Banbury RUFC begin the second half of their 2025–26 Regional 1 Midlands campaign with a challenging trip to Lichfield RFC, as they look to carry momentum into the New Year and reverse a narrow defeat suffered earlier in the season.

Head Coach Soane Tongaʻuiha and Director of Rugby Matt Goode take their side to Staffordshire knowing just how fine the margins were when the two teams last met. Back in early October at the Graf UK Stadium, Banbury pushed Lichfield all the way before falling to a 19–20 defeat, one of several one-score games that defined the Bulls’ first-half campaign.

Banbury’s Season So Far
Banbury head into Round 14 having shown resilience, attacking threat, and growing cohesion as the season has progressed. While results have fluctuated, performances have often been competitive, with several fixtures decided in the closing moments.

Results to Date:

R1: Banbury 31–19 Bromsgrove
R2: Banbury 50–15 Newent
R3: Dudley Kingswinford 14–27 Banbury
R4: Banbury 19–20 Lichfield
R5: Lutterworth 42–18 Banbury
R6: Stourbridge 30–28 Banbury
R7: Banbury 19–20 Newport (Salop)
R8: Nuneaton 5–63 Banbury
R9: Banbury 7–14 Bridgnorth
R10: Bournville 54–17 Banbury
R11: Banbury 32–15 Drybrook
R12: Newent 31–28 Banbury
R13: Banbury 32–12 Dudley Kingswinford

The 32–12 home win over Dudley Kingswinford in the final fixture before Christmas was a positive way to close out 2025, combining forward dominance with improved game management. The Bulls will now be looking to take that confidence onto the road.

The Challenge: Lichfield RFC
Lichfield are a well-established Midlands side with a reputation for structure, discipline, and physical efficiency. Strong at home, they are comfortable playing territory-led rugby and putting pressure on opponents through set-piece and defensive organisation.

Their ability to stay composed in tight matches was evident in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, where they edged Banbury by a single point. Expect a similar test this weekend, particularly with winter conditions likely to play a role.

Key Focus Areas for Banbury

Turning Pressure into Points
Set-Piece Consistency
Discipline & Territory
Game Management

From the Coaches
Head Coach Soane Tongaʻuiha has consistently emphasised development and belief within the squad, while Director of Rugby Matt Goode continues to stress patience and accuracy as Banbury look to convert competitive performances into consistent results.

The opening fixture of 2026 offers a strong benchmark for how far the Bulls have progressed since the autumn.

Final Word
This Round 14 encounter represents an immediate opportunity for Banbury to measure itself against a side it pushed to the limit earlier in the campaign. With confidence taken from recent performances and lessons learned from previous narrow defeats, the Bulls travel to Cooke Fields determined to start the New Year on a positive note.