Rugby: 2026 cup finals weekend to round out latest season

Manx Cup and Manx Plate up for grabs at Port-e-Chee

Report by Dave Christian:

This Saturday sees the curtain drop on the 2025-26 rugby season with a full day of action at Port-e-Chee starting with Under-13's at 10.30am and finishing with the Hartford Holmes Manx Cup Final at 3pm.

First at 1pm sees the first of the senior men’s games - it’s the Hartford Holmes Manx Plate Final. 

This competition is for the two sides who didn’t make the Cup final which, this year, is surprisingly Ramsey and Vagabonds. 

Both teams play in Counties 3 ADM Lancashire/Cheshire in the English league system and both have found themselves nudged out of the flagship domestic competition by non-league opposition. 

Vagabonds lost to both Douglas Celts and Southern Nomads while Ramsey lost all three of their qualifying fixtures. 

Nomads and Celts both qualified for the final with a game to spare.

Both Vagabonds and Ramsey have had indifferent league campaigns - 'Vagas' have been the better performing of the two and therefore start as slight favourites. 

They took four wins and two draws from their allotted 19 fixtures compared to Ramsey’s three wins and one draw. 

The two also fought out an epic, if slightly underwhelming 0-0 draw at the Mooragh Park in November in a game as rare as hens’ teeth.

Vagabonds will be without Cam Findlay who has moved away and Joe Louw who is injured, there is, however plenty of quality with the likes of Reece D’Oliveira and Matt Rockwell up front and skipper, Dan Bonwick just about anywhere he likes, there are also some exciting youngsters in the back line. 

Ramsey will also have their issues - centre, Jake Richmond is struggling with what has been described as a “hurty arm” and is unlikely to play; Jacob Corteen picked up an ankle knock last week and is doubtful too; the rest of the squad appears fit, however and should put up a decent scrap against Vagabonds who won their last meeting 21-10 at Ballafletcher in February.

The final at 3pm also promises to be a good match-up - when they met in the Manx Shield, Douglas Celts won the first two meetings and Southern Nomads won the second two. 

They never got to meet in Cup qualifying as they’d both already made it to the final.

As ever, Douglas bring their first team fringe players into the mix which will give them a competitive edge, there is, however plenty of quality who perhaps don’t consider themselves fringe players. 

Aaron Mason is an experienced operator; Conor McCaughan a big rangy second row/back row and skipper Percy Hampton will give the X-factor. 

Nomads are no mugs though - Harry Brereton brings an edge to the back row; the Callister/Young half-back pairing is as experienced as they come and skipper, Finn McGregor is a straight running centre looking to make holes for the Craine brothers.

Douglas won the Manx Shield so are marginal favourites but this could be close.

**

Fixtures

Saturday, 2 May 2026

Hartford Homes Manx Plate Final 

Vagabonds vs Ramsey @ Port-e-Chee (1pm KO)

Hartford Homes Manx Cup Final

PDMS Southern Nomads vs Douglas Celts @ Port-e-Chee (3pm KO)

Youth Fixtures

Douglas Under-13's vs Southern Nomads Under-13's @ Port-e-Chee (10.30am KO)

Ramsey Under-16's vs Western Vikings Under-16's @ Port-e-Chee (11am KO)