IT’S all change at the Batley Bulldogs for 2026 with former Featherstone Rovers boss James Ford taking on the mantle of head coach and Paul Couch joining him as understudy.
The Bulldogs have endured a period of uncertainty in the past, with former favourite John Kear taking interim control midway through the 2025 Championship season after the departure of Mark Moxon in late June.
There is hope around the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium that change will lead to a better 2026 than 2025 where the Bulldogs finished second bottom of the second tier with just five wins from 24 league games.
As part of that change, it’s not only the coaching staff that has been shaken up, and it remains to be seen what effect the retirements of veteran trio Luke Blake, James Brown and Elliot Kear has.
Meanwhile, Felix Ellis, Kieran Brining, Liam Kirk and Jay Scriven are just some of the new recruits that have made the move to the Bulldogs for next season.
One to watch
They say there is no substitute for raw pace and new signing Kieran Brining has that in abundance.
A product of the Bradford Bulls academy, Brining has recently featured in their reserve side, whilst also playing for East Leeds.
He also boasts international pedigree, having represented England Youth in 2018, but most impressively, the flying winger is a two times North of England gold medallist over 200 metres. Watch out for his pace in 2026.
Squad: 1 Robbie Butterworth, 2 Joe Burton, 3 Oliver Greensmith, 4 Wesley Bruines, 5 Kieran Brining, 6 Ben Reynolds, 7 Josh Woods, 8 Adam Gledhill, 9 Alistair Leak, 10 Luke Cooper, 11 Dane Manning, 12 Lucas Walshaw, 13 Robson Stevens, 14 Ben White, 15 Nyle Flynn, 16 Michael Ward, 17 Liam Kirk, 18 Evan Hodgson, 19 Jonah Parsons, 20 Jack Hudson, 21 Luca Atkinson, 22 Jay Scriven, 23 Felix Ellis, 24 Paul Foulstone
Ins: Wesley Bruines (unattached), Ben Reynolds, Robson Stevens (both Featherstone), Evan Hodgson (Sheffield), Jay Scriven (Southern Suburbs), Liam Kirk (Midlands), Kieran Brining (East Leeds), Felix Ellis (Dewsbury Moor), Jack Hudson (Huddersfield)
Outs: Luke Blake, James Brown, Elliot Kear (all retired), Alfie Dean (Keighley), Brandon Moore (Midlands), Joe Arundel, Jack Render, Kieren Hepworth, Paul Chitakunye, Samy Kibula (all released)