![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260131-srufc-v-fylde-(279).jpg\" "\\"Christian")
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Christian Hooper going over for his milestone moments vs Fylde<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u00a9Colin Fisher<\/p>\n
With the Six Nations returning this week, attention will once again be on rugby\u2019s greatest championship.<\/b><\/p>\n
England arrive with depth and confidence, France have welcomed back maestro Antoine Dupont, and the likes of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Henry Arundell and Louis Rees-Zammit will spend the next six weeks testing the limits of space and speed.<\/p>\n
Yet, beyond the bright lights, achievements are happening elsewhere. Moments that pass without fervent fanfare but hold their own significance.<\/p>\n
While hookers Billy Harding (Blackheath, National One) and Ben Priddey (Camborne, National Two West) have amassed remarkable tallies of 34 and 29 tries respectively in just 18 games this season, Sheffield winger Christian Hooper crossed for his 21st try of the campaign last weekend.<\/p>\n
But the 24-year-old\u2019s finish during the first half of their 29-17 victory over Fylde wasn\u2019t any old score. It was his 100th try on his 100th game for Sheffield, a new club record.<\/p>\n
\n \n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\u201cTraining was good in the week, but there were a bit of nerves on Saturday morning,\u201d admits Hooper.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really happy to get over the line, but more importantly to win and get the five points.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hooper\u2019s memorable moment helped Sheffield to their 16th successive victory of the season, with Anthony Posa\u2019s side sitting four points clear at the top of National Two North<\/a> with a game in hand.<\/p>\n
But before last weekend, Hooper\u2019s 100th cap and his century of tries looked in doubt, with the elements threatening to waterlog the pitch at Abbeydale Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was getting a bit of chat for it [the 100th try],\u201d Hoopers tells National League Rugby. \u201cThe lads were saying, \u2018Imagine if you don\u2019t score?!’<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conditions weren\u2019t favourable either! It was chucking it down in parts during the game, but glad to get it done, I guess!<\/p>\n
“Massive testament to our ground staff at Abbeydale as well. They worked plenty of hours on Friday night and Saturday morning to get the game on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hooper is now in his fifth season with Sheffield and even though he joined the Steel City outfit towards the end of their Regional 1 Midlands promotion-winning campaign of 2021\/22, he almost instantly set the tone for his trajectory at the club.<\/p>\n
The winger – who frequently wears the number 15 shirt due to the No.11 jersey being too big for him <\/a>– scored six tries in his first six games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I scored in my first game, though,\u201d Hooper chuckles.<\/p>\n
While he (correctly) puts the record straight on that particular statistic, you can\u2019t argue with his try-scoring exploits since Sheffield’s return to Level 4.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His numbers have increased year on year, culminating in Hooper being crowned National Two North\u2019s top try-scorer with 25 last season.<\/a><\/p>\n
His consistency has to be admired. Since being brought to the club by Posa – who was Hooper\u2019s university rugby coach at Sheffield – the winger has missed just seven matches in the past four seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cI honestly think it [his consistency] has been just getting used to the same system and also the environment we have at the club,\u201d Hooper explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think well over half of our team has stayed throughout all four seasons since we came back into National League Rugby.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is just getting used to playing with everyone, you get more comfortable and you understand how to run off people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“They understand your game as well so where you want to try and attack, they know where you\u2019ll be, if that makes sense? The cohesion of the squad is a big factor in that consistency.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say my diet and conditioning and stuff has got a lot better since Uni, so that probably helps as well!\u201d<\/p>\n
Hooper\u2019s form last season earned him a well-deserved call-up to the Yorkshire set-up, but playing at the highest level was never his primary focus when he was younger.<\/p>\n
That is despite spending some of his teenage years within the Saracens academy system while growing up in London.<\/p>\n
\u201cI played at home growing up and I was part of the Saracens academy, but then went down the Uni route,\u201d says Hooper, who was part of the same academy cohort as winger Brandon Jackson and forward Toby Knight, who both have Gallagher Prem experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hadn\u2019t really thought about where I could take my rugby when I went to Uni. I knew I wanted to play rugby at university, but I hadn\u2019t really thought about pushing it any further.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just enjoyed playing and when Ant took over at the club [in 2021], it felt right to move to Sheffield and I\u2019ve been here ever since!\u201d<\/p>\n
Standout moments in the blue and white hoops of Sheffield include a winning try in a 33-24 derby success over Sheffield Tigers in 2023, as well as two match-clinching scores in this season\u2019s 41-25 victory away at promotion rivals Macclesfield.<\/p>\n
\n \n<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThat triumph in Cheshire was one of 16 wins Sheffield have accumulated so far this term.<\/p>\n
Hooper and his teammates have also dropped just a single point all season, a return that reflects the steady progression of the club over recent years.<\/p>\n
After finishing 10th in their first season back in National Two North, Sheffield have since registered consecutive club-record finishes.<\/p>\n
