Coach of English rugby team plays for the opposition in bizarre circumstances
The backs coach of Chinnor RFC played at scrum-half against his own team for Ealing Trailfinders.
In quite bizarre circumstances, Craig Hampson had the task of trying to break down the defence of his very own team. And so he did, contributing to a convincing 28-8 victory away from home.
The former Wasps star, now 34, is backs coach for Chinnor alongside his commitments on the field for Trailfinders. The London native helps out with coaching once a week, with a Telegraph source explaining at the beginning of the season that he is doing his level four coaching qualification, so his work with Chinnor contributes to this.
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With Trailfinders and Chinnor both playing in the English Championship, the possibility that he should go up against his own team was anticipated and planned out at the beginning of the campaign.
According to Hampson himself, he is not allowed any contact with Chinnor during the game week where they play Trailfinders.
"Both clubs have agreed it is fine for me to carry on coaching," explained Hampson to The Rugby Paper in June 2024.
"Obviously Ealing being my primary job. I have to be available for selection against [Chinnor] – it’s unlikely I would be picked, I’d imagine – but I can’t coach against Ealing that week. It’s fine every other week, just not that week.
"I think it kind of helps Ealing a bit because I think we’re going to have a few lads on loan, a bit like Cov and Pirates have had this year from us.
"It helps develop me as a coach and who knows if Ealing want me to coach later on."
Throughout the course of his playing career, Hampson has been on the books at Leeds Carnegie and Bristol, before moving on to Wasps, and finally Trailfinders.
The result solidifies Trailfinders' position at the top of the table on 51 points, with Chinnor in ninth place on 22 points.
Trailfinders could find themselves in the Gallagher Premiership action next season, after the club had previously been denied promotion for not meeting the minimum stadium capacity of 5,000, but a new deal allows increased flexibility on this issue.
There will, however, be a home and away match against the team that finishes bottom of the Premiership, with the winner getting the top-flight place.
