The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment is the Infantry Regiment of the North West of England. They have one Regular battalion, one Reserve battalion and one affiliated battalion. Fierce, strong and courageous, they are known as The Lions of England.
Based in Cyprus, the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment is a Light Role Infantry Battalion, deploying to Cyprus as the Resident Infantry / Theatre Reserve Battalion every two years in six. The Battalion returned to the UK in 2024 and is based at Weeton Barracks near Blackpool.
1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment is trained to fight on foot but able to operate in all terrains and against any challenge, the Kingsmen are the core of the Army’s Ground Close Combat capability.
With a number of Fijians serving in the Battalion, it is hardly surprising that there is a keen interest in rugby. Fylde have made overtures to the Battalion in recent years and some games have resulted and a few players have worn the claret, gold and white colours from time to time. With their return to Weeton this year, it is an ideal time to develop an even closer relationship with the Club.
Club Chairman Matt Filipo and Mark Nelson, Fylde’s Chairman of Rugby, have reached out and have organised, with the support of the Fylde Rugby Community Foundation, training sessions and some competitive rugby. We will be delighted to give them a warm welcome to the Woodlands. The timetable is:
Tuesday 24th. Soldiers from the Battalion will train at Club: the group will arrive at 17.00 at the Woodlands, have a session on the top pitch till 18.30, then transfer to the Main Pitch for a joint training session with the Fylde Senior Squad and eat with them when this ends.
Wednesday 25th: Fylde 1st XV prop Corey Bowker will deliver a forwards session at Weeton Barracks in the morning. The Foundations’ Phill Mills and Mark Sutcliffe will also be in attendance.
Thursday 26th: the Army squad will train at the Club, a repeat of Tuesday evening
Friday 27th: A Fylde Barbarians XV v Army squad will play on the main pitch under lights (ko 19.00). The Army will provide a referee. The Clubhouse will be accessible to spectators from 17.00 with the bar open thereafter.
Saturday 28th: Officers and guests from the Battalion will attend the the pre-match lunch hosted by Matt Filipo ahead of the Fylde 1st XV v Chester RUFC National League game.
On Wednesdays during the following two weeks (2nd & 9th October) there will be fixtures between the Lancashire Regiment and other Army sides. Details to be confirmed.
This promises to be the best link we’ve ever had with the Army and potentially will be a fruitful one in the future for the Club, the Battalion and the Foundation.