ROYSTON head coach Jamie Green has hailed his side’s remarkable rise after back-to-back promotions, three county cups and a run to the national quarter-finals.
Green’s side reached the Counties 2 North Plate quarter-finals after winning promotion from Counties 2 Herts into Counties 1 next season (Level 7).
The Hertfordshire outfit’s success has been built almost entirely on a core of homegrown players, many of whom Green has coached since their teenage years.
Green, who took over the senior side around five seasons ago, had long identified the current crop as the foundation for the club’s future.
He told The Rugby Paper: “This group have carried the club forward. I’ve worked with them since they were colts and the biggest thing was keeping them together and making sure they loved the game and the club.
“The fact they’ve stayed and wanted to play first-team rugby here rather than move on is what makes it so special. It was about steadying the ship and waiting for that group to come through. We had about 40-45 players in that colts side and we worked hard to keep them together. That’s where it all started.”
That faith has paid off, with the current squad almost entirely made up of players developed through the club’s pathway.
“In the final last weekend, every player in the squad was homegrown,” Green added. “Most of them are only 20 years old. They’ve just stuck together, fought for each other and enjoyed it.”
Green’s own connec- tion to the club runs deep, having first pulled on a Royston shirt at the age of 11 before moving into coaching nearly three decades ago. And even now, at 47, Green still occasionally pulls on his boots.
“I’ve been coaching here for about 28 or 29 years now,” he said. “It was never really a long-term plan to be head coach, more just to help players transition from youth into senior rugby. I’ve always wanted to make sure lads are ready when they step up, rather than just throwing them in too early.
“I still love playing. I’ve had five or six games this season. I just enjoy getting my knees dirty.”
Among the standout products of Royston’s system is scrum-half Jonny Weimann, who has gone on to represent England U20s and break into the senior setup at Northampton Saints.
“Jonny was incredibly dedicated,” Green said.
“He was a multi-sport athlete – swimming, cricket, rugby – and that gave him so many transferable skills. What you see now is a completely different player to the one who just wanted to run around people as a kid. He’s developed into a proper all-round player.”
Green takes immense pride in seeing players progress, but insists it is about more than just those who reach the professional game.
“It’s brilliant to see Jonny doing what he’s doing,” he added. “But there are loads of lads who have gone on to play at really good levels or represent sides. That’s what it’s all about.”
Royston’s rise has come despite unique challenges, with the club playing on a public common rather than a traditional ground and deriving from a town of just 17,000 people.
“It’s the most beautiful place in the world to play rugby,” Green said.
“But it comes with challenges. We’ve got no clubhouse, no bar income, everything is self-generated. Before games I’m out there picking up dog mess to make sure it’s safe.”
Yet those limitations have only strengthened the club’s identity as a true community side.
Looking ahead, Green is keen to keep expectations grounded despite the recent success but with another talented group of youngsters already coming through, the story looks set to continue.
“We rely on volunteers and the local community,” he said. “But that’s what makes it special. There’s no pressure from me. All they’ve got to do is enjoy it. If they keep turning up, working hard and having fun, they’ll go as far as they want to go.
“There’s another batch of colts coming through that we’re excited about. They’ll only add to what we’ve already got.”
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