Eccles RFC

Eccles RFC is growing. This season we have increased to 533 members and our teams are winning silverware, promotion and respect. On Saturdays we now field four mens teams and on Sundays we regularly host in excess of 300 minis and juniors, in addition to our two women's teams and two girls teams.  

Our club’s facilities have served us very well for over 30 years but Rugby has evolved and we need to adapt and develop to meet the standards expected of an inclusive, progressive club. 

Last summer we built the patio and the new entrance extension incorporating bifold doors and sky lights to bring more daylight into the clubhouse.  This summer we're aiming to move forward with a programme of improvements that will allow us to provide our community, in particular women and girls, with the best possible experience and environment to sustain long term future participation in sport. 

The combined projects will cost in the region of £150,000. We have secured financial support from the RFU and will match this with club savings. To meet the shortfall in funding we have launched a ‘Rugby For All’ Crowdfunder in order to complete the work in time for the Eccles Festival (24th August) and the start of the new season. 

Should our fund raising be successful, members and visitors can look forward to enjoying the facilities improvements presented below in the wonderful visualisations by MOJO architecture which bring to life the potential results. Natually, the design details may well change through the construction process but we hope members are inspired by the spirit of the images. 

Two new changing rooms.

The principal aim of our summer project is to convert four old, small changing rooms and a communal shower area in to two larger changing rooms incorporating new showers, new toilets, improved lighting and new changing room door security.

New ladies toilets and a repaired roof.

Our Ladies toilets and our social space below have suffered water damage originating from a leak in the roof. The adverse weather experienced this winter has taken this situation beyond repair and following assessment the roof needs to be replaced. The Ladies Toilets will undergo a complete refit including new flooring, tiling, sanitary ware, basins, mirrors, lighting and heating to create a brighter, fresher environment.   

Refurbished Social Space.

With the Salford Community Stadium hosting games in the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, less than 1 mile from the club, there is a huge opportunity for Eccles to capitalise on the increased publicity of the women's game and further build on the success of our girls and ladies sections.

Following consultation with our female players and members, a survey identified the clubhouse bar and social space as an area for improvement. It’s currently a practical, utilitarian environment. We intend to make it a smarter, more comfortable space so women and girls also feel it's a place they could enjoy spending time in (alongside the men and boys). Our design will embrace the character and history of our 126 year old Rugby club by combining heritage and contemporary styling to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.

We have plans for a 2-phase programme of work with new flooring, new ceiling plastering, timber panelling, lighting and decoration being completed this summer, with new furniture to follow in summer 2025.