Altrincham Kersal RFC
Altrincham, Greater Manchester
South Greater Manchester club combining Altrincham and Kersal areas with competitive North West rugby.
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Greater Manchester is one of the few places in the UK where both codes are equally at home. This page brings together the 28 Greater Manchester clubs in our directory — 15 rugby league and 13 rugby union.
Rugby league runs deep in towns such as Wigan, Leigh, Oldham, Rochdale and Swinton, where professional clubs like Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards sit above a strong amateur game. Rugby union is led by Sale Sharks, who play in Salford, with community clubs across Stockport, Bolton, Altrincham and south Manchester.
If you are new to the area, decide on the code first: in Wigan or Leigh the nearest club is likely to be rugby league, while in the southern suburbs it is more likely to be union.
Rugby Clubs by Town
- Altrincham: Altrincham Kersal RFC
- Ashton-under-Lyne: Ashton Bears ARLFC
- Bolton: Bolton RFC
- Eccles: Eccles RFC
- Hindley: Hindley ARLFC
- Irlam: Irlam Hornets ARLFC
- Leigh: Leigh East ARLFC, Leigh Leopards, Leigh Miners Rangers, Leigh RFC
- Manchester: Broughton Park FC, Didsbury Toc H RFC
- Oldham: Oldham RLFC, Oldham RUFC
- Rochdale: Rochdale Hornets, Rochdale RFC
- Sale: Ashton on Mersey RFC
- Salford: Eccles & Salford ARLFC, Sale Sharks, Sale Sharks Women, Salford Red Devils
- Stockport: Stockport RFC
- Swinton: Swinton Lions
- Wigan: Orrell St James ARLFC, Wigan RFC, Wigan St Judes ARLFC, Wigan St Patricks ARLFC, Wigan Warriors
Rugby Union Clubs in Greater Manchester
Rugby League Clubs in Greater Manchester
Rugby league teams in Manchester
Greater Manchester has more professional rugby league clubs than anywhere outside West Yorkshire. Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards play in Super League, and Salford Red Devils, Oldham, Rochdale Hornets and Swinton Lions in the Championship. Amateur clubs such as Wigan St Judes, Wigan St Patricks and Leigh Miners Rangers are where new players start.
| Club | Town | Founded | Level (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wigan Warriors | Wigan | 1872 | Super League |
| Leigh Leopards | Leigh | 1878 | Super League |
| Salford Red Devils | Salford | 1873 | RFL Championship |
| Oldham RLFC | Oldham | 1876 | RFL Championship |
| Rochdale Hornets | Rochdale | 1871 | RFL Championship |
| Swinton Lions | Swinton | 1866 | RFL Championship |
| Wigan St Judes ARLFC | Wigan | 1920 | NCRL National Premier League |
| Wigan St Patricks ARLFC | Wigan | 1927 | Amateur |
| Leigh Miners Rangers | Leigh | 1919 | Amateur |
| Eccles & Salford ARLFC | Salford | 1921 | Amateur |
Rugby union clubs in Manchester
Manchester's rugby union clubs are concentrated in the south and east of the county. Sale Sharks play in PREM Rugby. Rochdale and Stockport are in Regional 1 North West, and Altrincham Kersal, Bolton, Broughton Park, Didsbury Toc H, Eccles and Wigan RFC play in Counties 1 Lancashire & Cheshire.
| Club | Town | League 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Sale Sharks | Salford | PREM Rugby |
| Rochdale RFC | Rochdale | Regional 1 North West |
| Stockport RFC | Stockport | Regional 1 North West |
| Broughton Park FC | Manchester | Counties 1 Lancashire & Cheshire |
| Didsbury Toc H RFC | Manchester | Counties 1 Lancashire & Cheshire |
| Altrincham Kersal RFC | Altrincham | Counties 1 Lancashire & Cheshire |
| Bolton RFC | Bolton | Counties 1 Lancashire & Cheshire |
| Eccles RFC | Eccles | Counties 1 Lancashire & Cheshire |
| Wigan RFC | Wigan | Counties 1 Lancashire & Cheshire |
Leagues confirmed from England Rugby team pages on 31 October 2026.
