After a long summer, competitive rugby is back, with senior, women’s and junior teams all getting their seasons underway across this coming weekend.

The club is investing in coaching at all levels. Senior Men’s coaching team is still headed up by coach Jay Robinson, ably assisted by Simon Humberstone. Our new pathway sees Bren Lanaghan, Duncan Hardy, Sam Weller, Alex Webster, Quentin McGrory-Hill and Pete Moffatt on RFU Coaching Development courses and they are already making their mark with the senior squads.

Jack Coates continues to head up the women’s XV coaching team, supported by the same assistants as last season, Antun Wilson and Jack Todd. Jack C also continues to co-ordinate the coaching structure for the girls’ section, working with the coaches across the different age groups.

Will Stoker sits at the helm of the Youth Section, co-ordinating all of the coaching for boys and girls across all age groups from Micros to U18s. This is the second year of this pathway structure as we develop our Rising Swans from Green to Gold and we are keen to develop all coaches at all ages along the RFU development courses.

This weekend, Selby 1st XV make the short trip to Wetherby, where former vice captain Max Wotton takes over the reins following Alex Webster's retirement after many years of service. Most of last season’s players return for another season, with a couple of players having come across from Doncaster Phoenix.

The 2s take an innovative approach this time round with four co-captains - Harry Clarke, Joe Styrin, Patrick Keetley and Ed Wake - all featured prominently for the firsts over the course of last season, hence the new formula. Former first team captains Bren Lanaghan and Duncan Hardy are coaching and new manager Pete Moffatt has joined the set-up, having managed junior and colts’ rugby previously. He brings with him a large cohort of former colts eager to play senior rugby. The 2s open their league campaign at home this Saturday against Pocklington.

The 3s have Dan Elcock returning as skipper and begin their campaign away at Knottingley. The 4ths likewise have Richard Barrett returning as captain. The 4ths had a friendly against Cleckheaton on Saturday at Sandhill Lane, winning 61-5 with a full squad of 22 players present. Forward strength saw the team to victory. The scorers are not known, but front row union Copperwheat, Askin and Wood are thought to have all touched down.

The most successful area for the club in recent times has been in the formation of women and girls rugby. Last year the Women’s XV gained promotion and U14 and U16 girls both won Yorkshire silverware. Ella Deighton takes over as Women's Captain this season, following five years in the role for Honor Ratcliffe, who was Selby's first Women’s Captain and has helped shape the women's game at the club from its early development. Ella leads a squad strengthened from within, with a number of our U18 girls now stepping up into open rugby and looking to make their mark. The Women's XV begin their new league structure on Sunday with a trip to North Ribblesdale.

Mini rugby is the long-running success story - now past the 50-year mark, the numbers continue to grow. After three weeks of training, the Junior Section are excited to be getting their first fixtures of the season underway this weekend, with teams across all age groups taking to the field. The club is super committed to the Junior Section and we invest heavily in improving standards across all aspects - coaching coaches, improving players and finding volunteers. All in search of our "Rising Swans" - our "Green to Gold" pathways are designed to develop kids and adults into senior positions in our club, both on and off the field. This all takes place on Sundays. More information online, or just pop down and see the 460 kids we have running around.