Promoted Barnsley kick off new term at Wheatley
BARNSLEY RUFC will start their new Yorkshire League Two season tomorrow at Wheatley Hills.
The Shaw Laners were promoted last season, having been relegated in 2020 then missed a season due to Covid-19.
Their new coach is Jonathan Rickerby who has previously worked with the RFU and Yorkshire Rugby.
Rickerby, who is from the north east but has lived in Barnsley for 15 years, said: “Things are going well. The players have been fantastic and I can’t thank them enough. It’s a new club, and a new challenge for me. I think we’ve created a really good environment.
“It’s going to be a tough league but I am looking forward it, it’s going to be fun.
“I have been involved in rugby for a long time. I have never been a front line coach but I’ve been mentoring coaches and working with clubs in the area for a while. It’s a different role but the same game.”
Where are Barnsley hoping to finish this season?
“We will see how it goes.
“It’s a step higher and a very competitive league. We will take a watching brief on that. Our chairman is more about the club holistically, with the juniors and the women as well.
“We haven’t really set a target and we won’t find out where we are until the first few games. We want to remain in the league, of course, and we’ll try to be as successful as we can.”
Wheatley Hills are based in Cusworth, Doncaster.
Rickerby said: “They are an excellent team – very well-organised on and off the pitch.
“We will just have to see how Barnsley shape up against them.”
Wath also begin their season tomorrow, at home to Leeds Corinthians.