Manchester rugby teams by age: oldest to newest
Our directory lists 28 Manchester rugby teams and clubs: 13 rugby union and 15 rugby league. The oldest is Sale Sharks, founded in 1861, and 15 of the 28 were formed before 1900. Greater Manchester is one of the few places with strong rugby league and rugby union side by side.
| Club | Code | Founded | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sale Sharks | Rugby union | 1861 | Salford |
| Swinton Lions | Rugby league | 1866 | Swinton |
| Rochdale Hornets | Rugby league | 1871 | Rochdale |
| Bolton RFC | Rugby union | 1872 | Bolton |
| Wigan Warriors | Rugby league | 1872 | Wigan |
| Salford Red Devils | Rugby league | 1873 | Salford |
| Oldham RLFC | Rugby league | 1876 | Oldham |
| Oldham RUFC | Rugby union | 1878 | Oldham |
| Rochdale RFC | Rugby union | 1878 | Rochdale |
| Wigan RFC | Rugby union | 1878 | Wigan |
| Leigh Leopards | Rugby league | 1878 | Leigh |
| Eccles RFC | Rugby union | 1879 | Eccles |
| Stockport RFC | Rugby union | 1880 | Stockport |
| Leigh RFC | Rugby union | 1881 | Leigh |
| Broughton Park FC | Rugby union | 1882 | Manchester |
| Altrincham Kersal RFC | Rugby union | 1907 | Altrincham |
| Ashton on Mersey RFC | Rugby union | 1910 | Sale |
| Didsbury Toc H RFC | Rugby union | 1919 | Manchester |
| Leigh Miners Rangers | Rugby league | 1919 | Leigh |
| Ashton Bears ARLFC | Rugby league | 1920 | Ashton-under-Lyne |
| Wigan St Judes ARLFC | Rugby league | 1920 | Wigan |
| Irlam Hornets ARLFC | Rugby league | 1921 | Irlam |
| Eccles & Salford ARLFC | Rugby league | 1921 | Salford |
| Leigh East ARLFC | Rugby league | 1922 | Leigh |
| Wigan St Patricks ARLFC | Rugby league | 1927 | Wigan |
| Orrell St James ARLFC | Rugby league | 1934 | Wigan |
| Hindley ARLFC | Rugby league | 1936 | Hindley |
| Sale Sharks Women | Rugby union | 2018 | Salford |
Founding years as listed on each club profile in the UK Rugby Club Directory, checked 4 November 2026.
In practice: an older club is not automatically a bigger or stronger one. Check each profile for the club's current league and teams, and ask the club what it runs this season.
Manchester rugby league teams and union clubs
Manchester rugby league teams include Wigan Warriors, Leigh Leopards and Salford Red Devils, plus Oldham, Rochdale Hornets, Swinton Lions and many amateur clubs. Rugby union clubs in Manchester include Sale Sharks, who play at Salford, and community clubs such as Broughton Park and Didsbury Toc H.
- Rugby league teams in Manchester: 15 clubs in our list, from Super League to amateur sides in Wigan and Leigh.
- Rugby union: 13 clubs, including Sale Sharks and Sale Sharks Women.
Rugby league clubs come under the RFL. Union clubs in Greater Manchester are affiliated to the RFU through the Lancashire or Cheshire county unions, depending on location.
Sources and further reading
Quick Answers
Rugby Clubs in Manchester FAQs
How many rugby clubs are there in Greater Manchester?
Our directory currently lists 28 clubs in Greater Manchester — 13 rugby union and 15 rugby league. If a club is missing, you can register it for free.
Which code is more popular in Greater Manchester?
Both are well established. Rugby league is strongest in the western and northern towns such as Wigan, Leigh and Oldham, while rugby union clubs are spread more evenly, especially in the south of the county.
How do I join a rugby club in Greater Manchester?
Pick two or three clubs near you, check each club's profile for where it plays and how to get in touch, then ask about the next training session. Our guide to finding a rugby club walks you through it.
What are the Manchester rugby league teams?
Manchester rugby league teams include Wigan Warriors, Leigh Leopards, Salford Red Devils, Oldham, Rochdale Hornets and Swinton Lions, plus amateur clubs. We list 15 rugby league teams in Manchester.
Are there rugby union clubs in Manchester?
Yes. We list 13 rugby union clubs in Manchester and Greater Manchester, including Sale Sharks, Broughton Park, Didsbury Toc H and Stockport.
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