Rossendale RUFC

England 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 17 17 0 0 644 273 +371 16 0 84 Promotion place
2 Tynedale 20 16 0 4 698 381 +317 14 3 81 Promotion Play-off
3 Macclesfield 19 16 0 3 773 491 +282 15 1 80
4 Hull Ionians 20 13 1 6 633 403 +230 15 3 72
5 Darlington Mowden Park 20 12 1 7 667 592 +75 15 2 67
6 Fylde 20 9 3 8 582 499 +83 11 5 58
7 Wharfedale 20 10 0 10 553 552 +1 11 6 57
8 Sheffield Tigers 19 9 0 10 476 420 +56 10 4 50
9 Billingham 20 8 0 12 459 684 −225 12 1 45
10 Otley 20 6 0 14 524 627 −103 9 7 40
11 Preston Grasshoppers 19 5 1 13 503 608 −105 10 3 35
12 Scunthorpe 17 4 0 13 368 682 −314 8 4 28 Relegation Play-off
13 Hull 20 4 0 16 418 698 −280 7 4 27 Relegation place
14 Rossendale 19 3 0 16 386 774 −388 8 2 22
Updated to match(es) played on 21 February 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.