A huge weekend of rugby lies ahead for Southport Rugby Football Club, with senior, women’s, Colts and Mini & Junior teams all in action across Saturday and Sunday.

The headline fixture sees the First XV begin life in Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire, welcoming Eccles RFC to Waterloo Road for a 3:00pm kick-off on Saturday, in a match proudly sponsored by EFT Group.

After a memorable 2025/26 campaign, Saturday marks the beginning of a new chapter for Southport, while elsewhere the Second XV make the reverse journey to Eccles, the Third XV host Hoylake and a busy Sunday sees our Women, Senior Colts, Junior Colts and Mini & Junior sides representing the club.

First XV | Southport v Eccles

Saturday 26 September | Waterloo Road | 3:00pm
Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
Match Sponsor: EFT Group

After a delayed start to the league season, competitive league rugby finally returns to Waterloo Road on Saturday afternoon as Southport welcome Eccles.

Southport step into Counties 1 as champions following an outstanding 2025/26 season. The First XV won 16 of their 18 league fixtures, finished on 79 points and secured the title by a single point ahead of Bolton. Promotion was ultimately sealed in style, with a 45-14 victory away at Heaton Moor on the final afternoon confirming Southport as Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire champions.

That league success was followed by further silverware in May, when Southport defeated Bolton 34-5 at Widnes to lift the Lancashire Plate for the first time and complete a memorable league and cup double. It continued a remarkable period for the First XV, which also included victory in the Counties 2 North Plate in 2025.

Saturday therefore represents the next challenge for a group eager to test itself at the higher level.

There could hardly be a more useful opening examination than Eccles.

The visitors already have significant experience at this level and finished fourth in Counties 1 last season after returning to the division from Regional 2 North West. Their campaign included some eye-catching performances, including a 50–26 victory away at Tarleton, a 55-5 home win against New Brighton and a 48-26 victory at Broughton Park.

It means Southport know exactly the type of challenge that awaits. Counties 1 will demand greater consistency, physicality and accuracy throughout the season, but after earning promotion on the back of such a strong campaign, there is plenty of excitement around the opportunity to embrace that challenge.

The two First XVs have actually gone several years without completing a competitive league fixture against one another. The last completed meeting we can trace came at Waterloo Road on 7 September 2019, when Eccles recorded a 64–29 victory in North Two West. The scheduled return fixture at Eccles in April 2020 was never played after that season was curtailed.

Much has changed at both clubs since then and Saturday provides an opportunity to renew that rivalry at the beginning of a new league campaign.

Southport have already had some valuable rugby ahead of the league programme, including their Brian Leigh Lancashire Trophy fixture away at Didsbury Toc H earlier this month. Despite a 50–21 defeat, there were encouraging periods in the performance, particularly through the forward pack, as Southport continued preparations for the step up in competition.

Now, though, the focus turns fully towards the league.

After the success of last season, Southport are eager to get going, excited by the opportunity of playing at the next level and looking forward to seeing a strong Waterloo Road crowd behind the team for the opening afternoon.

Southport RFC would also like to place on record its thanks to EFT Group, our match sponsor for Saturday’s fixture. Match sponsorship provides invaluable support to the club and we are incredibly grateful to EFT Group for backing what promises to be a fantastic opening league occasion.

Kick-off is at 3:00pm and we would love to see as many members, families, former players and supporters as possible at Waterloo Road to get behind the First XV.

Second XV | Eccles v Southport

While the First XV host Eccles at Waterloo Road, the Second XV make the reverse journey, travelling to Eccles for their own 3:00pm kick-off.

The fixture begins Southport’s Second XV programme in NOWIRUL Division 2 North, with the league schedule getting underway following September’s delayed competitive start.

It provides another excellent test for the senior section and means there will be two Southport v Eccles encounters taking place simultaneously on Saturday afternoon.

Third XV | Southport v Hoylake

The Third XV are also at home on Saturday, welcoming Hoylake to Waterloo Road for a 3:00pm kick-off.

With both the First and Third XVs on home soil, Waterloo Road should have plenty going on throughout the afternoon and supporters are encouraged to come down and enjoy a full afternoon of grassroots rugby.

Sunday Rugby | Women & Colts

Attention then turns to Sunday, with three more important fixtures across the club.
Southport Women travel to Winnington Park Ladies as their Women’s NC 2 North (West) campaign gets underway.

Our Senior U18 Colts are also on the road, making the journey north to face Kendal Senior U18 Colts, with a 2:00pm kick-off.

Back at Waterloo Road, the Junior U17 Colts host Crewe & Nantwich Junior U17 Colts, kicking off at 12:30pm.

It promises to be another valuable weekend for the Colts programme, continuing the pathway from our junior section through into senior rugby.

Mini & Junior Rugby

There is also a busy programme for our Mini & Junior section, with plenty of Southport players pulling on the shirt across the age groups:

• U7s: Tarleton at home
• U8s: Tarleton away
• U9s: Tarleton at home
• U10s: Tarleton away
• U11s: Tarleton at home
• U12s: Fixture to be confirmed
• U13s: Fixture to be confirmed
• U14s: Tarleton away
• U15s: Caldy at home
• U16s: Blackburn at home

Updates regarding the U12 and U13 fixtures will be communicated once arrangements are confirmed.

From our youngest Mini players through to the First XV, weekends like this demonstrate the breadth of rugby taking place across Southport RFC and the importance of providing opportunities for players at every stage of the club.

Get Behind Southport RFC

With teams competing at Waterloo Road and across the North West throughout the weekend, we wish every Southport player, coach and team the very best of luck.

For those at home, we would love to see a big Southport presence on the touchline. Your support makes a genuine difference and helps create the environment that makes community rugby so special.

If you are interested in becoming part of Southport Rugby Football Club, we would love to hear from you.

Whether you are looking to play rugby, start coaching, volunteer, help behind the scenes or simply become part of the club, there is a place for you at Southport RFC.

We provide rugby opportunities across Mini, Junior, Colts, Women’s and Senior rugby and are always keen to welcome new faces.

To find out more, email info@southportrfc.com.

One Club. Rugby for Everyone.

Good luck to everyone representing Southport RFC this weekend.