“The Innovation We Need”: Inverdale hails Taunton’s Friday Night Opener
The 2025/26 National League Rugby season kicks off tonight under the lights at the newly-named Summerfield Stadium, where Taunton Titans welcome Exeter University in National Two West. (Photo Credit: Taunton RFC)
Taunton, who finished third last term, will be eyeing a push for the top two this season with the added incentive of a promotion play-off.
Standing in their way this evening are Exeter, who avoided any relegation worries towards the end of last year. The Green and Whites traditionally start September well, with more of a ‘fully-loaded’ side at their disposal as they prepare for their BUCS Super Rugby campaign.
Beyond the contest itself, the spotlight is also on Taunton for hosting a Friday night opener – a move hailed by National League Rugby chairman John Inverdale.
View this post on Instagram
“This is exactly the kind of initiative we should be applauding,” he said. “A local derby to launch the season on a Friday night. Taunton deserve huge credit for adopting such a forward-thinking approach. This is the type of innovation we need across National League Rugby, and it’s a fantastic way to kick off another exciting season.”
The Titans will also take confidence from last year’s meetings, which saw them complete a double over Exeter – including a 31-23 home victory in January.
As part of a series of fresh initiatives for 2025/26, National League Rugby is hoping to ‘Live Blog’ tonight’s clash, so stay tuned to our website and social media for more information.
Make sure you follow National League Rugby on social media!
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | TikTok | Threads
Leave a Reply