With pre season training into it’s third week, we are delighted to give an update on the Senior Squad as we build towards the new campaign. The vast majority of the squad have re-signed or are under contract and we are now publicising exciting new additions to the squad. The squad has a great balance with experience, talent, potential and ambition across every position.
We are also delighted that Alex Loney and Chris Briers will continue as joint head coaches and they will be joined in the coaching group by player/coach Matt Garrod.
On behalf of the 1st XV management group Mark Nelson commented “There has been a great deal of detailed work going on over the summer, and we believe we have a really exciting group of players and coaches to take us into the new season. It will be a competitive league and we are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. More importantly we are really looking forward to watching this squad perform and hope that members and fans will come down to watch the lads in action and enjoy the atmosphere and hospitality at the Woodlands.”
So it’s time to give a very warm welcome to three of the Club’s new recruits to the squad for the 2026-27 season. Fylde’s Joint Head Coach Chris Briers (CB) comments on each player below:
THEO HULBERT
Prop forward Theo Hulbert joins Fylde from Macclesfield for whom he made 47 appearances for their 1st XV’s squad in the last two seasons. Prior to that, he developed his career from junior rugby to the 1st XV at Sandbach RUFC.heo shows his versatility by being able to play at either loosehead or tighthead in the front row. He was part of the Lancashire County Senior Squad in 2025-26.
Theo said: “I started playing rugby at Knutsford RUFC, just through watching my brother play there with my Dad and wanted to give it a go. I then moved onto Sandbach RUFC where I spent most of my junior career and I represented Cheshire at under 17s level. I then attended Myerscough College and had 2 excellent years playing there whilst at Sandbach RUFC, then went to university at Manchester Metropolitan. I played in the 1st team for 4 years, served as Set Piece/Forwards coach and represented Cheshire / Lancashire at under 20s level. Just after I graduated I moved onto Macclesfield RUFC where I had two great years playing National League rugby.
“My brother and dad were primary influences on my development when I was growing up. As I got older when I went to Myerscough College I would say my coach there, Donny Sutherland, was a massive inspiration for me, he really supported me both on and off the pitch.
“After training here at Fylde for two weeks now within the senior set up, I have noticed that there’s huge internal drive from the lads both on and off the pitch. I have really enjoyed my first couple of weeks, even running up the sand dunes and i am really excited for what’s to come from this group. I have heard playing at the Woodlands is a class feeling, so I am excited to experience that and give the shirt the best I can.”
Fylde Joint Head Coach Chris Briers said: “I first coached him at Myerscough College. He is a really good lad and had a great attitude and wanted to learn the game. He’s obviously continued this since leaving Myerscough, through his playing and coaching. He’s been down at pre-season training and has been working hard. We’re looking forward to seeing him on the pitch in a Fylde Jersey.
CHARLIE WILKINSON
Charlie joins us a lock/back row forward having gained National League 2 (West) experience last season at Guernsey RFC following two seasons skippering Nottingham Trent University 1st XV. He’s also represented Nottingham Rugby and Leicester Tigers XV.
Charlie Wilkinson said: “”I first started playing rugby union at Lancaster Royal Grammar School, working my way round every position in the backline before joining Fylde for some post-Covid/pre university training sessions. It was at these sessions Alex Loney asked if I fancied trying out being a ball playing no 6 – I’ve been stuck in the second row ever since!
“Other than the various physios who have kept me together since a bad knee injury at university, a former coach and current teammate, Josh Poullet, has had a major impact on my career. Going to university having never played a competitive game in the forwards, he got me up to speed on all things back five.
“Having been away from Fylde for a few years now with university and taking an opportunity to play in Guernsey, there are some new and some familiar faces in the Fylde squad. But what strikes me is the hunger to achieve and the professionalism in the way we’re going about things. And it goes without saying that the exciting style of play Fylde have become renowned for is a major attraction moving to the Woodlands.”
Chris Briers: “Charlie is a great lad and has already done a few pre-seasons at Fylde after finishing school at LRGS and before moving away for university and then going to Guernsey RFC. He actually played in a pre-season game for us a few years ago and was a stand out performer. Alex coached him at school and we both coached him at Lancs U18s when he played centre. We have been looking forward to the day he returned and can’t wait to get him back involved.”
VINNY DURCAN
Former Kirkham Grammar School product Vinny is a powerful and direct centre/wing who has experience at Sale Sharks Academy, Rochdale RUFC and last season at Rossendale RUFC where he played in half their N2(N) league matches. In fact, he stood out in the Stags’ visit to the Woodlands in April by scoring a very good try against his new team mates.
He learned the game at Rochdale starting in the Juniors and developed this at Kirkham Grammar School where he battled through from 3rd XV to the 1sts. “I worked myself up the ranks the hard way and believe that has helped build my character.”
“The biggest influences on my rugby career have been high level coaches from KGS and Sale Sharks who’ve helped me progress to the next stages and making sure I’m always progressing as a player. My dad has also been a driving factor for my rugby career – he’s only ever missed a few matches since the beginning.”
He’s a 3rd year student at Manchester Metropolitan University studying business & management. Once again he was a member of Lancashire U’20s County Championship winning squad in 2025.
Viney said: “The lads at Fylde have been very welcoming and seem like a great bunch of lads putting in the graft in the first few weeks of the pre season blocks. This has made me excited for my first game in the new colours to experience a different environment where I believe I will excel.”
CB: “We have known about Vinny’s capabilities for a few years now. Alex and I saw him playing for Lancashire U20s and thought he was a really good prospect. As he went to Kirkham, we also had some background info on him and it was very positive. He’s obviously transitioned into men’s rugby very well too, playing a number of games for Rossendale. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do at Fylde.”