[Photo above courtesy of Blackburn RUFC]
Fylde are delighted to entertain Blackburn RUFC at the Woodlands on Saturday(13th Aug) in a pre-season run-out (ko 15.00).
Blackburn was originally formed 42 years ahead of Fylde in 1877 but the two clubs have rarely crossed paths since the establishment of league rugby in the 1980s & ’90s. ‘Burn have spent the last 20 years flitting between the North Lancs/Cumbria (level 7), North West 1 (level 6) and most recently North Premier (level 5) Leagues. Last season was their most successful ever in league terms as they finished 3rd in North Premier, just behind promoted Otley and Preston Grasshoppers. With an ambitious and shrewd recruitment strategy, their 1st XV squad proved strong, experienced and resilient.
They are led by long serving Director of Rugby Dino Radice. Two former Fylde players are in senior coaching positions, with former Woodlands favourite Tom Lavelle and ex-skipper Greg Nicholls in the roles of Forwards Coach and Head Coach respectively.
The Fylde links go further with former hooker Tom Burtonwood, centre Sammy Russell, prop Adam Joyner, fly-half Marc Maher and wing Jake Foster all having successful campaigns in 2021-22.
Fylde supporters will remember prop Sam Simpson very well and his son Leon has been carving out a very promising career as a very quick winger for ‘Burn and last season for the Lancashire senior XV. He was top try scorer last season with 18, complemented by the productive goal kicking of centre Paddy Gaffey (177 points) and Josh Jarrold (132 points).
After playing in various locations in the town, members purchased land on the current position in north Blackburn on Ramsgreave Drive. Numerous improvements and developments have been made and the Club now has excellent facilities appropriate to their ambitions.
——– —-
Whilst Fylde are missing four unavailable players, they name 31 squad members who’ll get a run-out at some stage of the afternoon. Players returning to the Club this season and in this squad are Pete Altham, Toby Harrison and James Robinson. Newcomers include centre Sam Stott, hooker Joe Corkish & flanker Henry Higginson. An interesting inclusion is former Fylde mini-junior and starring flanker in the England U’18s squad in the 2022 6 Nations, Tristan Woodman who makes his senior debut for the Club.
