Eccles RFC take pleasure and pride in hosting the 2026 Lancashire U14 U15 and U16 Development Cup Finals and look forward to welcoming the competing teams and supporters on Sunday 3rd May. To ensure the day is easy and enjoyable for all involved, clubs are asked to share the following information with their players, parents and supporters in advance:
Location: Eccles RFC, Gorton Street, Eccles, M30 7LY
Parking: Our gates will be open at 09:30. Parking be allocated on first come first serve basis. There will be parking provision for a Team Coach if you advise us in advance. There will be club volunteer stewards to direct you to available spaces. Drivers are requested to park in a responsible, considerate manner. All vehicles are parked entirely at the owner's own risk. The Club does not accept responsibility for any damage, loss, or theft that may occur. Please be respectful of neighbours and take care not to block access roads, driveways and ambulance entry points.
Squad Entry: Players & coaches will be admitted at the gate according to names on the supplied squad list. A pack containing meal tickets for XX players and 3 officials will be handed to each team manager. Extra players and coaches will be required to pay for entry.
Registration: Team mangers are asked submit match cards and a GMS produced squad registration sheet, showing player name, DOB, RFU number and effective date (date of affiliation) on arrival at the gate. Teams should arrive and register their Squads at least 1 hour before kick-off.
Changing Facilities: Each squad will be allocated a changing room. Teams are responsible for removing and taking responsibility for their own valuables and leaving the changing room clean and in good order.
First Aid: Teams must have their own trained first aider present.
Admission: Adult £5. Children Free. Visitors are asked to bring cash to pay at the admission gate in case the Wi-Fi card reader has an issue. Charges are agreed with the County Organising committee and are used to cover the costs of player’s meals, match official expenses and other overheads of hosting the finals. Please do not harass the volunteers by attempting to avoid payment. Trouble makers will be refused admission or ejected.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome at Eccles RFC but must be kept on a lead and kept off the pitches at all times.
Food & Beverages: DO NOT bring your own Alcohol into our ground. Those ignoring this regulation will be refused admission or will be ejected from the grounds. There will be plenty of opportunity to buy beverages from our coffee shop and our bar (open from 1200). Hot food will be on sale all day from our kitchen.
Conduct: Spectators must remain outside the playing enclosure behind barriers at all times and must never enter the field of play. Please support our match officials in their efforts to keep the game safe and fair. Rugby is a physical and passionate contest requiring discipline - which is why we love it - and we ask all players, coaches and spectators to respect and accept decisions gracefully, even when you disagree. Foul and abusive language will not be tolerated.
Technical Area: Coaches must stay within the technical area and can only enter the field of play at half time. Coaches must not tramp the touchlines inciting players with verbose coaching instruction. Teams are expected to provide a touch judge to assist the referee. Replacement players, coaches and physio in the technical area are under the same jurisdiction and control as the players on the field and are subject to refereeing sanctions. Any person, can be asked to leave the technical area. Serious offences can result in a red card being issued and reported in the normal way. Players and coaches often think that because they are in the technical area they have licence to complain or abuse the opposition or the referee, they do not.
Players who have been sent off must leave the playing enclosure to go behind the barrier and cannot be in the technical area. The Physio must stay in the technical area except when entering the field of play to attend to an injured player. It is advisable to agree a protocol with the match referee prior to kick off. Replacements must wear a top that differentiates them from the players on the pitch. During a break in play replacements can take water and a kicking tee on to the pitch. A replacement player may leave the technical area to warm up but this must be done in an area that does not impact on the match in progress.
Thank you for your co-operation. Good luck to all.
U14 Development Cup Final
Eccles v Southport
Referee: YMO
Kick Off: 11:00
Presentation: 12:15
Coming into this Final, Southport U14's have shown good form with wins against Rochdale, Sefton and Liverpool Collegiate but suffered a defeat against Fylde. Eccles U14's have been on an impressive winning streak, triumphing over Garstang, Broughton Park, Fleetwood and Blackburn. A close contest is expected.
U15 Development Cup Final
Manchester v Wigan
Referee: YMO
Kick Off: 12:45
Presentation: 14:00
Manchester U15's have shown consistency with their recent performances, securing victories against Blackburn, Garstang, Littleborough and a draw against Preston Grasshoppers. However, they faced a setback against Heaton Moor. Wigan U15's have been unbeaten in their recent matches, recording wins against Heaton Moor, Vale Of Lune, Bury, Eccles, Southport and will be feeling confident heading into this Final match.
U16 Development Cup Final
Liverpool St Helens v Vale of Lune
Referee: YMO
Kick Off: 14:30
Presentation: 15:45
Liverpool St Helens U16's have displayed strong form and appear to have the edge coming into this final match with victories against Liverpool Collegiate, Manchester and Bury among others. Vale Of Lune U16's have shown detemrination, achieving hard fought wins against Bury and Burnley, and close defeats against Sedgley Park and Preston Grasshoppers.
