Left to right: Reuben, Jacob, Joel, and Will Knight are linebackers and coach for the Havant team. Photo: Mark D. @ Windandsurf Images
For those in need of a sweet story, and there may be a few rugby union fans among them, Havant's trip to Twickenham this weekend will tick the box.
It's history about family and brotherhood. There are themes of resurrection and renewal for the proud Hampshire club, who have established themselves in the third tier, almost reaching second, before sliding down the divisions and losing 80-point losses semi-regularly for a while.
They will take on East Yorkshire's Driffield in the Papa Johns One Championship regional final on Sunday. And recent success brought back golden memories. Back in the 1993-94 season, Havant hosted the full London Irishman in the fourth round of the Pilkington Cup. Playing that day was Will Knight, who became a local legend and helped Exeter beat Exeter 9-3 five years ago in the same national knockout tournament.
Knight, now head coach, believes he is in his 50th season at Havant. As a child, he attended the opening of a mini club in the morning because a neighbor, Roger Thompson, arranged it. For the past decade, Knight's eldest son, Joel, has captained the first team from outside the center. Two more of Knight's boys, Reuben and Jacob, round out Havant's midfield and center midfield.
«We'd like to be thought of as a group of brothers,» says Rob Matthews, director of rugby. “It's a cliché, I know. But we are amateurs who don't take advantage of the draw and we have a one club mentality.
A family affair for the Knights
“About 70% of our first team went through youth teams. Some players have gone to higher levels and come back again. We definitely have ball-boys and ball-girls from the mini. When you do this for a 1,000 spectator game, I hope it inspires.»
There is no hyperbole here. Havant draws between 400 and 500 people for most home games and wins four figures in the Papa Johns semi-final against The Heat, another Yorkshire club. An epic defensive position, accompanied by a crowd, helped seal the 27-21 victory.
Goosebumps #thefaithful pic.twitter.com/cHYaZCzVZo
— Havant Rugby Football Club (@havantrfc), April 23, 2023 
The Havant crowd will gather en masse in the home of English rugby on Sunday. Photo: Mark D @ Windandsurf Images
At the time of this writing, six buses and two vans have been booked to take Havant's followers to Twickenham this weekend.
The Papa Johns Community Cup competition has been introduced this season by Rugby Football Union following a restructuring of the mass calendar to attract male and female players and give clubs the opportunity to play in the spring. Teams were grouped into national tournaments based on league finish, and this was not without logistical issues. Some rounds were spoiled by walks.
Havant, however, completely succumbed. They ended the league campaign strongly with a runner-up to Wimbledon in the fifth division and set their sights on good cup performances as a springboard for the 2023-24 season. It was tempting to take on opponents from all over England and naturally Twickenham felt big.
Matthews, a former teammate of Mike Teague at Moseley, deserves credit for his organizational perseverance. He was turned down by 16 different coaching companies ahead of a pool game against Shelford in Cambridgeshire over the Easter weekend. Eventually Havant's squad arrived in two minibuses.
“The Rugby Cup has been a huge event for Havant over the years,” recalls Will Knight. “We had versions of John Player, Pilkington, Tetley and other versions. You qualified for the Nationals by winning the District Cup and you were trying to do well.
“Several iconic, brilliant moments have been created for the club over the years, and we were deprived of it because we were in that middle group of clubs, did not participate in any club competitions – not low enough or high enough. It was great to be back and this year's run was extremely exciting.»
Havant plays at the third tier of English rugby. Photo: MGD@Windandsurf_Images
In the same way that elite clubs deal with balance sheets, sustainability is a watchword at the community level. As a collective, Havant exalts the virtues of «little professionalism». Matthews explains that their annual budget is around £300,000, which is increased by renting out the clubhouse for events such as weddings and birthdays.
None of this money is transferred to the players, but the team can take advantage of it. perks like a gym, rehab centers, and even GPS tracking. Joel Knight, skipper of the Havant, seems more grateful for the harder sections and looks up.
«We've gone from a team trying to reclaim our identity to a point where we're pushing for a push back to National Two,» he explains. “I'm incredibly proud of the players for persevering because there were times when we lost 80 or 90 points every week during the season, which was pretty depressing. Now we are on the rise and the club has done a brilliant job.
“When we stand in the dressing room, you know that there is no one in this circle who can take the check. They care more about the club and the people they play for than about the result. This is what makes us a very special band. We want to be a club that creates memories for each other so that we can look back in 10-15 years and laugh about it.”
A midfield of three siblings offers an edge in the cohesion bet game. Joel, 31, fills this part of the field with Reuben, 23, and Jacob, 28. He describes it as an «amazing» feeling — «my two brothers are my two best friends» — and after defeating Heath, the four knights shared a moment of «realization». Will is going to celebrate Havant's 50th anniversary with a family photo on the pitch at Twickenham.
«This is a big achievement for the club because we've never been to Twickenham before,» he says. “If I were a spectator and my three sons played, it would be something, but being part of their group is wonderful. I hope we can take the last step and get the result too, because we really want it.”
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