On Bosworth Field in 1485 Lancastrian Henry Tudor defeated Yorkist Richard III to establish a new ruling dynasty and forge the union of two noble houses. Divided by the Pennines and the proper way to cook chips ever since, the medieval conflict between the red rose and white rose counties has evolved over the centuries into a passionate, enduring cultural and sporting rivalry that reinforced our distinctive competitive identities and regional pride.
In 1806, with cotton dominating wool as the textile force and Hot Pot pouring all over Yorkshire Puddings, William Webb Ellis was born in Salford, Lancashire and in 1823, whilst a pupil at Rugby School, legend has it he first caught the ball and ran with it, thereby defining the game that has since flourished around the world.
Long before Rugby Football had acquired commonly accepted laws Lancashire and Yorkshire were eager to compete with each other. From 1860 a Lancashire team played Yorkshire in an annual “Battle of the Roses” which was considered the blue ribbon of Northern Rugby. Yorkshire formed a Union in 1869 and continued to play an invitational Lancashire side made up predominantly of players from the established clubs of Manchester and Liverpool. This all changed on the evening of 22nd December 1881 at the Albion Hotel, Manchester, when a meeting was convened of 16 invited clubs and the Lancashire County Rugby Football Union was formed. The 1894 encounter between Lancashire and Yorkshire at Fallowfield in Manchester, depicted in William Barnes Wollen's painting, captures the Corinthian spirit of Roses Rugby in the days prior to the schism with Northern Union, when a gentleman would never knowingly commit a deliberate foul on an opponent.
And so to the latest historical instalment. The battle lines are drawn. In March the Lancashire U20s were defeated by Yorkshire 29-31. This Saturday, on the west coast at Fylde RFC, the Lancashire Men will be looking to reverse the result of their last meeting last May 2025 when Yorkshire secured a 22-36 win. On Sunday, over on the east coast, the Lancashire U17s will get their opportunity to claim bragging rites and next weekend, there will be a Roses Double Header with the Lancashire Men and Women both heading over the hill to Hull in search of glory and victory. Full match details below.
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