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Whitby celebrate 75 years with exciting new era ahead

Whitby will celebrate their 75th anniversary during the 2026-27 season as the club enters a new era with a league move, fresh leadership and a thriving junior section.

by
The Rugby Paper Team
3 August 2026

Whitby Rugby Club will celebrate its 75th anniversary during the 2026-27 season, with the club preparing for a landmark campaign both on and off the pitch.

The Maroons begin a new chapter following a league restructure which sees the 1st XV move from the Durham & Northumberland leagues into the Yorkshire League structure.

Their first fixture in the new set-up comes at home to Richmondshire on Saturday, September 12, as a new-look leadership team aims to guide the club up the pyramid.

Captain Jack Reeves and vice-captain Connor Clements will lead the side into the campaign, with Whitby hoping to make rapid progress in their new surroundings.

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Exciting step

Reeves, below, said: “After being involved with Whitby Rugby Club for 20 years, it’s a massive honour and privilege to be leading the team into its 75th anniversary season.

“We are back where we belong in the Yorkshire leagues and have begun with a strong pre-season showing, with lots of familiar faces and some new ones too all showing a really positive attitude heading into it.

“Myself and Connor, our vice captain, are both looking forward to what is looking to be an exciting step in the right direction for the rugby club and would love to see plenty of support for our senior and junior teams this season.

“We will be updating socials regarding fixtures and events, which we hope we will see friends, families and newcomers alike. Up the maroons!”

Celebrations

The club’s junior section also continues to go from strength to strength after a positive season which was capped off with a memorable trip to Twickenham to be part of the Prem final.

Supported by a dedicated group of volunteers, the junior set-up remains committed to providing a welcoming and accessible environment for young players across North Yorkshire.

As Whitby celebrates three-quarters of a century, the club is inviting both the local community and wider rugby family to join in the celebrations and look ahead to an exciting future.

Throughout its history, Whitby Rugby Club has remained committed to keeping the community at its heart, with the anniversary season providing an opportunity to reflect on the past while building towards the next 75 years.