Jake Brady - DOR @ Harrogate RUFC looks ahead to the coming season:

'Finally, the league season is almost here. There has been some uncertainty around the start of the season following such a dry summer, but our grounds team have worked incredibly hard throughout it. Not only have they ensured Pitch 1 will be in great condition for our first home game, but a huge amount of work has gone into the training pitches to put us in a much stronger position as we head into the winter months.

Our first home fixture following our return to the National Leagues sees us welcome Billingham to Harrogate. They’re a side who play an exciting, fast and expansive brand of rugby and, on what should still be a firm early season pitch, I expect them to arrive with every intention of moving the ball. It should make for a great game of rugby.

From our point of view, I’m really excited to see the squad run out at home. The lads have worked incredibly hard throughout the summer and we’ve had some new additions to the group who have impressed during pre-season. Just as importantly, we’ve tried to build on what made us successful last year. We’ve developed our game plan, worked on adding more variety to our attack and, at the same time, looked to maintain the strong set piece and foundations that were such an important part of our game last season.

Promotion means there will naturally be a step up in the challenges we face each week, but that is exactly what we wanted. There is a real excitement amongst the group about testing ourselves at this level and seeing how far we can continue to progress.

I’m sure this will be another season full of the highs, lows and big moments that make being involved in a rugby club so enjoyable. One of the things that stood out last season was the support the lads received from around the club, particularly at home, and we’d love to build on that again this year.

Hopefully we can welcome as many of you as possible for the lunch and our first home game of 2026/27. It would be fantastic to see a busy clubhouse beforehand and then a big crowd around the pitch as the lads begin the next chapter back in the National Leagues.

I’m certainly looking forward to it, and I know the players are too.’

To book lunch at the Billingham game, please email info@harrogaterugby.com
The menu is Steak Pie with vegetables, followed by Cheesecake - cost £26/pp.