HOME games in Capitals
Wasps and Colts games are on following Sunday

Latest Returnees

Dafydd Philp
Dane Blenkharn
Glenn Chesher
Joe Anderson

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT

According to Facebook others who will also all be back for more (travel) in the North East next Season

Aaron Stephens
Alex Ryder
Alistair Thompson
Barney Coxon
Ben Dixon (Captain)
Ben O'Halloran
Dan Shorrock
Leo Mercer
Matt Houghton (Vice Captain)
Nathan Wolstenholme
Ollie Rose
Oscar Coxon
Patrick Wolstenholme
Tom Keast

Look out for more news as it is released

One bit of sad news is Greg Wrathall, has decided to move on, and will be at Penrith next season, giving him a chance to link up with Joe Kirkup who he played with when he was 12 (also Penrith is slightly nearer to home)

Greg made his debut in the 2019/20 season in the big loss in the Cup game at Carlisle (31st August) , then his League debut came in another big loss away at Durham City (7 September), where he got our only points with his first try. In a truncated season he ran away with the Man of the Season vote, also winning 8 of the 22 Man of the Match . He picked up his Badge that season making 20 appearances from the 23 games played. A total of 81 appearances and 15 tries

NEW SIGNINGS

Alfie Bradshaw (centre)
From Kirkby Lonsdale
Was involved in the Cumbria squad at the end of last season

John Dervey
After a period away, John is back in the black and amber! This athletic second row/back row brings experience and versatility to our squad as we build for the season ahead.

Robbie Kinkart
Former Kendal Colt Robbie returns to where it all began after spending the past couple of seasons at Fylde RFC. This dynamic hooker can play across the entire front row, adding depth and quality to our forwards.

Evan Moir (outside half / fullback)
From Alnwick (17 appearances last season)
92 appearances in total between 2019-2025
54 points from a try; 8 conversions; 10 penalties and a Drop Goal

Andy Rogers (Front Row)
Ex Penrith (he played in the game at Mint Bridge last season and was on the bench for both the games at the end of the game)
Played 13 times last season

COACHING TEAM

DoR - Dan Stephens
Head Coach - Dan Bowman
1XV Coach - Chris Park
1XV Coach - Ian Voortman

FIRST XV SEASON 2025/26

Not quite as difficult a start to the new season than last time - but still a very tough one

The opening game (Saturday 6th) sees a first ever visit to Heath (between Bradford and Huddersfield). They finished 3rd last season, but Scunthorpe have moved up and Huddersfield gone West, so they are the highest ranked team who remain (Harrogate who rejoin would have been higher). They finished second in 2023/24

A week later the first HOME game sees Ilkley (13th) the visitors, who finished 7th last season)

Then two away games in a row with an early gap between them

Another long trip, this time to York (who finished 4th last season and 3rd the season before)

Then Alnwick (4th October) who finished fifth in both of the last two seasons

The second HOME game is on the 11th October against Sandal

A trip to Middlesborough is then followed by the HOME game in the local Derby with PENRITH the visitors on 25th October.

WASPS

The GOOD NEWS is there is an extra team so two extra games.

Coming down from Championship North 1, are Sheffield returning after a difficult season, and also Bishop Auckland.

Coming in the opposite direction are Halifax who won their League last season, and Chester Divas who finished second. There may therefore be a return to Mint Bridge for an ex-Wasp, as scrum half Cath Sewell was playing for the Diva's last season

Birkenhead Park; Driffield; Liverpool St Helens; Manchester; Sefton, who were played last season all return

Blaydon Redkites have gone up, whilst Harrogate re-appear in NC1 North (with Carlisle Cougars ) whilst Southport are in NC1 North (South) !

ALL Wasps games appear to be on a SUNDAY again this season, (so no Double Header at Driffield)

They open at Mint Bridge on the 21st September against last seasons NC1 Champions HALIFAX, then after a long trip to Driffield, they are back at Mint Bridge on 12th October to face relegated BISHOP AUCKLAND followed on 2nd November with a trip to Sefton.

So some tough games in what appear to be a competitive League.

SECOND XV

The GOOD NEWS is just two weekends when both the First and Second team are (a) Away and (b) both at Mint Bridge, So something to watch for those unable / unwilling to wander the North East, with the First XV

They start at Mint Bridge on 6th September against SEDGLEY PARK (3) (when the First XV are at Heath), then are away to Kirkby Lonsdale before a few weeks off before TARLETON at Mint Bridge on 4th October (when the First XV are away at Alnwick)

COLTS
Seem to have a preliminary competition (only one game either home or away against seven others.

They start with games at Mint Bridge against HEATON MOOR (7th) and MACCLESFIELD (14th) then three away games followed by SEDGLEY PARK at Mint Bridge (12th October) before a final away game.

The final HOME game is on a weekend when the Wasps are also at Mint Bridge, so may be a changed kick off - all FOUR teams are home that weekend !