Kendal Rugby Union Football Club’s first home league match of the 2026/27 season at Mint Bridge will not take place until Saturday 10 October. The Rugby Football Union delayed the start of competitive Community Rugby because of hard ground and drought conditions, changing the opening weeks of Kendal’s campaign.

Leek are now due to visit Kendal on 10 October. The revised arrangements mean Kendal’s first league match remains an away trip to Stockport on 26 September, while Macclesfield are scheduled to play at Mint Bridge on Saturday 3 October.

The later start affects supporters planning around the beginning of the season, as Kendal’s home league programme will begin later than originally expected. The RFU also said the delay was intended to prevent clubs with access to 3G training pitches gaining an advantage over teams managing difficult natural playing surfaces.

Kendal’s revised early-season fixtures

At the time of the club’s update, the published schedule included five matches across late August and September, followed by the rearranged Leek fixture in October:

  • North Ribblesdale at Mint Bridge — Friday 28 August, 7.15pm
  • Kendal at Keswick in the Cumbria Cup — 5 September
  • Kendal at Stockport — 26 September
  • Macclesfield at Mint Bridge — 3 October
  • Leek at Mint Bridge — 10 October

The RFU decision has affected more than the first home league fixture. Kendal’s away match at Wharfedale, which had been planned for Saturday 22 August, has been cancelled.

The club’s original trip to Rochdale and its home fixture against Leek have also been rearranged. Leek will now travel to Mint Bridge on 10 October, Kendal are due to visit Rochdale on 19 December, and a further Rochdale match is listed at Kendal on 10 April.

League line-up remains unsettled

The make-up of Kendal’s division has also been affected by changes involving Macclesfield. After finishing third in National League 2 North, Macclesfield were reallocated to National League 2 West. Kendal said that would have created lengthy journeys, while proposals to place Macclesfield and Lymm in an expanded 16-team North League did not secure agreement.

Macclesfield later chose to return to regional rugby and were included in Regional 1 North West. Loughborough Students replaced them in National Two West, while Burton moved from Regional 1 North West to Regional 1 Midlands.

Kendal assessed Macclesfield as a possible league favourite or top-three play-off contender, although the club stressed that this view was provisional while the RFU finalised the league composition. Further changes were expected to involve Dronfield and Sandal, but Kendal said those arrangements remained speculation until the RFU made a final decision.

The fixture shown for Dronfield on 7 November appeared to have been switched to an away match, with another home meeting scheduled for 20 February. Kendal suggested the change might be linked to the Kendal Fireworks event at Mint Bridge, while making clear that this was only a guess.

Coaching team stays as two players leave

Kendal’s coaching team remains in place after guiding the first team to seventh place last season. Dan Bowman continues as head coach, supported by Chris Park, Ian Voortman and Reece Tomlinson.

The club has confirmed that Alex Ryder is leaving for newly promoted Vale of Lune. Ryder did not play for Kendal’s First XV during the previous season, but was described as an important member of the title-winning Second XV. He made his debut against Glossop in December 2021, went on to make 69 appearances and scored three tries.

Former Kendal player Tadhg Butler is also joining Vale of Lune. Butler made 26 appearances for the club and scored one try. He made his debut in the 2022 Cup match at Upper Eden and later played for Ambleside.

Promotion and relegation results have helped shape the likely division. Harrogate defeated Anselmians 41-40 before beating Rossendale 21-14 to return to the National Leagues. Vale of Lune beat Manchester 16-13, while York defeated Pocklington 25-21.

Other results recorded by the club included Harrogate’s 45-35 win at Alnwick, Anselmians’ 31-25 victory over Stockport and Vale of Lune’s 55-51 win at West Bridgford.

Supporters have been advised to check for further updates as the RFU’s arrangements develop. Kendal said the relevant fixtures would be published once confirmed.