We are looking to recruit an talented, enthusiastic individual to join the communications team at Castle Park. 

If you’re a rugby lover, with excellent communications skills, are social media savvy and able to create engaging, creative content for a variety of platforms then check out the job specification below. 

Nature and scope: Reporting to the Commercial & Marketing Manager and working closely with a wide variety of stakeholders, the Communications Executive delivers internal and external communications for Doncaster Knights & Castle Park.

Responsible for developing and implementing strategies for digital, social and print media that are in line with the Club’s overall strategy.

Managing proactive and reactive issues with the media and engaging with existing media stakeholders to grow wider awareness of the Club.

Location: Castle Park, Doncaster.

Compensation: Competitive.

REMIT

Responsible for delivering the communications strategy and ensuring positive and consistent messaging across all Doncaster Knights & Castle Park communication platforms and channels. 

A confident communicator, you will have the skills and ability to build and influence relationships with a strong desire to provide excellent service both internally and externally.

This role will involve working at home and away matches throughout the rugby season.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties and responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties to meet the needs of the organisation.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Rugby/Sport

· Candidates must have an understanding of Rugby and its environment.

Experience

· Experience within sports media and/or communications agency environments.

· Experience in or with media outlets, including television, print, online and social media.                                                                                              · Experience in creating or producing media content, including drafting/editing editorial copy, creating social media content and working with television, radio or online production.                                                                                                        . Graphic design experience advantageous,

Personal Attributes

· Excellent written and oral communication skills along with a flexible and highly organised approach to working in fast-paced, media environment

· Excellent interpersonal skills

· Ability to work to deadlines and to prioritise workloads.

· Good organisational and administration skills

· Diplomacy and ability to work well under pressure

· A team player, but able to work autonomously.

To apply to the role please email Michael Casey on Mcasey@castle-park.co.uk with your CV & covering letter.

The deadline for application is May 1^st 2018.

With less than two weeks until Awards Knight it’s time to vote for your Player of 2017/18! 

Ahead of the final game of the season versus Jersey Reds on April 28th we are asking all Knights fans to let us know who has impressed you most during the current campaign. 

Voting is now open and will run until 5pm on Wednesday April 25th with the winners announced live at Awards Knight which follows full time versus Jersey at Castle Park.

Tickets for Awards Knights are on sale now for just £25 or £16 if you book on to the End of Season Lunch as well, get yours today by calling 01302 831388. 

Cast your vote here – Farmstar Fan’s Player of the Season.

After almost two decades of service, Kit Technician Ian Swindell has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2017/18 season.

Ian is retiring to allow him to spend more time with his family and will set up his final changing room when the Knights take on Jersey Reds at Castle Park on April 28^th.

The Club would like to say a huge thank you to Ian for his years of diligent and meticulous service. Anyone who has ever set foot in a Knights changing room on a match day will know the length Ian goes to to ensure all Knights kit is prepared to the highest standard.

Ian’s shoes will take some real filling for next season (and beyond) but we are hopeful there might be a willing individual to join the Knights back room team for 2018/19.

If you, or someone you know, might be able to commit to the important but rewarding role of Knights Kit Technician please contact mcasey@castle-park.co.uk.

Roles & responsibilities:

–       Prepare all kit and equipment for the first team upon squad announcement – including playing kit, warm up wear & auxiliary items.

–       Prepare changing rooms on match day mornings.

–       Collect kit post match and prepare for collection by laundry service on agreed pick up day.

–       Tidy up kit stores and wash water bottles.

–       Travel to away games, coordinate in loading and unloading of equipment and personnel on team coach.

–       Oversee distribution and administration of kit for Knights players and staff.   

Doncaster RFC today announce the retirement of David Ryall who has been Chief Executive Officer of the Club for over seven years.

Subsequent to a bout of ill health and linked to a long planned move to Cornwall, David has decided that the time has come to relinquish the full-time commitment to DRFC and experience a quieter life.

