Ahead of Saturday's fixture, we take a closer look at the visitors, their history in the game, recent rise back to Level 5 and their opening weeks of the 2026–27 season.

Club Overview

Club Name: Lichfield Rugby Union Football Club
Founded: 1874
Location: Lichfield, Staffordshire
Home Ground: Cooke Fields
League: Regional 1 Midlands
Level: Level 5
Head Coach: Paul Hurst
Assistant Coach: Thomas Hughes
Captain: Kieran Reynolds

History and Heritage
Lichfield Rugby Union Football Club was founded in 1874 and has now represented its Staffordshire community for more than 150 years.

The club is based at Cooke Fields on Tamworth Road, which remains the home of its First XV and provides the setting for its Regional 1 Midlands fixtures.

Having competed across several levels of Midlands rugby, Lichfield's recent seasons have seen the First XV make significant progress back up the English rugby pyramid.

Cooke Fields
Cooke Fields has become synonymous with Lichfield rugby and remains the club's long-standing home.

Located on Tamworth Road, the venue has also staged Banbury's most recent away meetings with Lichfield, including the rearranged Regional 1 Midlands encounter between the sides in January.

While Saturday's fixture takes place at the Graf UK Stadium, Cooke Fields remains central to the identity and recent progress of the visiting club.

A Return to Level 5
Lichfield secured their return to Regional 1 Midlands at the conclusion of an impressive 2024–25 campaign.

Competing in Regional 2 Midlands North, they entered the final round of the season with promotion still to secure.

A 31–26 home victory over Old Saltleians completed the job, sealing the league title and promotion to Level 5.

That result also maintained Lichfield's unbeaten home record across the league campaign.

Their return to Regional 1 Midlands therefore represented the culmination of a successful season and placed them back alongside Banbury for 2025–26.

Establishing Themselves in Regional 1
Lichfield adapted quickly following promotion.

Their first season back at Level 5 ended with a sixth-place finish, recording 12 victories, one draw and nine defeats from 22 fixtures.

They accumulated 69 league points, finishing three points and two positions above Banbury in the final 2025–26 standings.

That campaign demonstrated Lichfield's ability to make the transition from Regional 2 and establish themselves immediately in the upper half of Regional 1 Midlands.

Opening the 2026–27 Campaign
Lichfield have taken two victories from their opening five Regional 1 Midlands fixtures.

Newport (Salop) 29–25 Lichfield
Lichfield 44–21 Oxford Harlequins
Lutterworth 26–19 Lichfield
Stourbridge 43–38 Lichfield
Lichfield 21–15 Bridgnorth

Their season began with a narrow four-point defeat away at Newport (Salop) before an impressive 44–21 victory over Oxford Harlequins in their first home league fixture.

Defeats at Lutterworth and unbeaten Stourbridge followed, although Lichfield collected a bonus point from a high-scoring 43–38 contest at Stourton Park.

Last weekend saw them return to winning ways at Cooke Fields with a 21–15 victory over Bridgnorth.

That result leaves Lichfield eighth in Regional 1 Midlands with ten points heading into Round 6.

Previous Meetings vs Lichfield
The clubs renewed their league rivalry during the 2025–26 season following Lichfield's promotion.

Lichfield 55–17 Banbury - January 2026
Banbury 19–20 Lichfield - October 2025

The first meeting at the Graf UK Stadium was decided by the narrowest of margins.

Banbury and Lichfield traded the lead during a closely contested afternoon before the visitors ultimately held on for a 20–19 victory.

The return fixture at Cooke Fields produced a very different contest.

Banbury scored first, but Lichfield responded strongly and went on to secure a 55–17 victory, completing the league double over the Bulls in their first season back at Level 5.

Saturday will therefore be the third competitive meeting between the sides since Lichfield's promotion.

Final Thoughts
Lichfield's recent trajectory has been one of steady progress.

Promotion as Regional 2 Midlands North champions in 2025 was followed by a sixth-place finish during their first campaign back at Level 5, establishing the Staffordshire club quickly in Regional 1 Midlands.

Their opening five matches this season have produced mixed results, but narrow defeats against Newport (Salop), Lutterworth and Stourbridge, together with victories over Oxford Harlequins and Bridgnorth, underline their ability to remain competitive across the division.

Recent history also provides an added dimension to Saturday's fixture, with Lichfield having won both meetings against Banbury last season.

The two clubs now renew that rivalry at the Graf UK Stadium as the Bulls look for a different outcome in Round 6.

Banbury RUFC vs Lichfield RUFC
Saturday 31st October 2026
Graf UK Stadium, Oxford Road, Bodicote, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX15 4AF
Kick-off: 3:00pm

Upcoming Matches