Latest Rugby News - Tough Start To 2015-16 Campaign.

Tough Start To 2015-16 Campaign.

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Very tough opening to season.

So, finally we have them. The fixtures for the 2015-16 season are here. Well, er, not quite. Nobody, including me, noticed that Easter Saturday 2016 had been designated as a league fixture date in the ‘Structured Season’ grid – the framework for all the fixtures in England in all the RFU leagues, incorporating the planning for RFU sponsored cup competitions, including the County Championship in its various guises, plus England Counties representative matches and the provision of catch-up dates should rearrangements be necessary for postponed games. I assume everyone did as I did - looked at the reserve date on 9th April and assumed that must be Easter. Wrong. Easter Saturday 2016 is on 26th March writes Lee Stanton. For non-full time professional leagues, it’s often very difficult to ensure the fullest player availability over the Easter period that also suppresses spectator attendance levels during a family-focussed bank holiday weekend. The Structured Season was ratified and only when the preliminary fixture list subsequently was issued for deliberation, was it spotted.

The end result of all this, is that there is to be a recommendation submitted to the RFU for approval on 1st July to move the fixtures for 26th March to 2nd April and the fixtures for 2nd April to 9th April. This would eliminate the problem of an Easter fixture, but removes, at a stroke, a reserve week of 9th April. Let’s hope the winter of 2015-16 is not harsh, otherwise midweek catch-up fixtures or extending the season, may be necessary.

Eleven of the sixteen team National League Two North remain, with five teams moving out: -

Hull Ionians – Promoted as Champions to National One.

Ampthill & District – Promoted to National One following play-off win over N2S Bishops Stortford.

Birmingham & Solihull – Relegated.

Hull – Relegated.

Stockport – Relegated.

To replace them, the league has gained: -

Macclesfield – Relegated from National One.

Tynedale – Relegated from National One.

South Leicester - Promoted as Champions of National Three Midlands.

Sale FC – Promoted as Champions of National Three North.

Sandal – Promoted from National Three North following play-off win over N3M Hinckley.

Further diluting the Midlands’ representation - now eleven from the North compared to five from the Midlands.

Broadstreet will visit Sedgley Park in the opening fixture in National League Two North on 5th September - precisely the same as the first game of the last campaign. Having several years’ experience of the Championship and having finished third last season, the Tigers are aiming to re-climb the pyramid, starting with a return to National One this season. This really sets the tone for a difficult series of fixtures for Broadstreet in the first month or so. Week Two pits Street against fifth placed Chester. Week Three away versus fully-resourced newcomers Sale FC. Week Four hosting runaway 2013-14 Champions, Macclesfield, returning to level four after one season, also with a declared commitment to go straight back up. Week Five away versus sixth placed Caldy playing their ninth consecutive season in the league. And so it goes on.

Broadstreet’s fixtures may be viewed by clicking here.