David’s input into Castle Park has been significant and he leaves the club in a far better organised and purposeful state than when he took on the role.

Although all concerned at Castle Park are very saddened to lose David’s undoubted expertise in the running of a rugby club and attendant significant business, the Board fully accept the reasoning behind the move and wish both David and Shirley all the very best for the future and assure them of an ongoing welcome to Castle Park and, indeed, wherever Doncaster teams play.

By mutual agreement, David will relinquish his post at the end of April and Tony DeMulder will step into the breach as Executive Chairman.

David has added to the club’s statement …………..

“I shall look back at my time with the Club with sincere appreciation for the support I have received from Steve Lloyd and Tony De Mulder.  Also, for the support provided by Club Members who serve as Directors (past and present), the staff of Castle Park, and Members who freely volunteer their time to help the business function.  

The successes that have been made to move the Club forward have come from collective effort, and I thank all who have contributed.

There are exciting times ahead, both on and off the field, and I will watch with keen interest to see how emerging plans develop.

Shirley and I are thankful for the enduring friendships we have made through our time with Doncaster RFC, and we will continue to follow the fortunes of the Club.”

 

Donny had no answers for newly crowned Champions Bristol Rugby who put on a real show in front of a bumper home crowd to run in ten tries for an comprehensive 68-10 win. 

The Knights arrived at Ashton Gate having been victorious on each of their last three trips to the stadium. However, any hopes of a fourth consecutive victory were quickly quashed as the Premiership bound home side subjected Donny to a ruthless display of their capabilities.

The scoring began almost immediately as tight head prop Gaston Cortes barreled over at the back of a driving maul just two minutes after kick off with the Knights pinned into their own five metre following a penalty against Jack Ram. Ian Madigan enjoyed a perfect evening with the boot, slotting his first from the touch line to make the score 7-0.

Donny did hit back with a little bit of resistance following the opening score and got on the board courtesy of a Dougie Flockhart penalty after good work from Mat Clark in midfield lead to an infringement by the Bristol defence.

Unfortunately, the game’s second quarter belonged firmly to the hosts as they accelerated into a unlivable pace, scoring at regular intervals.

Luke Morahan got his first of the afternoon, collecting a long, wide pass from scrum half Rhodri Williams after play had been brought in field from another deep line out. This was quickly followed by a rather fortuitous effort for Soane Tonga’uiha as a loose offload ricocheted from a stray leg to fall kindly into the prop’s arms who gladly accepted the gift.

The hosts added another two scores before the break, the first a fine piece of offensive play from Morahan who skipped through some lackluster defence to dot down for his second. Then on the stroke of half time Charlie Foley was cruelly beaten by the bounce of a ball as he chased back after a grubber kick and Siale Piutau was on hand to profit.

Madigan’s fifth conversion made the half time score 35-3 and Donny had a mountain to climb.

On the evening they lifted the Championship trophy, the Bristolians had no intention of taking the foot off the gas in the second stanza and produced and equally dominant showing after the change of ends.

Three more tries in the ten minutes following halftime from Sam Jeffries, Alapati Leiua and Morahan, saw the hosts pass the fifty point mark and there was real concern about how bad it might get. Thankfully the Knights did stem the scoring slight in the game’s closing stages. 

Donny managed to string a few spells of possession together and had half chances through the likes of Cameron Cowell and Josh Tyrell but could not get any real purchase against the electric home defence.

Bristol’s Williams duo combined smartly for their ninth try of the evening on 67 minutes, full back Jordan collected a miss pass that was so nearly intercepted by Flockhart and accelerated past the cover. Scrum half Rhodri was in support to take an inside pass and finish under the posts.

Donny got over a consolation try with just over five minutes left to play as centre Les Klim hit a smart line following a well driven deep scrum and Flockhart converted.

Bristol had the final say however as Morahan recorded his fourth try of the evening when the winger intercepted a short pass on the blind side and raced away to make the final score 68-10.

