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 Rugby Football Union has delayed the start of competitive Community Rugby because of hard ground and drought conditions.
The change means Kendal’s first scheduled home league fixture is now against Macclesfield on Saturday 3 October. Leek’s rearranged visit will follow one week later, on Saturday 10 October.
The RFU decision affects the opening weeks of the club’s league programme, rather than only the original meeting with Leek. Kendal’s planned away match at Wharfedale, due on Saturday 22 August, was cancelled, while the club’s trip to Rochdale and home match against Leek were rearranged.
Kendal’s revised early-season fixtures
Before the home league campaign begins, the published schedule includes these fixtures:
- 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 are now due to visit Rochdale on 19 December, with a further Rochdale fixture listed at Mint Bridge on 10 April.
Supporters have been advised to check for further updates while the RFU’s arrangements develop. Kendal said the relevant fixtures would be published once they were confirmed.
Why the rugby schedule changed
The RFU’s approach was intended to prevent clubs with access to 3G training pitches gaining an advantage over teams facing difficult natural playing surfaces. As a result, Kendal’s home league schedule has been pushed back while the playing conditions are addressed.
The final make-up of Kendal’s division remained unsettled. Macclesfield, who finished third in National League 2 North, were reallocated to National League 2 West. Kendal said that move 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 remains unchanged
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.
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 also 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.
