The Rugby Football League can today announce the new 2025 festivals calendar for the Men’s Masters Rugby League season with the introduction of a new playing option to accommodate the growing number of clubs and players in the social variant.
From 2025, ‘Masters Nines’ events will accompany the National and regional festivals that take place throughout the year.
The season will kick off across two weekends in March (8/22) with festivals being held in Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and the South followed by five regional events and the annual National Festival in Blackpool on Saturday 6 September.
“The number of teams playing Men’s Masters Rugby League continues to grow, and with this, we saw it fit to introduce the nines format and mini festivals due to popular demand especially the National, Yorkshire and Lancashire (North-West) Festivals.
“Mini Festivals will give clubs who haven’t managed to sign up for the regional events another chance at playing against teams in their local area with the Nines brought in to give those who more opportunities for clubs with 1-9 players the chance to join up with other clubs in their region to enjoy Masters Rugby League in a smaller sided game.
With today’s announcement, Masters RL clubs are reminded to not organise fixtures on the same dates as clubs hosting National and Regional Festival events within that region. Submission of fixtures will be required upon the completion and acceptance of the 2025 Masters clubs’ application form.
A full list of Masters RL Festivals can be found below, with dates for the Women’s due next week.
- 8th March – Bassetlaw, Cottingham, Kippax, Maryport, Farnley and Wigan St Jude’s (Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire Launch)
- 22nd March – Reading (South Launch)
- 12th April – Eastmoor (Yorkshire Mini)
- 10th May – Barrow (Cumbria Regional)
- 17th May – Hull Warriors (Yorkshire Mini)
- 24th May – Medway Dragons (South Regional)
- 31st May - Cadishead Rhinos (Lancashire Nines)
- 21st June – Doncaster Toll Bar (Yorkshire Regional)
- 12th July – Stockton RU (North-East Regional)
- 19th July – Swindon St George (South Nine’s) & Portico Vine (Lancashire Mini)
- 9th August – Crosfields (Lancashire Regional)
- 6th September – Blackpool (National)
- October-November – International Festival (Date, Location TBC)