One to forget for the Knights who just ran into a Bristol side playing with absolute Premiership quality. The Knights finish the season at Castle Park on April 28^th no doubt determined to put down a marker following a disappointing evening.

Bristol XV; 15. Jordan Williams; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Alapati Leiua (Callum Sheedy 59’), 12. Sialei 11. David Lemi (Andy Uren 75’); 10. Ian Madigan (Jack Tovey 68’), 9. Rhodri Williams; 1. Soane Tonga’uiha (Ryan Bevington 50’), 2. Nick Fenton-Wells, 3. Gaston Cortes (James Lay 50’), 4. Joe Joyce, 5. Ed Holmes, 6. Sam Jeffries (Nick Haining 45’), 7. Sam Graham (Will Capon 68’), 8. Jordan Crane (c). 

Replacements: 16. Will Capon, 17. Ryan Bevington, 18. James Lay, 19. Nick Haining, 20. Andy Uren, 21. Callum Sheedy, 22. Jack Tovey 

Tries; Cortes 2’, Morahan 23’, 35’ 49’, 78’ Tonga’uiha 27’, Piutau 40’, Jeffries 42’, Leiua 44’ Williams 67’

Conv; Madigan 3’, 23’, 27’, 35’, 40’, 42’, 49’ Sheedy 67’

Pens;

Knights XV: 15) Cameron Cowell, 14) Dougie Flockhart, 13) Mat Clark (Les Klim 46’), 12) Lloyd Hayes, 11) Tyson Lewis, 10) Charlie Foley (Simon Humberstone 45’), 9) Tom James (Michael Heaney 65’), 1) Richard List (Owen Evans 47’), 2) Ben Hunter (Curtis Langdon 52’), 23) Colin Quigley (Joe Sproston 47’), 4) Matt Challinor (Adam Batt 64’), 5) Nick Civetta, 6) Alex Shaw, 7) Jack Ram, 8) Josh Tyrell.

Replacements: 16) Curtis Langdon, 17) Owen Evans, 18) Joe Sproston, 19) Adam Batt, 20) Lesley Klim, 21) Michael Heaney, 22) Simon Humberstone. 

Tries; Klim 73’

Conv;Flockhart 73’

Pens; Flockhart 8’

Attendance; 13,100

Referee: Greg MacDonald

Doncaster Phoenix made Club history last night as they booked their place in the Yorkshire Cup final for the very first time with a hard fought 22-19 win over last year’s champs Harrogate RUFC

Many fans will remember the last time the Knights lifted the Yorkshire Cup, back in 2008, and now Phoenix stand just 80 minutes away from lifting the T’owd Tin Pot and Head Coach Ants Posa is delighted with last night’s achievement. “Isn’t it brilliant? I’m still buzzing, it was a full strength Harrogate side who have had a good season and were now targeting the cup.

“Once thing that is for certain and that I’m really happy about it is that both teams really did the competition justice; both sets of players absolutely left it out there – it was a proper cup tie. 

“We have Hull in the final now and have nothing to lose, they are another quality side looking for promotion to National Two and we expect another tough contest.

“The fact that we’re in the final is brilliant and, like I said to the boys last night, lets turn this good season into to a great one.” 

The home-grown roots runs deep through the Phoenix with many of the last night’s team having played at Castle Park since they were in primary school and Posa says that the Phoenix development continues to please him. “This side continues to grow and gel and last night I thought we really reaped the reward for the hard work we have been putting in on the training pitch and showed real grit against a bigger, older team.

“I’d say around 75% of the side that started last night are products of the mini/junior system here at Castle Park which is fantastic and another endorsement of the great work going on at all levels here at the moment.

“We’re nearing the end of the season now and have achieved our highest ever league finish, we have two games left including a big one at Castle Park on Saturday.

