The digital version of our game day programme for our Ninth home game of the 2025/26 season with Hull Ionians will appear here.
Today’s Visitors : Hull Ionians
Today we welcome our close neighbours from Brantingham Park to the Ferens Ground for our last fixture in 2025 before the Christmas and New Year break.
The club was formed in 1989 when the decision of the Hull and East Riding RUFC membership to merge with Ionians RUFC, although not unanimous, led to the formation of Hull Ionians RUFC. League rugby had started two seasons earlier with Hull and East Riding playing in North One and Ionians playing in Yorkshire Three, six levels lower at that time.
Initially playing at Ionians ground in Elloughton the site was subsequently sold for housing and the club moved to their current home in 1994.
Hull Ionians remained in North One until gaining promotion to National 3 North in 2002 as promotion play off winners which ended their record of being the longest serving original member of North One.
Although relegated the following season Hull Ionians achieved promotion again via the play off in 2004/05. The club subsequently won National Two North in season 2012/13 and gained promotion to National One. The huge step up resulted in a swift return to National Two North at the end of 2013/14 but the club once again won National Two North the following season 2014/15 to gain promotion back to National One where they remained for three seasons before relegation at the end of 2017/18.
Back in National Two North for 2018/19 Hull Ionians again won the league to achieve promotion back to National One. Due to the Covid pandemic the 2019/20 season was curtailed in March 2020 and the entire 2020/21 season was subsequently cancelled. National rugby resumed for season 2021/22 with Hull Ionians back in National Two North finishing 6th in the league. In 2022/23 Hull Ionians achieved a 3rd place finish behind Champions Sedgley Park and runners up Fylde before a disappointing second from bottom finish the following season in 2023/24.
Last season 2024/25 Hull Ionians finished 7th having won the first derby of the season convincingly beating us 18-55 at the Ferens Ground in the second game of the season before we restored parity by gaining a 36-37 win at Brantingham Park just before Christmas.
This season Hull Ionians are enjoying a good season and currently sit 6th in the league having won 8, drawn 1 and lost 4 of their 13 games played.
Enjoy the game,
Stephen Hodgson
Club Historian
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 