Helsinki Rugby Club (colloquially known as HRC) is a Finnish rugby club based in Helsinki. Founded in 1999, it is the oldest and biggest (in terms of registered players) club in Finland. They currently play in the Finnish Championship League, competing with both men and women teams in XV's and 7's.
Teams, club logo and colors
HRC comprises three different teams: two men's teams, one in the Championship and one in the Division 2, and one women's team, playing in the Championship.
Since 2021, HRC has also launched a youth programme and started the U17 beginners' team, to develop future rugby players and help contributing to the growth of the rugby movement in Finland.
The club logo shows the nationalities involved in the formation of the club: Finnish, English, French, South African and Australian. The club colors, blue and white, are taken from the finnish flag.
Early history (1999-2019) The inspiration to form Helsinki Rugby Club came during some rugby discussions in Molly Malone’s Irish Bar in Helsinki between some rugby friends in 1999. In its first season HRC played one game, narrowly lost to a representative team from Sweden. In 2000, the club was granted its first official home ground in Myllypuro by the Helsinki City Council. HRC claimed its first victory against a team representing British Navy ship HMS Sheffield, took part in the Stockholm 10's Tournament for the first time and organized the first edition of the Baltic Plate 10-a-side Tournament.
The Finnish National Championship was launched in 2002 and HRC claimed the title, followed by another championship win in 2003.
The club's first ever tour abroad was in Riga in 2004. In the same year, Finland played its first home international game, which was hosted and organized by HRC. HRC participated to the inaugural Women’s Finnish Championship, launched in 2006. In 2008, Baltic Plate Tournament was transformed into Midnight Rugby Tournament and took its position as an annual mid-June rugby party in Helsinki, until its last edition in 2019. In 2009, the club celebrated its 10 year anniversary in the British Embassy.
The inaugural men’s 7’s championship was launched in 2010 and HRC took the first ever title. In 2011, men’s 7’s team was invited to Moscow for European 7’s Champions Trophy.
After a few years of absence, HRC re-enter the women’s championship in 2012.
In 2013, the club organized the Finnish Championship finals in Helsinki, attracting the (then) highest-ever amount of spectators at a Finnish rugby game.
After an eleven-year drought, men claimed the XV’s championship in 2014. At the same time, the women's team advanced to the finals first time in their history, finishing in the runner-up position. A year later, in 2015, the tables turned as HRC women's team celebrated their first ever XV’s title, while men narrowly lost the title in the final. Men’s 7’s team won the 7’s championship title and HRC men’s 2nd team won the Division 1.
The 2016 season is HRC’s shiniest moment: the club accomplished its first and only double-double, as both men and women retrieved both the 7’s and XV’s championships. Men’s 7’s team participated again to European 7’s Champions Trophy in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
In 2017, both men and women reclaimed the 7’s titles and finished in the runner-up position in their respective championships. The club also participated in traditional Ghent Easter 7’s tournament and finished in men and women’s competitions second and third, respectively.
Recent years (2020-Present)
XVs
2020 Season
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, HRC had a particularly successful season in 2020, achieving a solid roster depth for both Big Guns and Blue Tigers. The short schedule saw the Big Guns, led by returning coach Jake Pratley, go undefeated throughout the regular season: after a draw with OTS Porvoo for 24-24 in the season opener, HRC went on to defeat Jyväskylä (59-10), Turku Eagles (17-14), Kuopio (79-0), Warriors (27-14) and Kalev (47-0). In the championship final, held in Otaniemi, HRC defeated Warriors for 40-29, winning their fifth national title. HRC number eight Wertti Bask also won the Player of the Year award.
The second team, under first-time coach Jussi Tamminen, had a positive year, tying with Pori at the top of the division at the end of the regular season. In the Division 1 final matchup, Pori defeated HRC for 23-5.