For some people, playing for a rugby club is simply about the sport. For others, it becomes part of who they are.

For Sandal’s new Men’s 1st XV captain, that connection runs much deeper.

His relationship with Sandal began as a junior, after his dad introduced him to rugby union at just five years old. Sandal was his father’s former club, and over the years, the family connection has continued through his brothers, Austen and Elliot, who also represented the club.

For the Thompson family, Sandal has become a tradition passed down through generations.

“Sandal was his old club, so it means a lot to me to continue the family tradition.”

Some of his earliest rugby memories were made on the same pitches he now leads his team onto. He remembers his time in the minis and juniors fondly, crediting the coaches and teammates who helped teach him the fundamentals of the game and shape his rugby journey.

But his path wasn't entirely straightforward.

At 15, he stepped away from rugby to pursue another passion: water polo.

Four years later, at 19, he returned to rugby, and Sandal was there to welcome him back. Alex Edler was quick to bring him back into the club, beginning the next chapter of a relationship that has now spanned more than a decade.

Aside from a short spell playing National 2 rugby for Harrogate and Ionians, he has continued to represent Sandal for the past 11 years and there have been plenty of memories along the way.

Asked to pick his favourite, there is one moment that stands above the rest: lifting the Yorkshire Cup for the final time after defeating an undefeated Heath side in 2025.

But perhaps the biggest personal milestone was still to come.

Captaining Sandal's men's first team has been a dream since he was a young player watching the side from the outside.

“Captaining this team has been a dream of mine since I first joined the club and would watch the men’s 1st XV.”

Now, that dream has become reality, and not just in any season.

He takes on the captaincy during Sandal's centenary year, a milestone that carries its own significance for someone whose family has such a long-standing connection with the club. He is particularly proud to follow in the footsteps of his brother Austen, with the prospect of seeing both brothers' names together on the captains' board in the clubhouse.

“It is a real honour to lead Sandal through its centenary year, and I hope to do my teammates and fellow club members proud.”

That sense of responsibility carries through into his ambitions for the team.

He sees a squad with genuine talent, ambition and belief, with a powerful forward pack and an exciting backline capable of producing some outstanding rugby. The objective is clear: to push for promotion back to National 2.

But for him, leadership is about more than what happens on the scoreboard. It's about the people.

It's about the environment created within the squad, the challenges faced together and the growth that comes throughout a season.

And ultimately, it's about what the players do with the opportunity they've been given.

Because when you've grown up around a club like Sandal, wearing the badge carries a weight that goes beyond the shirt.

“Wearing the Sandal badge on my chest means everything to me.”

For him, that badge represents Sandal's proud history, its community and the traditions that have been passed down through generations. It represents the players who wore the shirt before him, alongside the coaches, volunteers, supporters and families who have all contributed to making the club what it is today.

And as captain, he sees himself as having a responsibility to protect that legacy while helping shape what comes next.

“As captain, I believe it is our responsibility to respect that legacy, represent the club with pride and leave the shirt in a better place for those who follow.”

That perhaps captures the meaning of Sandal's centenary season better than anything else.

A player who joined the club as a junior.
A son following in his father's footsteps.
A brother following a brother.
A former junior who stepped away, returned and went on to lift silverware.
And now, a captain leading Sandal into its next chapter.

Because ultimately, wearing the Sandal badge isn't just about representing a rugby team.

It's about representing everyone who has worn it before, everyone standing beside you now, and everyone who will wear it after you.

And for the new captain, that means giving everything for the team, standing together through the highs and lows, and making sure that the shirt is left in a better place than he found it.

That is what it means to be Behind the Badge.

Dec is sponsored by Neil Thompson Motors.