Kendal Rugby Union Football Club supporters will have to wait until October to see the club begin its 2026/27 home league campaign at Mint Bridge. The scheduled fixture against Leek has been rearranged for Saturday 10 October after the Rugby Football Union delayed the start of competitive Community Rugby because of hard ground and drought conditions.

The decision affects the opening weeks of Kendal’s league programme, rather than just the Leek match. Kendal’s first league fixture will now be an away trip to Stockport on Saturday 26 September, with Macclesfield due to visit Mint Bridge on Saturday 3 October before Leek’s rearranged visit one week later.

Revised early-season fixtures

Kendal’s published schedule lists five matches across late August and September before the home league meeting with Leek. The early-season programme is:

  • 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’s ruling also affects Kendal’s planned away match at Wharfedale, which was scheduled for Saturday 22 August. That fixture has been cancelled.

Other changes have been made to the programme. Kendal’s original trip to Rochdale and the home fixture against Leek have both been rearranged. Leek will now travel to Mint Bridge on 10 October, while Kendal are due to visit Rochdale on 19 December. A further Rochdale match is listed at Kendal on 10 April.

The RFU said the delay was intended to prevent clubs with access to 3G training pitches gaining an advantage over teams dealing with difficult natural playing surfaces. Kendal’s home league schedule has consequently been pushed back while arrangements respond to the playing conditions.

Division line-up remains unsettled

The final make-up of Kendal’s division is still being worked out because of 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 that view was provisional while the RFU finalised the division. Further changes were expected to involve Dronfield and Sandal, but those arrangements had not been confirmed.

The fixture listed 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 connected to the Kendal Fireworks event at Mint Bridge, but made clear that this was only a guess.

Coaching team stays as players depart

Kendal’s coaching team remains unchanged 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.

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.