This is the time to begin the news releases about newcomers who have signed up for the Club’s 2025-26 season and established members of the squad who have re-signed. Here are the first two arrivals.
BEN WALTON
We are delighted to welcome Ben Walton to the Club as the first of the new recruits for the 2025-26 season. Ben is from the North East and joins Fylde from fellow National Two (North) club Billingham where he has played for the last seven seasons and run up an impressive 149 appearances. In the last two seasons he has played at N2(N) level and, prior to Billingham’s promotion at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, in the North Premier division.
Ben is principally a lock forward who has gained representative honours for the North of England U’20s, was skipper of Durham County’s U’20s and also a member of the Newcastle Falcons Academy. He is an athletic forward who is durable, quick around the park and has considerable leadership qualities.
He is the younger brother of Michael Walton who joined Fylde from Billingham at the beginning of last season and had such an outstanding campaign that he earned the Coaches’ Player of the Season Award at the Players’ Dinner in late April. The brothers will re-establish a close partnership at the Woodlands building on numerous seasons playing together for Billingham.
Ben has played against Fylde three times in the last two seasons, twice alongside his brother and once, in opposition, in April 2025 at the Woodlands when, although he was on the losing side (22-12), he scored a good try in front of the Clubhouse with his family looking on from the balcony https://bit.ly/4kwpTV9 .
Chris Farrow’s excellent photograph captured a lineout with the brothers competing for the ball.
Ben gained a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Sport & Exercise at Teesside University in 2022 and is now a qualified PE teacher. He is a committed educator with a strong belief that sport is paramount to a successful and healthy lifestyle throughout life. He also has coaching experience with U’15 and U’18s teams at Bishop Auckland Rugby club.
Ben said “Joining Fylde will be a new adventure that I’m really looking forward to and it’s great to be reunited with my brother. I definitely know this year is going to be a special one for the team and I hope everyone is going to be there for the ride!”
WILL HUNT
We’re delighted to announce that Will has signed up for the 2025-26 season. Will is hardly ‘new’ as he’s been on loan to Fylde from Sale FC since making his debut in February 2025 at the Woodlands v Lymm and netting a personal haul of 15 points in a 45-17 victory that day.
He made seven 1st XV appearances up to the end of the season. He’s a creative talent, a physically tough competitor and a playmaking fly-half as well as a principal goal kicker. His in-field kicking is also especially noteworthy as an attacking weapon. He’s 1.88m tall (6 ft 2 in) and weighs in at 90kg (14st).
The 27-year-old grew up in Lancashire, attended Myerscough College’s Rugby Programme and joined Sale Shark’s Academy. He has Scottish heritage and has representative honours for Scotland U’20s as well as experience with two clubs north of the border, at Glasgow Warriors (2022-23) and Ayrshire Bulls.
As well as spending part of last season at Sale FC, Will has a total of 87 appearances at Vale of Lune, Preston Grasshoppers & then Sale FC. He also had a very successful period in 2021-22 with Portuguese Premiership club Cascais Rugby. At a representative level, he’s also made appearances for Lancashire’s County Championship team in the last two seasons.
Joint Head Coach Chris Briers said: “Will joined us for the second half of last season and has fitted in extremely well with the squad. He is quality player and someone who suits the way we want to play. Since joining, he has been very receptive to Alex and I as coaches and enjoys pushing himself and others around him to play at the best of their abilities. He is a great competitor and we are really excited to see what he brings next season.”
Will Hunt said: “I’m really excited to be part of the 2025-26 campaign with Fylde. For me, the decision to re-sign was an easy one. Fylde has a great culture, a clear vision, and a brilliant group of lads on and off the pitch. I’m proud to be part of a club that values both performance and community, and I’m looking forward to building on what we’ve started and pushing for big things this season.”