Rotherham

The club took the field first in 1923, folded during the Second World War, and reformed in 1946; the maroon and navy blue shirts came later still, the nickname only arriving in 2003-04 after a sponsorship deal with Titan Environmental.

What set the club apart was a run between 1987 and 2000 that took them from the lower regional leagues to the fourth tier through seven promotions — a climb known locally as the Golden Decade. It ended with the Yorkshire Cup in 1995, beaten 39-3 in the final by Harrogate. The professional era brought two Premiership spells, in 2000-01 and 2003-04, and relegation straight back down both times. Between those came the stranger episode: a second National Division One title in 2001-02 that the Rugby Football Union refused to convert into promotion, ruling the ground and finances short of requirement. An inquiry cleared Rotherham of any wrongdoing, and when they won the division again in 2003 the union let them up without argument. The second relegation cost them their backer, Mike Yarlett, who pulled his funding; a consortium of local investors kept the club going. They returned to winning ways in 2025-26, taking National League 1 and a place in the Championship.

Kevin Plant's 927 points and John Dudley's 49 tries stand as the individual marks against which Titans careers get measured. The club has also sent players through to England colours, David Strettle among them.

Across South Yorkshire, Sheffield Tigers and Doncaster Knights supply the needle.