Sandbach’s senior rugby teams are ramping up preparations for the new season with a busy pre-season schedule.
The pre-season campaign includes a visit to Stoke RFC on Thursday 6th August for the annual joint live training session. On Saturday 15th August, the club will host a senior rugby festival, which will include eleven teams. Sandbach will be joined on the day by Bowdon RUFC, Bromsgrove RFC, Caernarfon RFC, Leek RUFC, Mold RFC, Ruthin RFC, Sandal RUFC, Wharfedale RUFC, Whitchurch RFC and Wirral RFC. The following weekend, Sandbach will travel to Bridgnorth RFC to take on the Shropshire club.
The last Saturday in August will see the annual fixture against rugby mental health charity LooseHeadz RFC, which has been one of the highlights of the past two summers. Finally, before the season fully gets underway, there will be an open training session for the 1st XV on Saturday 5th September.
Sandbach have already announced the return of Mike Barlow in a player-coach capacity and have confirmed that the coaching team remains unchanged. This includes director of rugby Andrew Bird, head coach Tom Holmes and senior coaches Lee Pickles, Will Cargill and Laurie Essenhigh. Mike rejoins the club from Caldy, who he represented both in the National League and more recently in the Champ.
Max Beadle will continue as club captain, supporting the squad both on and off the pitch. He’ll be assisted by 1st XV captain Laurie Essenhigh, who continues as a player-coach, and vice-captain Harry Leese, who was last season’s 1st XV Players’ Player of the Season. The other senior captains are confirmed as 2nd XV co-captains Jake Jackson and Ant Dowell, 3rd XV co-captains Connor Radcliffe and Cameron Donald and 4th XV captain Andy Pipe.
Andy Mitchell, Sandbach RUFC’s new chairman, said:
"Building on a foundation of professional coaching and structured player development, the club enters the season with high ambitions across all sections. We will field four senior men’s sides this year, accompanied by a rapidly growing women’s and girls’ section. The club’s youth pipeline is also stronger than ever, boasting record-breaking numbers of age-grade players registering for the new season. Beyond the competitive contact leagues, the club’s inclusive community initiatives, including walking and touch rugby, continue to thrive and expand.
For the 1st XV, a rigorous and challenging pre-season fixture list has been designed to test the squad ahead of a demanding league campaign. Sandbach Rugby Club is primed for a landmark year of rugby."
Sandbach RUFC’s club captain Max Beadle said:
“Pre-season is always an exciting time of year. It gives us the chance to reset, welcome new faces into the squad and lay the foundations for the season ahead. The standards we set over the summer will define us when the league campaign begins, so there’s a real focus on hard work, discipline and enjoying the challenge.
At Sandbach, our ambitions never change. We want to be competing at the top end of the table and pushing for promotion every season. We know nothing is given in this league, so we’ll earn everything through our preparation and the values we set for ourselves, both on and off the pitch.
We’re looking forward to getting back out in front of our supporters during pre-season and building momentum ahead of what promises to be another exciting campaign.”
Sandbach will open the league season at home to newly promoted Kirkby Lonsdale on Saturday 12th September. Last season, Sandbach’s 1st XV achieved a proud third-place league finish for the second consecutive season and a place in the play-offs, where they bowed out in the second round. The Bach will be aiming to build on that progress and a strong pre-season campaign will set them up for another thrilling season of rugby.
Sandbach RUFC’s Pre-Season Schedule
Thursday 6th August - Kick-off 7.00pm
Joint training session between Stoke RFC and Sandbach RUFC senior squad
Hartwell Lane, Barlaston, Stone

Saturday 15th August - Kick-off 12.00pm
Sandbach RUFC Rugby Festival
Teams include Bowdon RUFC, Bromsgrove RFC, Caernarfon RFC, Leek RUFC, Mold RFC, Ruthin RFC, Sandal RUFC, Sandbach RUFC, Wharfedale RUFC, Whitchurch RFC and Wirral RFC
Bradwall Road, Sandbach

Saturday 22nd August - Kick-off 2.00pm
Bridgnorth RFC vs Sandbach Senior XV
Edgar Davies Ground, Bandon Lane, Bridgnorth

Saturday 29th August - Kick-off 3.00pm
Sandbach Social XV vs LooseHeadz RFC
Bradwall Road, Sandbach

Saturday 5th September
Sandbach 1st XV open training session
Bradwall Road, Sandbach

Sandbach 1st XV’s Regional 2 North West 2026/27 September Fixtures
Saturday 12th September
Sandbach 1st XV vs Kirkby Lonsdale 1st XV

Saturday 19th September
Manchester 1st XV vs Sandbach 1st XV

Saturday 26th September
Sandbach 1st XV vs Northwich 1st XV