Caldy – That Friday Feeling 2nd January 2026

Images by Francesca Rowley

The Caldy 1st xv squad travel to Doncaster for the first game of 2026 conscious that this may not be the ideal time to be playing the Knights. Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns summed up the Ravers’ New Year challenge. “Donny are a very good full-time side, and they will be hurting after last week’s reverse away to London Scottish. There is no doubt that they will be looking to put things right at home in front of their home support and this will make them even more formidable. We know we will be hit with a full-on Doncaster backlash. This is a tough fixture to kick off 2026”.

In recent weeks Doncaster Knights have had up to 12 frontline players missing from their lineup which has clearly impacted their results, and they currently sit two places and two league points below Caldy. This is an unusual and surprising position for the only Champ club which meets the Premiership’s ground criteria to find themselves in and it will surely be rectified as they get some of their injured stars back onto the paddock. The Knights will be lifted by a couple of their star players in scrum half Alex Dolly and flanker Rhys Tait returning to 1st xv duties this weekend.

After last week’s win at Paton Field against a very physical Ampthill side the Ravers have their own lengthy injury list with at least 8 front line absentees including captain JJ Dickinson. The captain’s mantle passes to hooker Matt Gallagher who had a fine all-round game against Ampthill. Out of adversity comes opportunity and two young players Dylan Hodkinson and Cameron Brown will be making their Champ debuts in the Ravers’ match day squad for this new year fixture.

Image by Lewis Barker

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for tomorrow’s Champ fixture away at Doncaster’s Castle Park ground against the Knights.
The match kicks off at 2.30pm 
1.   Monty Weatherby
2.   Matt Gallagher (c)
3.   Nathan Rushton
4.   Dylan Hodkinson (debut)
5.   Rouban Birch
6.   Callum Ridgway
7.   Dan Owen
8.   Reuben Logan
9.   Dom Hanson
10. Kieran Wilkinson
11. Obi Ene
12. Michael Barlow
13. Connor Wilkinson
14. Rhys Tudor
15. Charlie Hyde
Replacements
Ollie Hearn, Ryan Higginson, Ralph McEachran, Joe Sproston,
Jordan Jones, Tom Akehurst, Dan Rabbette, Cameron Brown (debut)

For those unable to travel to Doncaster tomorrow we will be live streaming this Champ Rugby game on TV in the clubhouse at Paton Field.
Caldy clubhouse Kitchen & Bars will be open from 12.00 noon tomorrow.

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Community Rugby – Sunday 4th January  
Wishing you all a Happy New Year with our first set of fixtures for 2026 !
The Minis and Juniors have a block booking with Hoylake.
For the Colts, its back to League action after the Christmas break. The Juniors are at home to Kirkby Lonsdale looking to register their thrid win on the bounce and climb further up their League A, whilst the Senior Colts make the trip to Wilmslow for their League A encounter.
u6s & u8s training at home
u7s, u9s, u10s, u11s, u12s at home v Hoylake
u14s, u16s, u18s Girls training at home
u13s, u14s, u15s at home v Hoylake
u16s training at home
u17s Junior Colts at home v Kirkby Lonsdale kick off 12:30pm 
u18s Senior Colts away at Wilmslow kick off 2:00pm

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Good luck to everyone & enjoy your New Year of rugby !

But please remember “No referees, No games” – disrespect or verbal abuse of rugby match officials is totally unacceptable & has no place in rugby.

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Rugby coming up this January

Saturday 10th January – NOWIRUL Premier League
Caldy 2nd xv v Lymm 2nd xv kick off 2.00pm at Paton Field

Saturday 10th January – NOWIRUL Div 3 West
Oxton Parkonians v Caldy Rav3rs kick off 2.00pm at Holme Lane, Oxton CH43 2HU

Saturday 17th January – NOWIRUL Premier League
Manchester 2nd xv v Caldy 2nd xv kick off 2.00pm at Grove Park, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7NB

Sunday 18th January – Senior Colts league A
Caldy u18s v Stockport u18s kick off 2.00pm at Paton Field

Saturday 24th January – Champ Rugby round 14
Richmond v Caldy kick off 3.00pm at The RAG, Twickenham Road, Richmond TW9 2SF

Saturday 24th January – NOWIRUL Div 3 West
Capenhurst v Caldy Rav3rs kick off 2.00pm at Capenhurst Sports Club, Capenhurst CH1 6HL

Sunday 25th January – Senior Colts league A
Chester u18s v Caldy u18s kick off 2.00pm at Hare Lane, Chester CH3 7DB

Saturday 31st January – Champ Rugby round 15
Caldy v Nottingham kick off 2.00pm at Paton Field 
Match Tickets are available to buy here : https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/
Hospitality details & bookings please contact Kenzie email : [email protected]

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