Fylde RFC 'want to be in the conversation' this season

It may have been an unusual summer but Fylde RFC team boss Chris Briers predicts National Two North will be as tough as ever when the 2026/27 season gets underway at Billingham on Saturday (2.15pm).

A hot, dry close-season impacted Fylde’s plans for warm-up games and resulted in the league season being delayed until later this month at all levels below theirs.

Joint-head coach Briers says the Woodlands club are as ready as they will ever be.

He told The Gazette: “We had the one internal game and I am wary of those, and this one was perfect because we got a lot out of it.

“We got to see a lot of players, who got the game time and the contact rugby they needed.

“I’m pleased our season is starting on time. During the hot spell, the RFU had to come out with something and needed one blanket rule for clarity.

“We’ve had a lot of rain in the north since then and I think we’d be more concerned about waterlogged pitches than hard pitches now.”

Fylde can look forward to renewing an old rivalry with Sedgley Park, one of five new clubs in this season’s N2N, and Briers added: “I expect it to be a very tough league again, with new teams coming in from above and below.

“It’s hard to predict and it will take a few games before we know who the stronger sides are, but I expect Sedgley to be strong coming down from National One.

“For us, it’s about being able to compete at the top end of the table. The usual factors will come into play – injuries, availability and being able to select a consistent side – but we want to be pushing the clubs at the top end.

“We never say the goal is promotion but we want to be in the conversation and not in the middle of the league.

“I think we were very much up there last season until we had that spell after Christmas and we want to avoid another period like that.”

Fylde had to settle for a sixth-placed finish after that six-match losing run in January and February.

Most of last season’s senior squad have been retained, with prop Theo Hulbert, fellow packman Charlie Wilkinson and outside back Vinny Durcan arriving to boost options.

Briers confirmed they won’t be the only new faces, revealing: “There will be more, with some coming in who haven’t been announced yet.

“We have recruited some young players. There are some who have played mini-junior rugby at the club and some who are new.”

Saturday’s opener will provide a challenging benchmark for the season ahead.

Fylde have won all three Woodlands clashes since Billingham joined N2N but their last two visits to Teesside have ended in defeat.

“It’s always tough up there after a long journey and they are always up for it,” says Briers.

“They’ll have a big set of lads, who like to play and can challenge you.

“There’s no doubt they will play for the full game and they’ll go for you.”