Senior training will continue in line with RFU guidance. Our fixture against LooseHeadz on 29 August will go ahead using adapted playing laws, similar to those successfully used at the recent Senior Festival. Our pre-season fixture away at Bridgnorth (a), originally scheduled for 22 August, has been moved to 19 September. We are also exploring the possibility of arranging a home fixture of some kind on 12 September.

Our Media & Sponsors Day, planned for the first Saturday of September, will proceed as scheduled. Sponsors from across the club will have the opportunity to take part in activities and be involved in squad photography. Senior players will also collect this seasons kit.

Subject to confirmation from the RFU League Liaison Team, the postponed league fixtures against Kirkby Lonsdale and Manchester are expected to be rescheduled later in the season. (Potentially 10th Oct & 19th Dec respectively)

Walking Rugby, Women's Rugby and Touch Rugby are unaffected by the announcement and will continue as normal.

Mini and Junior Rugby

Sandbach RUFC can also confirm that Mini Rugby will remain largely unaffected. As Mini fixtures are already played in a friendly format without league tables or results, all scheduled fixtures are expected to go ahead.

However, there will be no midweek Mini Rugby training until Spring 2027 and all fixtures during this period will be played under adapted rules designed to maintain the highest standards of player welfare.

Junior Rugby (U12-U18) will adopt a similar approach, although midweek training will continue as normal. Fixtures are expected to take place, but with a phased return to contact, allowing players to safely rebuild rugby-specific skills before returning to full-contact competition. Any league or cup fixtures affected by the RFU postponement will be rearranged in line with competition calendars.

Even if weather conditions improve, Sandbach RUFC has taken the decision that pitches must be deemed suitable for a minimum of 14 consecutive days before a return to normal play. This will provide coaches and players with sufficient time to undertake "contact-ready" training before full match rugby resumes.

Anyone who attended last weekend's Senior Pre-Season Festival will have seen that adapted rugby can still be competitive, purposeful and highly developmental. We are confident that this approach provides the safest pathway back to rugby, while keeping players engaged and maintaining activity across the club.

To ensure consistency, rule adaptations across each age group should remain broadly aligned. We appreciate that coaches may have differing views on how adjustments should be applied and, with this in mind, there will be a Mini and Junior Coaches' Meeting on Sunday 6 September with senior coaching representatives. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss and agree the adaptations required across all age groups.

Our priority is to ensure player welfare remains at the forefront of everything we do. Any changes will be made in line with the latest RFU guidance, providing a consistent approach throughout the club while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our players remain the key consideration.

Hospitality and Events

From a hospitality and events perspective, we are currently reviewing the impact of the revised rugby calendar on our planned matchday programme. With our opening home league fixture against Kirkby Lonsdale expected to be rescheduled later in the season, the planned Ladies Day hospitality event will also move to a future home fixture. A new date will be confirmed once the revised league schedule has been finalised.

There remains a possibility that the rearranged fixture could coincide with our planned Oktoberfest celebrations at Bradwall Road. Should that be the case, Oktoberfest will take priority for that weekend and Ladies Day will be moved to another suitable home fixture later in the season.

Any existing hospitality bookings will, of course, be honoured, and we will contact guests directly once revised fixture dates are confirmed. We have an exciting programme of matchday hospitality and club events planned throughout the season and look forward to welcoming sponsors, members and supporters back to Bradwall Road.

Thank You

We would like to thank all our members, players, volunteers, sponsors and supporters for their continued backing and understanding. We look forward to seeing everyone at Bradwall Road as preparations for the new season continue.

Rugby enquiries
Andrew Bird, Director of Rugby
? 07966 279168
✉️ agbird9@hotmail.com

Hospitality enquiries
Max Beadle
? 07715 884958