Rossendale RUFC

Rossendale
Full nameRossendale Rugby Football Club Ltd
UnionLancashire RFU
Founded1969 (1969)
LocationRawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire, England
GroundMarl Pits (Capacity: 1,100 (100 in stand))
ChairmanN. Ingham
PresidentF. Jelley
CoachAndrew Birtwistle
LeagueNational League 2 North
2024–25Promoted from Regional 1 North West
Team kit
Official website
rossendalerufc.com

Rossendale Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire. The club runs three senior sides, a colts team, and eleven junior sides.[1] The first XV currently play in the National League 2 North following their promotion from Regional 1 North West at the end of the 2024–25 season.

Ground

Having previously played on farmland high above the town, the club are currently based at Marl Pits in Rawtenstall, just off Newchurch Road, located next to the Marl Pits Leisure Centre complex.[2][3] Access to the ground is by car only with the A56 intersecting nearby Haslingden being the nearest main road. The rugby ground has on-site parking, a club house which can seat up to 120, and a covered terrace next to the main rugby pitch.[4] Capacity around the main pitch includes approximately 100 in the covered terrace and 1,000 pitch side for a total of around 1,100 (all standing).

Honours

Current standings

2025–26 National League 2 North table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Sheffield 21 21 0 0 818 358 +460 20 0 104 Promotion place
2 Tynedale 23 18 0 5 790 451 +339 16 3 91 Promotion Play-off
3 Macclesfield 22 18 0 4 889 577 +312 17 1 90
4 Hull Ionians 23 15 1 7 715 491 +224 17 3 82
5 Darlington Mowden Park 23 13 1 9 767 741 +26 18 2 74
6 Fylde 23 12 3 8 722 570 +152 14 5 73
7 Wharfedale 23 11 0 12 634 680 −46 13 6 63
8 Sheffield Tigers 23 10 0 13 583 533 +50 11 7 58
9 Billingham 23 9 0 14 521 782 −261 14 2 52
10 Preston Grasshoppers 22 8 1 13 637 682 −45 13 3 50
11 Otley 23 6 0 17 588 728 −140 10 8 42
12 Rossendale 23 6 0 17 508 885 −377 12 2 38 Relegation Play-off
13 Hull 23 4 0 19 505 812 −307 10 5 31 Relegation place
14 Scunthorpe 21 4 0 17 456 843 −387 9 5 30
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source: National League Rugby [10]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of matches drawn
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

References

  1. ^ "Rossendale RUFC". Rossendale RUFC. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  2. ^ "History". Rossendale RUFC. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Contact". Rossendale RUFC. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Club House". Rossendale RUFC. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  5. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991-1992. p. 261.
  6. ^ "2004-05 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  7. ^ "2007-08 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  8. ^ "2008-09 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  9. ^ "Regional 1 North West". England Rugby. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  10. ^ "National League 2 North". NCA Rugby.