Following the 1st Round Draw the build-up for the game started before the Christmas break with a training camp at our Portsmouth HQ. Since Covid the Brothers have advanced to the second round on all 4 occasions and are keen to make it 5 in a row. The squad will come together this week, again at HQ, as Head Coach Darren Bamford and his coaching staff prepare the squad for this match against the ‘Hoists’.

This will be the 3rd meeting between the teams with a win for each side to date, the previous meetings have been ‘friendlies’ however this will not be the case this time round and promises to be a massive clash with both sides look to make the perfect start to the new season.

Match details are as per the attached poster:
Saturday 10th January
Kick off 1:30
Unites Services Sports Ground (USSG)
Burnaby Road
Portsmouth
PO1 2EJ

If you are new to our ground, please be aware of the following:
• Admission is free to all spectators, service and civilian
• Bar Facilities available from 1pm
• The Burnaby Road facility, in line with Service policy, is a No Smoking Venue
• There is no Car Parking within the ground however there are plenty of car parks a short distance from Burnaby Road

This far out the weather forecast is not too bad with the current cold weather easing towards game day to be replaced by cloud and rain.

The match is not due to be streamed live but updates will be posted on X and FB throughout
https://x.com/RoyalNavyRL
https://www.facebook.com/RNRugbyLeague/
https://www.facebook.com/HoistsRLFC

If you can make it down to Burnaby Road on the day the Brothers will be grateful for your support as we get the 2026 season underway