Preston Grasshoppers
Preston Grasshoppers are a men's rugby club founded in 1869 who play in the National League 2 North (Tier 4). Their home ground is Lightfoot Green Lane, which holds 2,250.
Last updated May 2026
Key facts
| Founded | 1869 |
|---|---|
| League | National League 2 North |
| Tier | Tier 4 |
| Home ground | Lightfoot Green Lane |
| Capacity | 2,250 |
| Nearest station | Preston |
| Local derby | Fylde |
| Marquee fixture | Festive derby vs Fylde |
| Matchday pub | Clubhouse bar at Lightfoot Green |
| Official website | https://www.pgrfc.co.uk/ |
Club history
Founded on 28 September 1869 at a meeting in the Bull Hotel in Preston making it one of the oldest rugby clubs in England and predating the Rugby Football Union itself by two years.
The founding resolution called for a club to play with the Rugby Rules of the game but without hacking and named it The Preston Grasshoppers.
Grasshoppers joined the RFU in 1875 four years after the Union was formed.
The club has been based at Lightfoot Green in Fulwood since 1960.
At the end of the 2015-16 season the RFU funded the replacement of the Lightfoot Green grass surface with a 3G artificial pitch.
Recent seasons
Preston Grasshoppers were under head coach Dan Orwin with Danny Maher as assistant for the 2024-25 NL2 North campaign.
Preston Grasshoppers opened the 2025-26 NL2 North season with a 46-24 home win over Billingham on 6 September 2025.
Preston Grasshoppers won 10-3 away at Hull on 20 September 2025 in the 2025-26 NL2 North season.
Preston Grasshoppers stood 10th in the 2025-26 NL2 North table with 28 points from 12 matches by mid-November 2025.
Notable players
Club legends
- Wade Dooley
- Dick Greenwood
- Will Greenwood
- Paul Grayson
- Steve Borthwick
Turning Preston Grasshoppers footage into insight
Every match Preston Grasshoppers play holds a goldmine of detail. Framesports turns rugby footage into the analytics that actually matter and data that builds smarter game plans, collected by analysts and checked by humans. See how it works on the Framesports features page.
Frequently asked questions
When were Preston Grasshoppers founded?
Preston Grasshoppers were founded in 1869.
Where do Preston Grasshoppers play?
Preston Grasshoppers play at Lightfoot Green Lane, which holds 2,250. The nearest station is Preston.
What league do Preston Grasshoppers play in?
Preston Grasshoppers compete in the National League 2 North, tier 4 of English rugby's league structure.
Who are Preston Grasshoppers's local rivals?
Preston Grasshoppers's local derby is against Fylde.
Other National League 2 North clubs
Spot something wrong, or want this page updated? Email support@framesports.ai and we’ll fix it.
Framesports is an independent rugby platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Preston Grasshoppers.