The wait is over! Rugby under the lights returns to Sandhill Lane this evening as Selby RUFC kick off the 2025/26 season with a Yorkshire Cup clash against Sandal. Kick-off is at 7.30pm on Pitch 2, with the bar open from 6.00pm and food available from our new caterers, Digby’s.

It has been a summer of reflection and hard work for the squad following the disappointment of relegation last season. After a hard-fought campaign, the margins proved painfully fine, and despite some spirited performances Selby were edged out in too many close encounters. Dropping down a league is never easy to accept, but it also provides a new opportunity: the chance to regroup, rebuild, and come back stronger.

Pre-season training has been positive, with a blend of established first team regulars and a crop of younger players pushing hard for selection. Tonight’s fixture against Sandal will be the first real test of where the squad stands, and an important step towards laying down a marker for the season ahead. The players know that nothing will come easy in this league, but there is a quiet determination within the group to make amends for last year and to show the Selby supporters what they are capable of.

Off the pitch, the club continues to thrive, with a vibrant minis and juniors section, a growing women’s team, and plenty happening in the clubhouse. But there is something special about the return of senior rugby, the buzz under the lights, and the familiar faces gathering to cheer on the team.

Before kick-off, we will also pause for a moment of reflection, holding a minute’s silence in memory of Owen Phillips, a good friend of SRUFC, whose support and presence will be sorely missed.

So wrap up warm, bring your voice, and come down to support the lads as we start the next chapter in Selby RUFC’s story.