the ethos of a great rugby league club which has been at the forefront of rugby league development in the South of England.
We therefore urge you to sign the petition and stand with us in expressing our contempt for the current plans to link with Dewsbury Rams.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
September 13, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
September 12, 2016
September 10, 2016
The climb toward one hundred names is exhausting but necessary if we want our opposition to recognize the depth of this betrayal. I need everyone to put this in front of someone new today so we can hit that mark before we force this conversation into the open.
431 Comments
As a member of the London junior league, I would be upset to see a great pathway for younger players from London be lost. Without Hemel a number of players now in Super League would never have had a chance to show what they are capable of.
Southern players can't possibly travel 3 times a week to Yorkshire to train, effectively this decision means that the current Hemel players have been sacked and the pathway for new players closed. R.I.P Southern Rugby League shameful
What happens if Hemel gets promoted or Dewsbury get relegated and they end up in the same division? Still training together, sharing resources? Short sighted. Hemel should be about local development, local development, local development.
As a former player I would not support a partnership that weakens development in an already low RL threshold. The club should focus on local talent development not spring-boarding up the leagues by utilising players who will leave as soon as they have been scouted.
This a real shame, that such a great local club is possibly being moved. They say there are no grass roots interest, my son goes to a local primary school and they had an inter school tournament, over 300 children were there. How's that no local interest.
A ridiculous and retrograde proposal. Clubs MUST have a local identity for them to prosper.
Disgracefull. Typical of the RL community in General though. i.e. shooting itself in the foot.
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The club confirmed they are reversing the partnership and staying local. I am completely drained after this fight but the Stags remain ours. We still have to keep a close eye on their future plans.
November 23, 2016
Final supporters
Hemel Stags are a rugby league club that has been in operation since 1981. It is the longest serving rugby league club in the South of England and has a healthy minis, juniors and open age section in addition to a semi professional side who has played in league 1 since their induction in 2013.
Following the end of the 2016 season, the decision was made, with zero consultation with the players, volunteers, sponsors and supporters of both the professional and amateur club, to form a partnership with Championship side Dewsbury Rams. This partnership will result in Hemel Stags holding ALL their training sessions in Dewsbury - 170 miles from Hemel, whilst continuing to play their home games at Pennine Way, home of the Stags. As a result, any players aspiring to play in league 1 will have to make a 340 mile round trip, 3 times per week, should they wish to be considered for selection. Furthermore, the team will be made up of Northern based players, with no loyalty, involvement or understanding of the history of the Stags, who will travel down to play their home games at Pennine way.
As a result there is no longer a professional 'Hemel' team for local players to represent, for members of the community to support and for the minis and juniors to one day aspire play for. Furthermore there is a strong belief among people residing in Hemel (whether they are involved with the club or not) and the wider rugby league community that the powers in charge of the club have made a terrible decision that goes against the ethos of a great rugby league club which has been at the forefront of rugby league development in the South of England.
We therefore urge you to sign the petition and stand with us in expressing our contempt for the current plans to link with Dewsbury Rams.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
September 13, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
September 12, 2016
September 10, 2016
The climb toward one hundred names is exhausting but necessary if we want our opposition to recognize the depth of this betrayal. I need everyone to put this in front of someone new today so we can hit that mark before we force this conversation into the open.
431 Comments
Stags have a great reputation having built the club up through the ranks. The idea that a supporter owned club does not consult with its members goes against the ethos of supporter ownership. On such a big decision the matter should be put to the members.
As a member of the London junior league, I would be upset to see a great pathway for younger players from London be lost. Without Hemel a number of players now in Super League would never have had a chance to show what they are capable of.
Southern players can't possibly travel 3 times a week to Yorkshire to train, effectively this decision means that the current Hemel players have been sacked and the pathway for new players closed. R.I.P Southern Rugby League shameful
What happens if Hemel gets promoted or Dewsbury get relegated and they end up in the same division? Still training together, sharing resources? Short sighted. Hemel should be about local development, local development, local development.
As a former player I would not support a partnership that weakens development in an already low RL threshold. The club should focus on local talent development not spring-boarding up the leagues by utilising players who will leave as soon as they have been scouted.
This a real shame, that such a great local club is possibly being moved. They say there are no grass roots interest, my son goes to a local primary school and they had an inter school tournament, over 300 children were there. How's that no local interest.
A ridiculous and retrograde proposal. Clubs MUST have a local identity for them to prosper.
Disgracefull. Typical of the RL community in General though. i.e. shooting itself in the foot.
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Stags have a great reputation having built the club up through the ranks. The idea that a supporter owned club does not consult with its members goes against the ethos of supporter ownership. On such a big decision the matter should be put to the members.