Kendal Rugby Union Football Club supporters will have to wait longer for the club’s first 2026/27 home league match at Mint Bridge after the Rugby Football Union delayed the start of competitive Community Rugby.

The decision was made because of hard ground and drought conditions. Kendal’s original home meeting with Leek has been rearranged, while the club’s planned away fixture at Wharfedale on Saturday 22 August was cancelled.

The first published home league fixture is now Macclesfield’s visit to Mint Bridge on Saturday 3 October. Leek are due to follow at the same venue on Saturday 10 October.

Revised early-season fixtures

A Friday evening match at Mint Bridge is scheduled before the delayed league campaign begins. Supporters have been advised to check for updates as the RFU’s arrangements develop, with Kendal saying relevant fixtures will be published once confirmed.

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

Kendal is due to travel to Rochdale on 19 December, with another Rochdale fixture listed at Mint Bridge on 10 April.

Why the league campaign has been held back

The RFU’s approach was intended to prevent clubs with access to 3G training pitches gaining an advantage over teams playing on difficult natural surfaces. Kendal’s home league campaign has therefore been held back while playing conditions are addressed.

The final make-up of Kendal’s division was still unsettled. Macclesfield, who finished third in National League 2 North, were initially 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 returned 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 that view remained provisional while the RFU finalised the division. Further changes involving Dronfield and Sandal were expected but had not been confirmed.

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

Coaching team unchanged

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

Alex Ryder is leaving for newly promoted Vale of Lune. He did not play for Kendal’s First XV last season but was described as an important member of the title-winning Second XV. Ryder 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 and scored one try after debuting in the 2022 Cup match at Upper Eden, and later played for Ambleside.

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