The countdown is officially on for The War of the Roses ~ LIVE at The Woodlands!!
We’re proud to host one of English rugby’s most iconic fixtures as Lancashire take on Yorkshire in the Bill Beaumont County Championship ~ right here at the home of Fylde RFC – Saturday 9th May, ko 15.00.
🎟️ Gate Entry: £10 per person (20% discount for FYLDE MEMBERS) & Under 16s free
📍 The Woodlands – home of Fylde RFC
🏉 Lancashire Rugby v Yorkshire Rugby Football Union ~ Bill Beaumont County Championship
Reminder: please use the MAIN GATE for entry
Lancashire RFU have named an extended 30-man squad to compete in the 2026 Bill Beaumont County Championship. The Red Rose County take on Yorkshire twice in May to decide who will qualify to reach the County Championship Final at Twickenham. The teams meet first at the Woodlands on Saturday, May 9th (ko 15.00) with the reverse fixture at Hull Ionians on Saturday, 16th May (ko 15.00).
Fylde & ‘Hoppers contribute the core of the squad with a total of 18 players. 8 players from National One clubs Sedgley Park and Sale FC boost the group in a useful way. The squad is led by the immensely experienced fly-half and skipper Chris Johnson who is currently Head Coach at Heath RUFC and has played many times for Lancashire.
A number of players are new to the Lancs Senior squad and, depending on final selection and the use of replacements, will be hoping to earn their first caps in the two matches.
One of these young aspirants is Ashton Kasam-Sharples who came through the Vale of Lune junior teams and eventually made his debut for the U’20s County Championship-winning squad last season. He’s had useful experience in the Manchester Metropolitan University squad and has made some impressive 1st XV appearances for the Fylde 1st XV towards the end of this season.
FYLDE: Corey Bowker, Matt Garrod, Ashton Kasam-Sharples, Ben Walton, Michael Walton; Alex Clayton, Jordan Dorrington, Leo Gilliland, Adam Lanigan, Ben Turner.
PRESTON G: Tom Ailes, Hugo Castle, Ben Corless, Sam Kyle-Clay; Jacob Browne, Sam Freeman, Sam Russell, Owain Williams.
SEDGLEY PARK: Isaac Deans, Jack Ellam, Ethan Poole, Daniel Rylance, Matthew Sturgess.
SALE FC: Dan Birchall, Peter Vickers, Matt Bradley.
ROSSENDALE: Jack Wilkinson.
HEATH: Chris Johnson (capt)
LEEK: Scott Rawlings
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY: Freddie Deeks
Yorkshire have made the last two Twickenham Finals in 2024 & 2025 but lost each time to Kent. A year earlier in 2023 Kent beat Lancashire in a nail biting 39-37 victory. The last time a Northern county won the Championship was Lancashire in 2018 when they beat Hertfordshire by 31-16.
The last time this Roses clash happened at the Woodlands when, in a very tight contest, the White Rose edged it by 20-26. The photo below is of Chris Johnson kicking on a pitch so familiar to him because of his long spell with Fylde.
Once again, Yorkshire have selected a very strong squad drawing on clubs throughout the county.
