Southport Rugby Football Club will play its first competitive fixture of the 2026/27 season this Saturday, travelling to Didsbury Toc H in the opening round of the Brian Leigh Lancashire Trophy.

With the start of the RFU community league season delayed until later in September, Saturday's county cup fixture now provides Southport with an earlier opportunity to get competitive rugby underway and continue preparations for the challenges ahead.

The First XV did get its first run-out of the new campaign last Thursday, taking part in a valuable training game with Firwood Waterloo. Saturday, though, represents the first competitive test of the season and the beginning of another important year for the Club.

A New Challenge Ahead
Southport enter the new campaign following an outstanding 2025/26 season which saw the side secure the Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire title alongside lifting the Lancashire Plate.

Promotion means Southport will now step into a new league this season, where Saturday's opponents Didsbury Toc H will also feature.

That gives this weekend's cup encounter an added edge, providing both sides with an early opportunity to test themselves against opposition they will meet again during the league campaign.

Southport's success last season has also resulted in the Club moving into the Brian Leigh Lancashire Trophy, with Saturday marking the first round of the competition.

Continuity Within the Squad
The Southport squad heading into the new season remains relatively unchanged from the group which enjoyed so much success last year.

There have been a handful of additions to the squad alongside opportunities for younger players to continue their progression into senior rugby.

Several players coming through the Colts pathway will also be hoping to make their mark throughout the season, with Saturday providing another opportunity for the Club's emerging players to push for places within the senior squad.

That blend of continuity, new additions and young players progressing through the pathway gives Southport plenty to build on as attention turns towards life at the next level.

Fixture Reversed to Didsbury
Saturday's match had originally been scheduled to take place at Waterloo Road, but the fixture has been reversed while significant improvement work continues on Southport's playing surfaces.

Considerable work has taken place at the Club throughout the summer as part of the continued investment into the quality and long-term sustainability of the pitches.

Allowing that work the appropriate time to establish remains important in ensuring Southport can provide the best possible playing environment throughout the season and for years to come.

As a result, the first-round tie will now take place at Didsbury Toc H RFC.

League Start Delayed
The Lancashire Trophy fixture goes ahead following confirmation from Lancashire RFU that its county cup programme can begin as scheduled.

The RFU recently delayed the start of competitive community league rugby at Regional 1 and below until the week commencing Monday 21 September, following the prolonged spell of dry weather and concerns surrounding exceptionally hard playing surfaces and player welfare.

Local cup competitions are administered by their respective Constituent Bodies, allowing Lancashire's cup programme to continue.

Player welfare will remain paramount, with the appropriate assessments continuing to be made ahead of all training sessions and fixtures.

For Southport, however, Saturday now provides an important first competitive outing before the league campaign begins later in the month.

After a successful 2025/26 season, a relatively settled squad and plenty of younger players looking to make their mark, attention now turns to Didsbury as another Southport season gets underway.

MATCH DETAILS

Didsbury Toc H v Southport RFC
Brian Leigh Lancashire Trophy – First Round
Saturday 5 September 2026
Venue: Didsbury Toc H RFC

Southport's revised league programme will then see the Club return to Waterloo Road on Saturday 26 September, when Eccles RFC are scheduled to visit for the first league fixture of the season.