Sheffield RUFC given warning over 'ginormous challenge' of National One
Experienced schemer Zak Poole has warned his Sheffield RUFC team-mates not to under-estimate the size of the task facing them as they bid to survive and thrive in their first season in English rugby’s third tier.
The 124-year-old club won National Two North at a canter last season after steadily building over a five-year period under charismatic Kiwi Anthony Posa. That earned the Abbeydale men a first crack at National One in their history.
One man who knows all about the challenges posed in a nationalised league full of part-time players, academy prospects and loan players from Prem clubs, is Zak Poole, who has spent much of the past decade playing at that level.
He took the decision 12 months ago to end his long association with Rotherham Titans because he couldn’t commit to the tougher schedule they had embarked on having won National Two North the season before.
He dropped down to Sheffield RUFC to replace former Premiership player Ryan Burrows as one of the senior figures, and went and helped them follow in the footsteps of Rotherham by winning promotion.
“Last season was good fun,” said Poole. “We didn’t hide anything. Straight away we said what our targets were and to a man, every single player targeted promotion.
“We were all going in the same direction, but it’s no guarantee, you still have to make it happen.”
He added: “It had been a big decision for me to leave Rotherham. I was back and forth and changed my mind about 50 times, but now looking back I made the right call.
“We got what we wanted at Sheffield, and Roth got what they wanted, so I was doubly happy.”
Now, though, comes the challenge of helping Sheffield consolidate in National One.
Two years ago Poole was captain of a Rotherham team that was on the way back up after bottoming out in the fourth tier. Under Harvey Biljon, the Titans hit the ground running in National One and finished third, laying the foundations for their title-winning campaign in 2025/26.
Sheffield, contrastingly, are largely venturing into the unknown, save for a few wise old heads like Poole who understand the demands ahead of them when the season gets underway at Tonbridge Juddians on September 5.
“The challenge is ginormous,” said Poole. “I don’t know if everyone yet quite understands the magnitude of the challenge, but that can be a positive because there’s no fear.
“I know how hard National One is, I’ve played in it from the age of 18.
“So it will be tough, I think we’re up for it but there’s a few people who will play that first game and think ‘crikey, this is a big step up’.
“Leeds were in the exact same situation and balanced out. A lot of teams who are in the same situation take a while to find their feet. Or you go the other way like Sedgley did a couple of years ago, go up and shock everyone, play your game and the results take care of themselves.
“I’m hoping that’s what we do, that we can take some scalps and if anyone takes us lightly or takes us for granted then they’re in for a shock.”
Building a strong squad is Poole’s key piece of advice.
“The biggest thing I take from my Rotherham experience is having the depth,” he said. “Any team can put their best XV out and they’ll challenge one another. Where Rotherham have adapted and where they’ve grown is it’s actually how good your 25, or how good your 30, is.
“So fingers crossed we have that depth and I know they’re working hard on bringing that depth in. Because every one that comes in on a matchday needs to be ready.”
Sheffield have retained a lot of the core of their title-winning side and on top of that, Posa has sprinkled eight new faces.
With a budget at the lower end of the division, the director of rugby has prioritised acquiring players from the tier they have just left.
“I’ve picked some good men, on and off the field, from the level below,” said Posa. “A prime example of the type of player we’ve been going for is Will Henshall who has been Sandal’s best player for a number of years, and Alex Patrick, second row from Heath.
“We’re giving these guys a shot. We’re not going big bucks because we can’t. It’s an avenue for local talent to test themselves at a higher level.”
Sheffield have brought in one of Poole’s former Rotherham team-mates in Sinjin Broad, whose knowledge of the third tier Posa will be tapping into. Along with that of Poole, of course.
“Zak is a big player, a big character too. He really gets both sides of it, on and off the field,” added Posa.
“He struggled through injury the latter part of the season but no one could ever question his heart. I’ll be tapping into his knowledge.
“But the under-lying message is we won’t change who we are, we’re going to enjoy the ride and if we’re good enough, we’re good enough, but we’ll give it a bloody good go.”