Keswick's return to the North Lancs/Cumbria League for the 2017/2018 season has been welcomed by players and supporters alike. This well deserved promotion is the result of 2 seasons of hard training and preparation by the Club Coach, Richard Metcalf, and all the players, together with some good work by the ground staff in improving the quality of the playing surface. Thanks are also due to the support staff, including the physio and first aid, and those behind the scenes staff in the clubhouse and elsewhere.

Richard Metcalf said: "We are all pleased to be promoted, we've worked hard as a squad for the last 2 years since I came here and we put a plan in place to get that promotion. We knew we wouldn't go up last year because it's taken a long time to put things in place but we feel that we've got a squad and a game plan that'll help us next year. That said, next year's going to be a big challenge, especially traveling away, so we need to look at recruiting some more players to have a viable first team squad of 30 players. We've had a big focus on the second team this year and they've done well, still a very young team, so we need another 12 months for those guys to mature even further, then we'll be in a good place. We could do with more props and we're also light on second rows, not helped by a couple of injuries, though those have allowed us to give our younger players some good experience."

The message from the Coach then is that there are excellent opportunities to play rugby at a high level with Keswick next season. All players and potential players are welcome at the club, which is offering excellent development opportunities. We have a very good and successful coach who is determined to select players on merit for both the First Team and the A XV. So if you would like to take up rugby, improve your rugby, return to the game, or help behind the scenes, you'll find a welcome at Keswick Rugby Club.