T'Other Side: Doncaster

 

 Head Coach: Richard Horne

Richard Horne is a real rarity in modern rugby league in that he has been a one club man (albeit) with two clubs. If that sounds like double-Dutch then we’ll explain. The only club where he has been head coach is Doncaster where he took over in June 2017, having previously been on the coaching staff at Hull FC. At Doncaster he has master-minded a steady improvement in the club’s fortunes. They narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship, being beaten in the play-off finals in 2021 and 2022 but it was third time lucky last year when they won the final against 18-6 against North Wales Crusaders.

His entire club playing career was at Hull FC and encompassed 17 seasons from 1998 until his retirement in 2014. For Hull he played 383 games, mostly as a halfback, and scored 133 tries. We said he only played for one club, and that is true, but he also played matches for Scotland (in the 2000 World Cup), Yorkshire and Great Britain.

 

Captain: Sam Smeaton 

 

Sam is one of our local lads and he started out with Featherstone Lions. In 2009 he signed for Rovers. After two lengthy absences because of injuries he joined Sheffield Eagles in 2015 and then played for Halifax, York and Batley before moving to Doncaster in 2020. This is his 3rd season as the Doncaster captain.

Sam was a member of the Fev team that won the 2011 Championship Grand Final.