They watched on as Yorkshire counterparts Rotherham Titans and Leeds Tykes fought out an absorbing title race in 2023\/24, before finding themselves at the centre of the promotion picture last season.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Posa\u2019s side finished second, eight points behind champions Leeds and it was a campaign that left Hooper with mixed emotions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a feeling of let\u2019s build on what we had achieved, but there was disappointment because we didn\u2019t feel like we put our best foot forward in the big games, particularly in the games against Leeds (Sheffield lost both encounters).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe finished eight points behind them, so that tells you something. However, we feel like we have shown the best of us in the big games this season, so long may it continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cohesion within the Sheffield squad has also been a major factor in their progression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The additions of former Rotherham captain Zak Poole – as well as prop Alex Reid last season – have further strengthened a group carefully built by Posa, who himself committed his future to the club by signing a three-year contract extension last summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a lovely place to be at the moment,\u201d Hooper admits. \u201cWe\u2019re playing really nice rugby, and I am really enjoying things on and off the pitch. Everyone gets on really well, and that is a massive part of it for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheffield will look to maintain the feel-good factor around Abbeydale this weekend when they host bottom-of-the-table Scunthorpe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The fixture forms part of a demanding run of 10 consecutive matches for the Steel City club, but between now and the end of March, they face just two sides currently in the top half of the division.<\/p>\n
Hooper spoke previously about Sheffield ‘putting their best foot forward in the big games’, something they have done this season by beating all of their fellow top six sides away from home.<\/p>\n
But even with promotion rivals Macclesfield visiting in two weeks\u2019 time, the focus remains firmly on the task at hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery game in this league is a big game, so we can\u2019t take anything lightly,\u201d Hooper says. \u201cWe know how we were when we were at the lower end of the table when we came up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were fighting for everything and look, we know Scunthorpe will be like that on Saturday, so it is just as important to prepare right and focus on this game as it is every other game we\u2019ve got ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the goals we set out, and we have always set out, are just to try and push ourselves, and I think we are doing that. I don\u2019t think anyone imagined we\u2019d be unbeaten at this point, but we would like to keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weekend Preview<\/strong><\/p>\n
After focusing on Sheffield, let\u2019s look ahead to the rest of the action in National Two North <\/b>on this \u2018reserve weekend\u2019.<\/p>\n
As mentioned above, Sheffield\u2019s closest challengers are second-placed Macclesfield<\/b>, and they face a stiff test on Saturday when they travel to fourth-placed Hull Ionians<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Macc will arrive having recorded nine consecutive bonus-point victories, and they now hold an eight-point cushion over third-placed Tynedale<\/b>, who visit 10th-placed Otley\u00a0<\/b>this weekend.<\/p>\n
However, Hull Ionians have won six of their last seven matches and if they were to end Macclesfield\u2019s flawless away record of seven straight wins, it could reshape the race for a top-two finish.<\/p>\n
Friday night sees fifth-placed Darlington Mowden Park<\/b> looking to arrest their slide when they face Wharfedale (7th)<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
DMP have won just one of their last six matches and are seeking a response following last week\u2019s 42-27 defeat to Sheffield Tigers, while Wharfedale will hope to carry their strong home form onto the road.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, ninth-placed Billingham <\/b>entertain\u00a0Fylde (6th)<\/b>, with recent back-to-back wins easing any potential relegation concerns for Peter Evans and Dan Finney\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
Despite it being a \u2018reserve weekend\u2019, National One<\/b> offers two notable fixtures.<\/p>\n
In the relegation battle, ninth-placed Sedgley Park<\/b> host Leeds Tykes (13th)<\/b> in a big Friday night clash.<\/p>\n
Both sides come into this contest on the back of wins, with Sedge having beaten Bishop\u2019s Stortford and Leicester Lions in recent weeks to move six points clear of danger.<\/p>\n
Leeds, meanwhile, are now just three points off the relegation play-off spot<\/a> after a superb 34-19 victory at Clifton in Round 18.<\/p>\n
\n \n<\/p><\/blockquote>\nAs for Clifton<\/strong>, currently 12th, they face a daunting task away at promotion contenders Rotherham Titans (2nd)<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Lavender and Blacks are one point behind 11th-placed Dings Crusaders and remain firmly in the scrap for survival, but Rotherham are formidable at Clifton Lane, having lost just once in their last 35 home matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Significantly, Harvey Biljon\u2019s side could move to the top of the table<\/a> with a bonus-point win, and last week\u2019s 36-26 success at Rosslyn Park underlined their title credentials.<\/p>\n
Birmingham Moseley (10th)<\/b> vs Rosslyn Park (5th)\u00a0<\/b>has once again been postponed.<\/p>\n
And finally, in National Two West<\/b>, attention centres on a crucial bottom-half clash between 12th-placed Exeter University<\/b> and Redruth (11th)<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exeter sit two points above the bottom two and could close the gap to their hosts with victory at The Recreation Ground.<\/p>\n
Redruth, meanwhile, will be eager to secure an important home win, aware that defeat could draw them into an unwanted relegation battle.<\/a><\/p>\n
And at the other end of the table, third-placed Hinckley<\/b> – winners of their last five home matches and three of their last four overall – host seventh-placed Taunton <\/b>at Leicester Road.<\/p>\n
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