Banbury RUFC return to the Graf UK Stadium this weekend as they host Lutterworth RFC in Round 15 of the Regional 1 Midlands campaign, looking to restart their season after last weekend’s postponement away at Lichfield.

With competitive rugby resuming and the second half of the season now underway, Head Coach Soane Tongaʻuiha and Director of Rugby Matt Goode will be keen to see their side build momentum at home and avenge the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.

Banbury’s Season So Far
Banbury’s 2025–26 season has been shaped by resilience, narrow margins, and steady development. While results have fluctuated, the Bulls have consistently shown their ability to compete across the division.

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
R14: Lichfield P–P Banbury

Victories at home against Newent, Drybrook, and Dudley Kingswinford, combined with strong away performances, highlight the potential within this Banbury squad. The focus now is on consistency, particularly in home fixtures.

The Opposition: Lutterworth RFC
Lutterworth arrive in Oxfordshire as one of the division’s most physical and competitive sides. Currently enjoying a strong campaign, they are known for their power up front, direct carrying game, and ability to control matches through territory and set-piece pressure.

The reverse fixture in October saw Lutterworth claim a 42–18 victory on home soil, a result that Banbury will be keen to respond to. Since then, the Bulls have shown significant growth in organisation and discipline, making this rematch an important benchmark of progress.

Key Focus Areas for Banbury
Physical Battle Up Front
Lutterworth pride themselves on forward dominance. Matching their intensity at scrum, lineout, and maul time will be essential.

Discipline & Territory
Winter rugby often hinges on field position. Banbury must be accurate in their decision-making and disciplined in defence.

Game Management
Several narrow defeats earlier in the season underlined the importance of controlling momentum, particularly late in matches.

Home Advantage
The Graf UK Stadium has been the stage for some of Banbury’s strongest performances this season. Harnessing that support could be decisive.

From the Coaches
Head Coach Soane Tongaʻuiha has continued to stress connection, effort, and belief within the squad, while Director of Rugby Matt Goode has emphasised patience and execution as Banbury look to turn strong performances into consistent results.

With last weekend’s postponement, the Bulls will be fresh and motivated to hit the ground running.

Final Word
This Round 15 encounter promises a physical, hard-fought contest between two ambitious sides. With the chance to respond to the reverse fixture and restart the season strongly at home, Banbury will be determined to put in a performance that reflects their progress this year.