I think a slightly later announcement that in previous seasons, possibly due to confusion with Sandal being moved to the West , then replaced by Dromfield (Sheffield) then Macclesfield choosing to / being forced to step down (to avoid massive travel), and replacing Burton (who moved to the Midlands).

Also a late start to the League season as it is the second Saturday of September with an away trip to Rochdale. So for those who don't travel the First XV season at Mint Bridge opens with a game against Leek on the 19th.

The early free Saturday will see one of last season's Finalists depart the Cumbria Cup at the first hurdle, as we have been drawn away (we did get two rare home Cup games last season) at Keswick. So a good early test which hopefully the team can come through, and progress to defend their title at the end of the season (as top League team in the County)

A four week break over Christmas and a three week gap late in the season. Also an extra away match in the first set of games (playing Anselmians and Rossendale away back to back in November - as a month gap with no First XV Home game). This does mean an extra Home game after Christmas, when games have been scare at times in past seasons.

No fixtures yet for the Second XV; Wasps or Colts.

The 2026/27 Coaches have been announced - no change to those who guided the team to seventh place last season, with Dan Bowman as Head Coach supported by Chris Park; Ian Voortman and Reece Tomlinson.

Sad News as we lose a player, with Alex Ryder signing for newly promoted Vale of Lune. Alex did not play for the First XV last season, but was a key member of the title winning Second XV, and in a position we struggled in late last season, with back row men having to filling in. Alex made his debut against Glossop in December 2021 making 69 appearances scoring 3 tries

Also joining Vale of Lune is an ex-player (although he appears to be on tour with our Senior players in Warsaw - hopefully not a spying mission) Tadhg Butler (who played in the first League game last season against Heath but later was at Ambleside). 26 games 1 Try making his debut in the Cup at Upper Eden in 2022

There has been a change to the make up of Regional 1 North West, with Macclesfield replacing Burton on our fixture list.

After finishing third in National League 2 North last season Macclesfield found they had been reallocated to National League 2 West, where they had been two seasons ago, after gaining promotion. This involves some massive away trips with most of the other teams based in the West Country.

There were attempts to re-organise the League structure to allow Macclesfield and Lymm to compete in an expanded 16 team North League (although still 26 games) but having failed to get agreement Macclesfield have taken the difficult decision to instead be relegated back into Regional rugby.

This means Loughborough Students replace them in National Two West, and Burton will switch from Regional 1 North West to Regional 1 Midlands.

The irony is of course Macclesfield will almost certainly become favourites for our League (or a top three finish for a Play-Off) and therefore be back in the same position unless the composition of the League changes - or there is agreement to expand the North League to allow the Cheshire teams (also Chester / Lymm) to have more sensible distanced fixtures.

Good News for us as Macclesfield is almost 50 miles closer than Burton

Link to Macclesfield Statement

Link to National League Rugby Statement

Thanks to Bernard Parson's for telling me about this

The Facebook page confirms the team will be back in the North West next season, after a year in the North East

However a changes to the original prediction below is Dronfield, winners of the Midland North 2, will join the North East League, so Sandal will be joining us in the move West (rather than a Midlands team) to fill the extra North West gap (caused by the two relegated North West teams in 2025/26 actually being from the Midlands)

Fixtures will appear once know (.....but may be a while so keep checking)

A third away win in the play-off for Harrogate, sees them return to the National Leagues and Rossendale come down

Vale of Lune overcame Manchester, so they move up and Manchester down

York just about saw off Pocklington to see them retain their place

What does this mean for us ?

I think these are the teams

So Harrogate's win means one less of last year's East teams

However three of the four promoted teams seem to be East

Whilst two of the three coming down from the National Leagues are definitely East

So I think that make 12 teams who are more East than us

Even if we join them, there are only eleven in the West, so it looks like another Midlands team may be joining Burton and Leek

All speculation until the RFU super computer gives us it's verdict

Harrogate are doing it the hard way, as in a high scoring game, for a second weekend they went away and won. This time at Anselmians 41v40

I think this means they will play Rossendale for a place in the National Leagues (not confirmed). So if we want to go "West" next season, a Rossendale win mean one less space to fill in the East - although Rossendale were one of the closest teams to us, bringing crucial travel distances in down.

I thought York and Manchester would play off, but looks as if there are two spaces on offer.

So in a Local Derby, York will face Pocklington who defeated Consett 29v25. York is closer so a Pocklington win may be better for a return to the West for us.

Whilst Manchester will play Vale on Lune, who won another amazingly high scoring game (also away) 51v55 at West Bridgford. Vale is closer so may be better (and give us a much needed Local Derby next season - if we go West !)

Whilst the League finished for us several weeks ago, there are still games going on which may have a bearing on where and who we play (or watch) next season

Heading down from the National Leagues are Scunthorpe and Hull (so two extra East teams), whilst Rossendale will face the winner of the Promotion eliminator.

The first round of Play-off games were played last weekend and a shock in the East as Alnwick unbeaten at home all season, including Heath’s only defeat, lost there to Harrogate 35v45.

So Alnwick will remain in the East next season, and it will be Harrogate who go forward and will be away to the winner of the West play-off, more predictably Anselmians (including former Mint Bridge ball boy Lewis Kincart) who beat Stockport 31v25. So if Rossendale or Anselmians win it will be one less in the West

We already knew Heath and Huddersfield (both Eastern – even if Huddersfield played in the West this season) were leaving for better things, whilst Penrith (West) and Cleckheaton (East); Long Eaton (Midlands) and Derby (Midlands) drop out.

More shocks in the first round of relegation eliminators as in form York lost to Middlesbrough 20v14, so they will go forward to face Manchester who despite finishing the higher in the West , were well beaten 19v36 at home by Wirral (not sure who gets home advantage). The loser will face the winner of the League 2 play-off. I think the options will be Pocklington (Yorkshire) vs Consett (North East); or West Bridgeford (Nottinghamshire) vs Vale of Lune (Lancashire). So three a long distance from Kendal, but whilst Vale would be West, a low mileage could pull us towards there as well – but they have to win three games first.

Coming up are Northern (Newcastle) from North; Scarbrough from North East; and North Ribblesdale (Settle) North West – so Two Eastern teams and Ribblesdale will also be close to a lot of East based teams.

In the Midlands (which may have a bearing, as the fewer in the West the better for us (if we want to return there, as they are long trips, so push us East) Bournville head up and Dudley Kingswindford and Nuneaton go down, so all real Midland clubs. Newport (West last season) have a Promotion play-off and Drybrook (Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire) have a second relegation play-off.

One thing I spotted, is whilst I had suggested teams were unlikely to drop out (as they did in the Pizza Cup) eight (including Keswick) failed to contest their play-off game. All were away teams so maybe travel costs (especially if the next two games would also be away) may have been a factor