The 2025/26 season starts in earnest this weekend with the return of league rugby. As ever teams will take a few weeks to settle into their strides and get into the rhythm of week after week fixtures. It will also be interesting to see which players have moved around clubs with the lure of higher level rugby and pulls in different directions on player’s commitments ever increasing.

The Nuns finished last season in good form and with a win on the last week of the season, secured a top 6 finish after promotion back to level 5. With a record of 11 wins from 22 games and a high number of bonus points (16 try, 4 losing) accumulating 64 league points. The league has seen a 50% change over in opposition from the end of last season. Syston were crowned champions and moved to level 4 and Kenilworth and Silhillians were relegated to level 6. Bournville come down from level 4 after their relegation and we also have Drybrook, Lichfield, Lutterworth and Newent coming up from level 6. Burton, Derby and Long Eaton have been level transferred to the North West with Newport swapping with them...

The Saxons start their league campaign with a home fixture against Hinckley U23s. The Saxons finished last season in 7th position and Hinckley were 5th.

The Colts were due to have a league game with Berkswell & Balsall but they have pulled out of the league, they now travel to Stewarts & Lloyds for a friendly.

The Saracens don’t start their rugby for another couple of weeks.

Team news: after a number of player retirements and movements there is a new look to the Nuns squad. Reuben Twells starts at tight head, prop after a long recovery from injury, alongside Louis Addleton and Ryan Marsh. Benji Mitchell and Tom Aherne partner in the second row and Jack Iles, Toby Dearden and Arron Skyrme make up the back row.

In the backline Tobias Trafford and Lucas Brindley renew their half back partnership. Tom Eales is partnered by James Astin who is debuting having progressed through the Colts. Theo Knight, who has returned to the Club as Colts Coach and will also play when allowing, starts at full back with Tak Chawadya and Harry Pipe, another former Colt debuting, on the wings.

Tyler Freeman, Zeb Gibson and Huw Thomas make up the bench.

Squad to play Bournville RFC, Away 3pm:

1 Ryan Marsh
2 Louis Addleton
3 Reuben Twells*
4 Benji Mitchell*
5 Tom Aherne
6 Jack Iles*
7 Toby Dearden*
8 Arron Skyrme
9 Tobias Trafford
10 Lucas Brindley*
11 Harry Pipe*
12 Tom Eales
13 James Astin*
14 Tak Chawadya
15 Theo Knight*

16 Tyler Freeman*
17 Zeb Gibson
18 Huw Thomas

*Nuneaton RFC Pathway Players

Saxons V Hinckley, Home 3pm:

Owen Freeman*, Oli Price*, Joe Ogbonna*, Steve Orton, Chris Smith*, James O’Donoghue, Thor Sidhu*, Ryan Iles*, Greg Freeman, Lee Walton, Clive Brampton, George Wallis*, Tak Mafuwe, Marcus Holt*, Lewis Cox*, Ben Gilbert*, Mason Styles, Scott Cawley

Regional 1 Midlands Round 1 Fixtures:

Bournville V Nuneaton
Bridgnorth V Stourbridge
Bromsgrove V Banbury
Drybrook V Newport (Salop)
Dudley Kingswinford V Lichfield
Newent V Lutterworth