Hertford following Stortford route to success

IMPROVING National Three outfit Hertford are aiming to emulate neighbours Bishop’s Stortford as their promotion push for Level 4 gathers pace, according to forwards coach and former England prop Robbie Morris.

Stortford refused to break the bank during their climb from the lower leagues, preferring to rely on a core group of a homegrown players and their youth system to establish themselves in the upper echelons of National One.

Hertford, currently a point off the top of National Three London & SE, hold similar principles, with Morris telling TRP: “The club’s in a strong position and we’re going about things in a sustainable way.

“Just throwing money at players is not the way to go and we look at a club like Bishop’s Stortford as a really good template.

“I’ve kept an eye on the job (rugby director) Andy Long is doing there and they’ve grown their own players and kept a core group who’ve improved year by year – that’s what we’re aiming to do as well.”

Morris added: “Hertford’s got one of the biggest mini and junior set-ups around. We’ve got very strong ties with Saracens as our closest Premiership club and they regularly send coaches in to work with our youngsters.

“Jamie George played for Hertford, Mike Hynard, their academy manager, is involved here too, so that’s something we’re proud of and we’re playing well. If promotion comes this season, we’ll be ready for it.”

Morris, 35, is delighted to be giving something back after starting his career at Hertford before going on to represent Northampton, Newcastle, Connacht and England, for whom he was capped twice in the 2003 Six Nations.

He said: “I was born in Hertford, came up through the minis and throughout my professional career I always maintained contact with the club and both my boys are in the minis now.

“When I got the opportunity to help three years ago I jumped at it and I help coach the forwards at all levels, not just the firsts. It’s a club I’m really proud of.”