Pocklington RUFC Welcomes Touring Sides
Pocklington RUFC has long been a popular venue for rugby club tours from throughout Britain, and across the world.
In the past decade Pocklington has hosted tours from all parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland; and also from USA, Canada, Argentina, Denmark, Germany, Holland, France and South Africa. Some of these have been during the season, with several being at Easter and also taking in the 'Pock 7s' tournament on Good Friday - which is Yorkshire's oldest seven a side tournament. But some have been pre-season, such as Richmond RFC, Canada, a few years ago, or shortly after the end of our season in May.
Most touring parties have been hotel based, and there are plenty of reasonable hotels nearby, but some parties have been hosted by club members and associates, and some have even preferred to sleep on the clubhouse floor!
Pocklington's reputation as a friendly, welcoming community makes it a good place to visit, and though small the town has a wide range of facilities. Further details about the town of Pocklington can be obtained from the town website www.pocklington.gov.uk. It is also close to York as a base for cultural and historical activities, and more extensive night life.
Pocklington RUFC also has an outstanding social reputation, and the club's tradition of singing and socialising has made it the highlight of many tours.
For example, in 1998 Pennsylvania State University, USA, visited Pocklington as part of their three week tour that included stays in the south, midlands and north of England. Gabe Millar, tour organiser, said: "Of all the places we stayed in England, Pocklington was definitely the best. The welcome was outstanding, and we will never forget the hospitality the rugby club provided."
We are also happy to find a Pocklington team to match your level of rugby, and in recent years we have put out Pocklington Colts, Under 21,1st XV and veterans' sides against overseas tourists. Cambridge University Women RFC come to Pocklington on tour every year, and we arrange womens' sides to play them.
In the other direction, Pocklington has been touring regularly since the 1950s, more recently interspacing visits to the Continent every few years, with club tours to Ireland or elsewhere in Britain. Pocklington parties have toured to France on half a dozen occasions in recent years, and we have also been to Holland and Italy.
The club is happy to give whatever assistance it can to make a sporting visit to Pocklington a success, whether this is simply to provide a rugby fixture or to be more involved in tour planning by advising and helping with accommodation, visits or activities during the stay.
Please contact us through the club's website, or by writing to us at Pocklington RUFC, Percy Road, Pocklington, East Yorkshire, England. YO42 .