Rugby's Robin Hood extends stay in the Championship

Head coach Craig Hammond has been rewarded with a new two-year deal for the steady improvement Nottingham have shown under his leadership.

In his four seasons at the helm, Nottingham have finished 10th, ninth, eighth and are currently seventh in the Championship, despite having one of the smaller budgets in the league.

Once described by former player Ben Thompson as having done “more for the city of Nottingham than Robin Hood”, Hammond is proving equally impactful at the club as he was as a player.

The former New Zealand U19 international played 289 games in the back row for Nottingham between 2001 and 2012, and was captain in all but 12 of them, and also spent some time on loan at Leicester Tigers.

A legend of the Championship, Hammond has given his all to a famous club that has consistently punched above its weight whenever he has been involved.

“Ever since he came over to Nottingham from New Zealand as a 21-year-old, Craig has had the biggest influence on this club as both a player and a coach,” said Director of Rugby Simon Beatham, who signed him all those years ago.

“He has created a squad that everyone is proud of, the way they conduct themselves on and off the pitch.

“Craig represents everything we want to be as a club.”

Hammond spent eight years as a player and coach in Hong Kong after leaving Nottingham. He got his first head coach role with South China Tigers in the short-lived Rapid Rugby competition and was then made head coach of the Hong Kong men’s national team, before being persuaded back to the place he calls home.

“We’re happy here, myself, Rosey, Mia, Bella and Lockie; we’re in a good place as a family and we see Nottingham as our home,” said Hammond, who is now contracted until at least 2027.

“As a coach, you can’t turn down opportunities like this. It was a no-brainer really once I’d chatted it through with my family, and I’m looking forward to the next couple of years.”

Since taking over from Neil Fowkes as head coach, Hammond has been in charge of the team for 98 competitive fixtures, the first of which was at home against Ampthill on 17th September 2021.