Durcan, Hulbert and Wilkinson join Woodlands squad

Fylde RFC have continued their build-up to the National Two North season by signing three players with plenty of experience at that level.

Centre/wing Vinny Durcan, prop Theo Hulbert and back-five forward Charlie Wilkinson have all joined the Woodlands ranks as the club looks to improve on last season's sixth-placed finish.

And with most of last season's senior squad re-signed or still under contract, Fylde have welcome competition for places ahead of the season opener at Billingham on September 5.

Durcan spent last season at Rossendale in N2West and capped an eye-catching performance with a try in their defeat at the Woodlands in April.

A former Kirkham Grammar and Rochdale RU player, Durcan spent time with the Sale Sharks academy and was a member of the Lancashire Under-20s squad that won the County Championship in 2025.

Hulbert was in last season's senior Lancashire squad and made 47 appearances over two seasons in N2West and North with Macclesfield following a spell at Sandbach RU.

Wilkinson is a Lancaster Royal Grammar School graduate, who has been playing in N2West for Guernsey. He also captained the Nottingham Trent University side.

He is not a new face at Fylde as joint-head coach Chris Briers explained: "“Charlie is a great lad and has already done a few pre-seasons at Fylde before moving away. He played in a pre-season game for us a few years ago and was a stand-out performer.

"Alex (fellow head coach Loney) coached him at school and we both coached him at Lancs U18s, when he played centre. We have been looking forward to the day he returned and can’t wait to get him back involved.”

Of the other new recruits, Briers added: “I first coached Theo at Myerscough College. He had a great attitude and wanted to learn the game. He’s obviously continued this since and we’re looking forward to seeing him in a Fylde Jersey.

“We have known about Vinny’s capabilities for a few years. Alex and I saw him playing for Lancashire Under-20s and thought he was a really good prospect.

"As he went to Kirkham, we had some background info on him and it was very positive. He’s obviously transitioned into men’s rugby very well too.”