“We also have about seven boys involved on Sunday at Castle Park for the Yorkshire Under 20s and it would be great to see a few Knights fans down to support the boys.”

Doncaster Phoenix last home game of the season is this Saturday against Newport (Salop) (KO 15:00) which is preceded by the End of Season Lunch – tickets available for £14 by calling Amy Plevey on 07787568504 

Then on Sunday [April 15^th] Yorkshire Under 20s take on Hertfordshire in the semi-final of this year’s U20s County Championship, kick off 15:00.

The Club can today confirm that Andy Bulumakau, Junior Bulumakau and Jack Ram will depart Castle Park at the end of the 2017/18 campaign. 

The trio make the switch to newly promoted Championship side Coventry RUFC ahead of their return to the second tier.

Andy Bulumakau joined the Knights in the summer of 2014 and quickly became a crowd favourite due to his exciting and unpredictable attacking play, highlighted by his winning of the Try of the Season Awards in both 2015/16 and 2016/17.

Jack Ram arrived midway through the 2016/17 campaign from Mitre 10 Cup side Northland and enjoyed a barnstorming debut season that saw him named in the Championship Dream XV and scoop the Knights Players Player of the Season.

Junior Bulumakau join the Club this season, linking up with little brother Andy, and has made ten appearances for the side scoring twice.

We wish all three players the best for the future….except when playing against the Knights of course!

The Knights squad has been named for the penultimate clash of the 2017/18 Championship season. 

It is likely to be a jubilant atmosphere at Ashton Gate tomorrow evening as the Knights look to spoil the party against newly crowned league Champions Bristol.

The Bristol stadium has been a happy hunting ground for the Knights in recent years having won on each of the last three visits to Ashton Gate and there is little change to the starting XV that defeated Eaing Trailfinders last time out. 

Tyson Lewis replaces Curtis Wilson on the left hand side and Mat Clark has recovered from a knock picked up against Jersey to partner Lloyd Hayes in midfield. 

Otherwise the back division is unchanged with the likes of Cameron Cowell, Charlie Foley and Lloyd Hayes given the chance to build on try-scoring performances last time out. 

There are no changes to the eight that started up front last weekend with five of the pack the same as from the 2015/16 play-off final at Ashton Gate. 

Owen Evans returns to the match day squad on the bench as does Lesley Klim who has been sidelined since the trip to Bedford Blues. 

Simon Humberstone is also back in the squad this week and completes the twenty-two.

Kick off tomorrow evening is at 19:45 and coverage is live on Sky Sports. 

Knights XV: 15) Cameron Cowell, 14) Dougie Flockhart, 13) Mat Clark, 12) Lloyd Hayes, 11) Tyson Lewis, 10) Charlie Foley, 9) Tom James, 1) Richard List, 2) Ben Hunter, 23) Colin Quigley, 4) Matt Challinor, 5) Nick Civetta, 6) Alex Shaw, 7) Jack Ram, 8) Josh Tyrell.

 

Replacements: 16) Curtis Langdon, 17) Owen Evans, 18) Joe Sproston, 19) Adam Batt, 20) Lesley Klim, 21) Michael Heaney, 22) Simon Humberstone.

In association with England Rugby, Castle Park’s Ladies section Doncaster Demons are hosting an Inner Warrior Camps on Sunday April 22^nd encouraging females in our area to give rugby a try.

Warrior Camps are a fun-packed, commitment-free way for ladies and girls to get outside, get muddy and experience the dynamic, exhilarating sport of rugby for the first time. 

With plenty of help on hand from coaches and senior Demons players, you will be introduced to the basics of rugby – passing, kicking and tackling, coupled with enjoyable fitness routines – helping you step out of your comfort zone and unearth your Inner Warrior.

This event is open to all women and girls, with two separate camps being ran for junior and over 18s, completely free of charge. Food will be provided for attendees and there will be the chance to get your hands on some giveaways and prizes.

Whether you have played rugby before or not this session will help you discover your inner warrior