Coleraine Rugby Club Summer Festival 2026

Coleraine RFC’s summer festival is one of those days that works equally well whether you follow rugby closely or just enjoy an afternoon outdoors with a good atmosphere and something happening on the pitch. Several clubs from across Derry and the wider Ulster area come together at Sandhill Road for a full card of friendly matches, with senior men’s rugby, youth games, and a sevens tournament all on the schedule. Admission is £10 for adults, children get in free, and the club bar and food stalls are running all day - so it is a proper day out rather than a quick look.

What to expect

Matches get under way at 2:00pm and the action runs through to around 7:00pm across the main pitch and the adjoining fields. The format is festival rugby - shorter, faster games than a league fixture, with clubs using the occasion to run their squads, blood younger players, and play against sides they would not normally face during the season. That makes for an open, free-flowing kind of game that is easy to follow even if you have never watched rugby before. The atmosphere leans social: families spread out on the grass, youth players warm up alongside the senior sides, and the clubhouse fills up properly once the final whistles go. Coleraine RFC has a long record of hosting community rugby events - the club has previously put on Maxol Mini Rugby Festivals in partnership with Ulster Rugby - so the organisation tends to be well drilled.

Getting there

Coleraine sits at the mouth of the River Bann in north Derry, roughly 55 miles from Belfast and 35 miles from Derry city. By road, the A26 from Belfast or the A2 coastal route from Derry both get you in quickly. The RFC grounds are on Sandhill Road, about 2km from the town centre - a straightforward drive or a 20-minute walk from the railway station. Translink runs regular rail services from Belfast (around 1 hour 15 minutes) and Derry city (around 45 minutes) into Coleraine station. On-site parking is available at the grounds, with space on nearby roads as well.

While you’re in Coleraine

The town is a good base for the Causeway Coast - Portstewart Strand and Castlerock beach are both within 10 minutes by car, and the Bann riverside is worth a short walk on a summer evening. There is more to see in Coleraine and across Co. Derry.

Good to know

• Saturday 8 August 2026, 2:00pm (runs to approximately 7:00pm)
• Admission £10 per adult; children free
• Food and bar on-site throughout the day
• Check for updates and news at colerainerfc.com
• On-site parking available; Coleraine train station is approximately 2km away
• Family-friendly, suitable for all ages